Steven and I were asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. For anyone interested, here is my talk, sans the mandatory opening joke. It went over fairly well.
Scripture Study
Sister Ann M. Dibb related a newspaper account of an accident that happened several years ago in which four people died and seven more were left clinging to the underside of a 125-foot-high bridge for more than an hour. The accident, which happened in Ontario, Canada, occurred during a painting project for the city’s Bridge. Survivors held on to a one-inch lip of steel girder and stood on an eight-inch ledge of steel for more than an hour until rescue teams could reach them. After the tragedy, officials asked why the victims were not wearing any safety equipment. Their response was that the safety equipment was available to them but they chose not to use it.
Our journey on Earth is as hazardous to our spiritual well-being as the experience just related was to their physical well-being. Heavenly Father has not left us, His children, alone during our time here on earth. As Sister Dibb stated, "He has already given us all the safety equipment we will need to successfully return to Him. He has given us personal prayer, the scriptures, living prophets and the Holy Ghost to guide us. At times, using this equipment may seem cumbersome, awkward and horribly unfashionable. Its proper use requires our diligence, obedience and persistence."
Lehi's vision vividly illustrates the need for each of us to take hold of the iron rod, which is the Word of God (the scriptures), and hold on tightly until our earthly probation is over.
When holy men of God write or speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, their words "shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (D&C 68:4).
As soon as I was assigned this topic, the words to one of our cherished hymns kept running through my mind—“Oh Holy Words of Truth and Love” by Joseph L. Townsend. Its message is pertinent to this talk. Notice how often the word “Love” is used.
1. Oh, holy words of truth and love We hear from day to day,Revealed to Saints from God above, To guide in heaven’s way.
2. They’re from Apostles good and true, Whose names we all revere,Who daily teach us what to do In words of love and cheer.
3. They’re from the prophets God inspires, In counsels oft withstood,Reproving all our ill desires, Commending all that’s good.
Beautiful words of love Coming from God above,How sweet, how dear the words we hear! They’re beautiful words of love.
The official, canonized scriptures of the Church, often called the standard works, are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Besides these, the Church magazines also contain messages given by past and current apostles and prophets.
One Sunday a young Relief Society teacher instructed the sisters in attendance to read the scriptures every day for 30 days and asserted that those that did would receive a special blessing on the 30th day. She then gave her account of testing that very claim. Being very concerned about her inactive sister, she read the scriptures daily for the required period of time and on the 30th day, the sister in question called and asked her to help put her life in order.
Greatly desiring a particular blessing, I began reading the scriptures faithfully and recording my daily progress, thus showing concrete evidence that I was faithful to my resolution. At the end of the thirty days, I could not discern any miraculous answer to my prayers. I decided that perhaps a sixty day period was necessary to earn the blessing I desired. After 60 days of consistent scripture study, I still did not realize the blessing I wanted. Being very determined to receive this blessing, I continued to read and record my progress and to this I added the practice of recording three things that I was thankful for.
After a year, I re-evaluated my efforts. Had I received the desired blessing? No. Then I asked myself if I had I received any other blessings. Reading the daily lists of things I was grateful for revealed that I had indeed. But the blessing that headed the list was the habit of consistent scripture study and the accompanying peace, insight, and knowledge that it brings me.
It’s been 16 years since I first committed myself to this practice. I call my scripture study time my “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” I open with prayer, write down three blessings I enjoy, and then read the standard works or articles from the Ensign.
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president said, "One good way to start studying the scriptures is to 'liken' them to ourselves. Some people start by choosing a subject in the Topical Guide that they need to know more about. Or they start at the beginning of a book of scripture and look for specific teachings. . . .
"Whichever way a person starts studying the scriptures, the key to unlocking important knowledge is to keep studying. I never tire of discovering the rich treasures of truth in the scriptures because they teach with 'plainness, even as plain as word can be'.
"Through my scripture reading and the prayers that accompany my study, I have gained knowledge which brings me peace and helps me keep my energies focused on eternal priorities. Because I started reading the scriptures daily, I have learned about my Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and what I need to do to be like Them."
To illustrate this point, Kerry Brinsdon, of Australia, recounts, “I joined the Church when I was 20 years old and made many friends with other young single adults. I hoped to find someone to marry; yet as time went by, I began to feel as though the odds of my obtaining a celestial marriage in this life were waning.
“During a period when I was feeling particularly discouraged, I counseled with my bishop. He surprised me by pulling out a list of scriptures, each of which he said could teach a lesson about preparing for marriage. Working to prepare myself for marriage and focusing less on the fact that I was single would help me feel happier and more patient while I looked for a spouse.
“He recommended that I study the scriptures on the list and then add others to it. I could watch for possible applications to marriage in my personal scripture study. The list could then be a reference for me to turn to when I needed encouragement.
