In teaching his brothers about the meaning of the iron rod, which their father saw in a dream, Nephi bears witness of the power of the word of God (which is what the iron rod in the dream symbolizes).
“…I said unto them that…whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” (1 Nephi 15:24)
-What words have the most influence over your life? Are these words from an earthly source or from a Heavenly source?
-Do you believe there are written and spoken words that come from a Heavenly source? If so, how can one identify language that is from God as opposed to that which is not?
-Is it possible to avoid, or cure, spiritual blindness with words that are not divinely inspired?
-Do you ever feel that the words that are influencing you are leading you to destruction? Have you felt the opposite where the words influencing you are bringing light and joy into your life?
-If you believe the Book of Mormon has a Heavenly source, how important is it to delve deeply and often into its pages? How important are its messages?
Latter-day Prophets, Seers, and Revelators…
“When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures; for His words are spoken through His prophets. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
“If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline” (Elder Richard D. Hales, “Holy Scriptures: The Power of God unto Our Salvation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 26–27).
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“[Lehi] saw that if people would hold fast to that rod, they could avoid the rivers of filthiness, stay away from the forbidden paths, stop from wandering in the strange roads that lead to destruction. … Not only will the word of God lead us to the fruit which is desirable above all others, but in the word of God and through it we can find the power to resist temptation, the power to thwart the work of Satan and his emissaries. … The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life” (President Ezra Taft Benson, “The Power of the Word,” Ensign, May 1986, 80.)
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“Let me suggest that holding fast to the iron rod entails, in large measure, the prayerful, consistent, and earnest use of the holy scriptures as a sure source of revealed truth and as a reliable guide for the journey along the strait and narrow path to the tree of life—even to the Lord Jesus Christ” (David A. Bednar, “Lehi’s Dream: Holding Fast to the Rod,” Ensign, Oct. 2011, 36).
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“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith [2007], 64).
Video from Book of Mormon Central:
Messages of the Book of Mormon 