I was asked to speak in church this past Sunday. This is a similar version of what I presented (not exact because I wasn't clever enough to save the revised copy to my computer and I no longer have the original in my posession), so if it doesn't sound quite right, please forgive me.
I’m so excited to have this opportunity to speak today, and
I’ll tell you why. Somewhere in December last year I decided that I was going
to set some really ambitious goals for the year. I was serious about taking charge
of my life and wanted to become more than I was then. A few of the goals I set
were to walk 500 miles, grow my hair out to donate it (which is taking a LOT
longer than I would like), and to read the standard works cover to cover. That
was a goal I had set for myself a long time ago but I don’t think I ever
intended to do it any time soon (in all honesty I think I imagined myself with
gray hair before that one ever actually happened). Don’t get me wrong, I love
the scriptures and I love to study them, but the idea of reading the Old and
New Testament, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants and the Pearl of Great
Price all in one stretch seemed just a
bit out of reach and a little more time consuming than I felt I wanted.
But January 1st came and with it came my determination! I started this goal.
I had a counselor in one of my student wards that would always tell us that if
we read just 7 pages a day we would complete the entire set of scripture by
sometime in November. I’ll tell you now that I’ll likely still be reading to
complete this goal in December, but I will finish it this year if it is the
last thing I do (and it very well may be). This goal of mine has turned what
was a love of the scriptures into a passion for them. I’ve learned so much
during this journey and it’s truly only scratching the surface of the
experiences that I know I can have with the scriptures.
To continue with the reason that I’m excited to speak
today…about a month ago I started school again. I’ve returned to BYU-Idaho
where I started my college experience, this time doing so online. One of the
classes I’m taking is a religion class entitled Family Foundations. The course
is broken up into six – two week units. During each unit, we are asked to focus
on a project above and beyond our course study called a “Provident Living
Project”. As I’ve outlined, I set a lot of goals already for the year and had a
pretty stringent schedule to accomplish these things. Then I decided to add
just a bit more excitement with school. THEN I found out about these projects.
Before I even knew what I was going to be required to do I started feeling a
little overwhelmed. That evening as I began my study, I started with a prayer
as I always do, but asked specifically for help to organize myself in such a
way that I could accomplish all of these tasks whatever they may be. Imagine my
surprise when I opened the project to find that the first assignment was to
create a plan to implement/improve scripture study in my life. This wasn’t
necessarily adding anything to my existing list, but it would enhance the
experiences I was already having. It was such a sense of relief and felt like a
direct answer to my prayers.
Now, I’m going to shift gears slightly, but I’ll be coming
back to explain this further.
Why do we have the scriptures?
In a talk entitled, “A Reservoir of Living Water”, Elder
David A. Bednar said:
“You and I must look
to and come unto Christ, who is “the fountain of living waters”, by reading,
studying, searching, and feasting upon the words of Christ as contained in the Holy
Scriptures. By so doing, we can receive both spiritual direction and protection
during our mortal journey.”
The scriptures are our road map, our game plan, and our
warning system. If you are heading out on a cross country trip, you use a
mapping device. If you’re going out for the big game, you reference the game plan.
And if you are experiencing stormy weather, you consult some sort of warning
system to know what you can expect and how to prepare yourself to weather those
conditions and to come through it undamaged.
How we study?
Is there a right or wrong way? Absolutely not! Just get in
there and read! Due to your own circumstances, there may be times where you
study or use them differently. For instance, from the same talk, Elder Bednar
stated that there are “three basic ways or methods of obtaining living water
from the scriptural reservoir: (1) reading
the scriptures from beginning to end, (2) studying the scriptures by topic, and (3) searching the scriptures
for connections, patterns, and themes.” Based on my need to complete this goal,
I’m focused on reading the scriptures from start to finish. There are times
where I want to gain deeper understanding of a certain topic and I study that
specifically. And as Elder Bednar mentioned, there are times where we should or
have need to search the scriptures seeking for patterns and themes. It’s up to
you!
Another way to study is to memorize scriptures. Elder Scott
once said: “Scriptures are like packets of light that
illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.
They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in
Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.”
“Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To
memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new
individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a
source of motivation for needed change.”
Why do we need to study the scriptures?
Elder Perry shared an experience in the April 1993 General
Conference of the Saints in Peru who, due to strife within the country, were
struggling. The area presidency realized a need to fortify them through this
time. After much fasting and prayer, they determined that they needed to
emphasize prayer and scripture study within each family. Of this experience,
Elder Perry stated:
“Among
the Peruvian Saints, who live in this nation racked with heartache and despair,
there has emerged a stronger faith and devotion to our Father in Heaven because
they heeded the counsel of His servants to hold daily family prayer.
