With this strong feeling for the book of Mormon in my family it was only natural that I would one day find the time and desire to read it for my self and do as I had been told I must do and pray and ask if it is true. I was drawn to it, like nothing I had ever felt before, I almost felt that if I didn't read it I would be stopped from progressing with the rest of my life, it is a very strange thing to explain in words but I all I can say is that I felt compelled to read it.

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The night was a Friday I remember it well. I took the copy of the book of Mormon that sat on our family book shelf and I made my way to my room. I had decided that I would read it all night if necessary until I had finished it. I took to my room made my self comfortable, with supplies and enough food and drink to last out.  I started to read. Soon enough I had finished chapter one and I found that I had not tired or even felt like that would happen.  I went on chapter after chapter I couldn't stop reading.  After a while I noticed that it was getting late and I put the book down and decided to go to sleep and continue in the morning.  I could not sleep I tossed and turned and finally I had had enough I went to get out of bed but found that I could not move it seemed that I was being held down by some force or other. I struggled for some time to move until the weight upon my chest become to much to bear I called upon my Saviour in prayer and I suddenly found that I was free. I sprang to my feet switched on my bedroom light and I knew that I must finish the book before the morning.  It wasn't long before I was reading about the Saviour and his visit to the Nephites and how he walked among them. I went on. Three o'clock went by then four then five I had finished. The joy of doing so filled my heart and the words of Moroni filled my head “Ask God the eternal father in the name of Jesus Christ if these things are not true”.   They went round and round in my head and I knew that I must do as he asked. I knelt down and began to pray.

 

As I began to pray I became aware of a light gathering in my room, so much so that it filled the room and the brightness was so great that I had never seen the likes of it before.  I saw descending from above me a personage who was glorious to behold. He was dressed in a white robe and he descended until he came to a stop just off the floor. He spoke to me and said these words. “My name is Moroni. I come to you from the presence of the Saviour Jesus Christ.  I come to you because you asked with a sincere heart and with real intent as to whether the things that you had read were not true.  I bear witness in the name of the Father and the Son that they are true and they do bear record of my people and of our dealings with the Saviour Jesus Christ”.

 

I felt totally over come with the spirit, I felt tears fall upon my cheeks, I was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit and I knew that he was from the Lord because the spirit had bore witness to me.  He went on saying. “Behold Matthew the plates. Stretch for your hand and feel them.  Turn the pages that you might know that they are real. Feel the writing that you might know that it was by the hand of the Prophets that is was written”.  I stretched forth my hand and I did as I was commanded.  I can’t do justice to how I felt when I did this. All I can say is that I felt the pure love of Christ and that it was over whelming for a boy as young as I was to have this happen to me.  After I had touched the plates Moroni spoke to me saying.  “Do not wonder in your mind why I have been sent unto you. For it is the will of the Saviour Jesus Christ that I show these things unto you. The time will come when you will be called to do a great work upon the face of the earth like unto that of the Prophet Joseph Smith Jr. But behold I say unto you that this will be the last time that I come unto you for when you are ready the Saviour will send another unto you. Be faithful and obedient to the Lord. Honour thy parents that your days may be long upon the land. Read from the book of Mormon, read third Nephi and study it out in your mind. I leave you now and I do so in the name of the Saviour Jesus Christ”.

 

As he said this I noticed that the light gathered around him and that he ascended back the way that he had come until he was gone and I was alone. I fell to my bed exhausted, tired and overwhelmed by all that had happened. When I had gathered my strength I made way to may parents and told them what had happened. May father told me that I must do as the angel Moroni had instructed me and that if I did the promise would be fulfilled. I never forgot that experience and I don't think I ever will.

 

Years went by, I continued to do as I was commanded I was diligent in reading the book of Mormon and honoring my parents, although I did at times falter with regards to the latter and although I did stumble along the way I was quick to call upon the Lord for forgiveness. I told many people of my experience. Some accepted it others did not some said it was of the devil others that it was from God. I had my fair share of persecution but I know what I saw and I will never deny it.

 

Eventually the time came when I met my wife and we married and we had our first son Levi, it was the most amazing time of my life to hold in my arms a newly born baby and to realise where its spirit had come from was truly wonderful and it strengthened my testimony in what had happened to me. However it was in 2005 that my life changed forever and the promise that had been given me by the Angel Moroni was fulfilled.

 

I had retired to bed with my wife early. I had decided to spend that time reading the book of Mormon the History of Joseph Smith and praying. It was while I was praying for guidance about what I could do for my family in these last days that it happened. The room became engulfed in light and I saw descending out of heaven a personage. He rested just of the floor and he spoke to me calling me by name saying “Behold I am Raphael sent unto you from the presence of the Father and the Son”. I stretched forth my hand and he took hold of it, I felt him and he was indeed real. I sat on my bed and listen to him talk to me about the work I was to do and that one day a book would be given to me that would speak of a people that once inhabited my country and that it would stand as a further witness of Jesus Christ along with the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

 

Over the proceeding months and years I was visited many more times by the Angel Raphael each time I was given more commandants and revelations until the time I was given the Book of Jeraneck.  I testify that these things are true that I have indeed spoken to Angels and have spoken with Christ and they have indeed imparted many things unto me.  I know that my Redeemer lives and that I have been given a book that indeed testifies of the Saviour and that it speaks and bears witness of many things to do with the gospel of Christ. I will not deny them and I will defend them till my death and beyond. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.