The (Real) Book of Mormon Nathan Gordon

When I was eight, I read the 531-page Book of Mormon cover-to-cover. The vocabulary and concepts which comprised the set of doctrine was unbelievably complex, so it usually took an entire hour to get through three of its short pages. To do this, I excitedly flipped through footnote references in the Bible Dictionary, Topical Guide, and other scriptural verses to understand what the verses discussed. The approach I took to analyzing the Book of Mormon changed the way I read, and I applied that analytical approach to anything from my daily newspaper scour to the literature I study for IB English.

The Book of Mormon was also the key to understanding my culture: any question I had or problem I faced, I could always apply scriptures towards my situation. Ultimately, the Book of Mormon made me excited about answering my own questions, and it taught me how to connect with my family and community through thoughtful, doctrinebased conversations about life.

Although I’ve disengaged from the spiritual aspect of the Church, I’m still fascinated by the Book of Mormon and its teachings. Even after moving to Wales, I’ve continued attending Mormon services each Sunday to further understand my religion. To some, it may seem absurd, yet it’s one...