“A special maturing in
the gospel has developed among the members of the Church in Peru because they
added to their daily family prayers the practice of having daily family
scripture study. When the revealed words of the prophets found their way into
the hearts of the Saints, they brought about a mighty change in the way they
lived and believed. Questions, personal problems, and important concerns were
answered for them by the inspired counsel of the scriptures”.
It is interesting to me that two of the most basic teachings
of the gospel, prayer and scripture study, can have such a profound effect.
From his talk we note that not only do the scriptures provide a spiritual
strength to us, but in studying the scriptures, we can receive answers to our
prayers.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the saying, if you want to talk to
God, pray; if you want God to talk to you, read the scriptures! I know that
this is true. God does hear and answers prayers, and often uses the experiences
we have in the scriptures to give us those answers.
Examples of how scripture study has helped me receive
answers to my prayers
Elder
Scott mentioned memorizing scriptures. There
was a time that I was trying to break a habit I had. I knew I didn’t need to do
this thing, but I was having a hard time breaking myself of it. I prayed
sincerely for help to overcome this thing, but I still struggled. One night
after weeks and likely months of struggling to break myself, I was reading in
Moroni 9 and came across verse 28 which says:
“Be
wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask
not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken,
that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living
God.”
As
I read that, I realized that I needed to change my prayer and desire just a
bit. Instead of simply asking for help I needed to ask with a firmness unshaken
and commit to always serve God. With that as my focus I knew I could go ahead
and change my life for the better and break this habit. That night I committed
this verse to memory. I would recite it throughout the day, especially if I
started trying to allow myself to get off track. The answer to my prayer was
found then through the scriptures and because of the time I took to study and
memorize it, I continue to be blessed by it.
So, do you remember the assignment I mentioned from the
beginning of my talk? Implementing or improving my scripture study? As I
mentioned, I already had my goal to read the Standard Works this year, so I was
trying to figure out a way to improve the quality of my time in the scriptures.
At that point it was about trying to maximize my efforts as opposed to
expanding them. I prayed for some guidance as to what would be the most
beneficial thing for me given my circumstances. I considered everything I had
going on, my concerns, and the things I had been focusing on in my prayers. I
decided that as I read the scriptures, I would seek specifically for examples
of having patience and trusting in the Lord. I was amazed as I read how
frequently examples of this theme came up! They are everywhere!!
At the beginning of the project I thought I was busy and was
a little stressed. This week, the game changed a bit due to an extended work
schedule, a lot of transitions and a variety of other factors, all of which
equated to even less time to do my homework and do the thing I had committed to
do outside of work, and that sent my stress level right through the roof. You
can ask my parents. I would be the person having mini breakdowns in stores and
restaurants. I could never have predicted that the themes I was seeking in my
study a couple of weeks ago would help me in a VERY future time. At the time I
started the project, things were going pretty smoothly. I was adjusting to my
class schedule and though I felt nervous about things, I was managing. There
was really no need to suppose that things would change from that. I believe
that because I prayed to know what Heavenly Father wanted me to know, I was
assisted in making my theme selection. It is also because of continued prayers
for guidance, strength and comfort that the scriptures have been opened to me
in a way at this time that is strengthening my testimony that Heavenly Father
knows and loves us individually, and is quite literally sustaining me day to
day.
One last experience that I’d like to share occurred on
Friday night. Mom and I had talked a bit about everything and she was trying to
help me realize that I need to find a way to free my schedule just a bit. As we
were driving, I pondered everything I’ve been tasked to do right now, and the
thing I realize is that I’ve brought most of it on myself. As I tried to think
of things I could either rearrange or eliminate, a verse came to mind. Mosiah
4: 27 which says: “And see that all these things are done in wisdom and aorder; for
it is not requisite that a man should run bfaster than
he has strength.”
In times of need, when the prayers of our heart say more
than we could with words, the scriptures that we have read can be brought to
our remembrance and provide us with the
answers and direction we desperately need.
A Promise
President Gordon B. Hinckley made a promise regarding reading
the Book of Mormon. He said: “There will come into your lives and into your
homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to
walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living
reality of the Son of God.”
In addition to the blessings promised by a prophet of God, I
testify that our Heavenly Father uses the tools He’s given us to speak to us.
As we pray and study in faith, we will be blessed to find the answers we seek.
I can tell you that because I’ve tested and tried it, and know it to be true.
I know our Heavenly Father loves us! I know that Jesus
Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I’m grateful for the gospel in my life and the
ways it helps me strive to be a little better each day.
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