I feel a genuine joy in sharing my testimony with each of you who also delight in the Lord’s work in what we know as the Second Invitation. I feel that the words of Nephi best describe my early years. Nephi begins his account in The Book of Mormon with these words: “I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in the learning of my father…” (1 Nephi 1:1).
I too resound these words. My mother and father were wonderful parents. They were converted into the restoration (RLDS) with my sister Shirley in 1952. My older brother Glen and I were baptised in 1956. The Lord had preserved my life twice, prior to my baptism, both times in miraculous circumstances.
After my baptism, I also began reading The Book of Mormon and experienced marvellous “feelings” of being able to understand what I was reading, and being able to discern “between the lines” of what the writers were describing. This happened many times, and now in 2024, through The Sealed Book, I understand that the “feelings” I experienced have greater meaning now than ever before.
An example of this is in the speech of King Benjamin as recorded in Mosiah: “… when you are in the service of your fellow beings, you are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17/ 1:49 RLDS). I seemed to resonate with that scripture, and have endeavoured to live this, by applying it in my own life. I wish not to elaborate much on this, rather, just to state that many have been blessed by God because of the depth and height of the understanding that was revealed to me in this scripture.
In March 2018, we received a visit from Sister Melva and Brother Bob Cackler, who came to our home, which at that time was in South Cranbourne in Victoria, Australia. They shared with my wife Joan, and me, details of the exciting news that an Angel had appeared to a man called Mauricio Artur Berger in Brazil, and that the plates that Joseph Smith Jr had translated The Book of Mormon from, had come forth, and that a part of the sealed record would shortly be translated in our day.
What exceeding great joy this news brought to us; we will be eternally grateful for their visit to the McClelland family! For nearly 180 years many waited for this day to happen. We were so joyful that the event would take place in our lifetime. All those who lived before had waited for this day!
Another miracle took place that day when our son Darren came to visit us while Sister Melva and Brother Bob were there. Darren had a spiritual experience that “changed him in an instant”, and he has been a faithful follower of the Lord Jesus Christ from that moment on.
We, that is my wife Joan, son Darren, and I decided to travel to the USA to speak to as many of the eight USA witnesses as possible in order to learn more about this exciting news. The Lord continued to bless us on this 2019 journey. Many miraculous events took place during our visit, and some of these blessed events, I will share at a future time.
The Sealed Book has turned on “a light of understanding” on many scriptural issues for me.
The Sealed Book of Moses makes it clear that reverence for the names of God is a key to understanding the power of the priesthood, through feelings of love and compassion that are required when hands are placed upon the heads of the sick, when seeking healing. Please read verses 60 to 63 in the third chapter of The Sealed Book of Moses.
Understanding the names of God is also given in The Sealed Book of Moses 4:25, for it brings further light so we can all have a greater knowledge about God, and our part in knowing how this can be achieved.
Before The Sealed Book was available, I had little or no knowledge of these teachings.
Another truth that I found exciting was in reference to the Sabbath day. In Chapter 12 of the Acts of the Three Nephites, the account is given and speaks directly to us on this topic. The Sacrament observance is also part of this scripture and explains the importance of not changing the ordinance of the Sacrament in any way.
All this is given that we may do things that please God; that we may become a united and righteous people. Paying of tithing, understanding and living the Law of Consecration—all of these are a part of spiritual maturity. The scripture contained in The Sealed Book has been preserved and is now part of our standard volume of Scriptures, along with the Revelations and Doctrines of the Second Invitation.
I rejoice that the Lord called our Prophet Mauricio Artur Berger to assist each of us in fulfilling God’s will. May we all bring forth fruits worthy for Zion in this day and age.
All praise be given to God for restoring His Church in our day. I truly thank the Lord that I have been given the opportunity to share in testimony of the Holy Spirit that assists me in my witness to others of His abundant love.
