Our family recently had a stay-cation experience at the Opryland hotel in Nashville. It was a great stay over night after spending the day at the adjacent water park, SoundWaves. The kids had fun and I was reminded I'm not as young as I once was. My muscles ached in ways I thought not yet possible. When we retired to our room for the night, my oldest son found a copy of the Book of Mormon in the night stand next to a bed in the room. He was quite excited seeing familiar literature in an unfamiliar location such as this resort hotel. I told him this was typical of Marriott hotels but was not aware this particular resort was under the ownership of their franchise.
Come to find out, Marriott purchased Gaylord Opryland Resort and their other hotel locations throughout the country back in 2012.
They have been supplying this marvelous work and a wonder in the rooms by the Grand Ole' Opry for almost 7 years now.
I was grateful to have it within reach, since we were out of our home and I was off my morning routine. I like to get up extra early to study the scriptures and a general conference talk, before the kids awaken and I have to get out to work for the day. That is my time to connect with Heavenly Father through prayer and pondering what I'm reading. It gives me peace of mind, and clarity through life's challenges. I can learn how to apply gospel principles from examples I find in the scriptures, and I can learn more about the Savior as I dive in deep digging for those mysteries of God that can help keep me and my family safe from the influence of the world.
So, why does the Marriott hotel require books of Mormon in most of their hotel rooms across the world?
As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and returned missionary, I am excited to see this book in a hotel room I had not expected would carry it. It takes me back to when I was in high school and would drop pass along cards in my fellow students' lockers with contact information for the ward missionaries and information to get access to free copies of the book of Mormon. I was anxious to plant seeds that had opportunities to grow into sincere investigations into the restored gospel. I also had no hesitation in inviting friends to my ward's sacrament meeting on Sundays and stake and ward youth activities during the week, as a teenager.
Is the Marriott Corporation using this as a tool for missionary work? Maybe, but I have not heard of or seen any converts who joined as a result of a small blue book they found in a dresser drawer of their hotel room. That does not mean I hasn't and/or won't happen.
In a statement given to the Associated Press, they were quoted as saying -
There are many guests who are not digitally connected who appreciate having one or both of these books available. It's a tradition appreciated by many, objected to by few. -
This gives guests options if they are in search of answers to life's questions, seeking peace, or are curious about the book.
The book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, has 3 major purposes for the reader:
1 - to show what great things the Lord has done for His children.
2 - to give to know of the Lord's covenants with his people.
3 - to convince the reader that Jesus is the Christ.
If you happen to visit any one of the Marriott hotels around the country or the world in your next trip away from home, check your drawer and see if you have the book. Crack it open, read from it's pages, and see if you don't feel the voice of the Savior speaking to your heart and your mind truths that shine a light on your purpose in life, or on the direction God wills you to go , moving forward.