“Preparing for marriage wasn’t a topic I remembered ever having seen in the scriptures before. But as soon as I began studying the verses on the bishop’s list, I found that they—and many others—did, in fact, give me marriage preparation counsel and that studying them brought me comfort.
“At age 31 I married in the temple. Shortly afterward, my husband and I were invited to teach an institute course on preparing for eternal marriage. I shared with the students my experiences finding marriage-related scriptures, and we began searching for marriage advice in them together. Each week the students found other marriage-related scriptures to add to the list.”
Along these same lines, one of our friends asked himself what advice the scriptures would impart to help him become a better sales person. He reported that as soon as he humbly asked for this insight and applied the scriptures to his particular question, applicable counsel flooded his mind.
One summer at Girl’s camp, the Stake President’s wife informed us that we had to read at least two scriptures daily, otherwise you wouldn’t be studying the scriptures, just studying the scripture.
Why Search the Scriptures? According to the Visiting Teaching Message: Ensign, April 2009
President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95): "I commend to you the revelations of God as the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed. Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets" ("Fear Not, Little Flock," in 1988–89 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1989], 112).
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994): "Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. . . . Certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it. . . .
" . . . Recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them" ("The Power of the Word," Ensign, May 1986, 82).
Sister Ann M. Dibb related a newspaper account of an accident that happened several years ago in which four people died and seven more were left clinging to the underside of a 125-foot-high bridge for more than an hour. The accident, which happened in Ontario, Canada, occurred during a painting project for the city’s Bridge. Survivors held on to a one-inch lip of steel girder and stood on an eight-inch ledge of steel for more than an hour until rescue teams could reach them. After the tragedy, officials asked why the victims were not wearing any safety equipment. Their response was that the safety equipment was available to them but they chose not to use it.
Our journey on Earth is as hazardous to our spiritual well-being as the experience just related was to their physical well-being. Heavenly Father has not left us, His children, alone during our time here on earth. As Sister Dibb stated, "He has already given us all the safety equipment we will need to successfully return to Him. He has given us personal prayer, the scriptures, living prophets and the Holy Ghost to guide us. At times, using this equipment may seem cumbersome, awkward and horribly unfashionable. Its proper use requires our diligence, obedience and persistence."
Lehi's vision vividly illustrates the need for each of us to take hold of the iron rod, which is the Word of God (the scriptures), and hold on tightly until our earthly probation is over.
When holy men of God write or speak by the power of the Holy Ghost, their words "shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation" (D&C 68:4).
As soon as I was assigned this topic, the words to one of our cherished hymns kept running through my mind—“Oh Holy Words of Truth and Love” by Joseph L. Townsend. Its message is pertinent to this talk. Notice how often the word “Love” is used.
1. Oh, holy words of truth and love We hear from day to day,Revealed to Saints from God above, To guide in heaven’s way.
2. They’re from Apostles good and true, Whose names we all revere,Who daily teach us what to do In words of love and cheer.
3. They’re from the prophets God inspires, In counsels oft withstood,Reproving all our ill desires, Commending all that’s good.
Beautiful words of love Coming from God above,How sweet, how dear the words we hear! They’re beautiful words of love.
The official, canonized scriptures of the Church, often called the standard works, are the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. Besides these, the Church magazines also contain messages given by past and current apostles and prophets.
One Sunday a young Relief Society teacher instructed the sisters in attendance to read the scriptures every day for 30 days and asserted that those that did would receive a special blessing on the 30th day. She then gave her account of testing that very claim. Being very concerned about her inactive sister, she read the scriptures daily for the required period of time and on the 30th day, the sister in question called and asked her to help put her life in order.
Greatly desiring a particular blessing, I began reading the scriptures faithfully and recording my daily progress, thus showing concrete evidence that I was faithful to my resolution. At the end of the thirty days, I could not discern any miraculous answer to my prayers. I decided that perhaps a sixty day period was necessary to earn the blessing I desired. After 60 days of consistent scripture study, I still did not realize the blessing I wanted. Being very determined to receive this blessing, I continued to read and record my progress and to this I added the practice of recording three things that I was thankful for.
After a year, I re-evaluated my efforts. Had I received the desired blessing? No. Then I asked myself if I had I received any other blessings. Reading the daily lists of things I was grateful for revealed that I had indeed. But the blessing that headed the list was the habit of consistent scripture study and the accompanying peace, insight, and knowledge that it brings me.
It’s been 16 years since I first committed myself to this practice. I call my scripture study time my “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” I open with prayer, write down three blessings I enjoy, and then read the standard works or articles from the Ensign.
Julie B. Beck, Relief Society general president said, "One good way to start studying the scriptures is to 'liken' them to ourselves. Some people start by choosing a subject in the Topical Guide that they need to know more about. Or they start at the beginning of a book of scripture and look for specific teachings. . . .
"Whichever way a person starts studying the scriptures, the key to unlocking important knowledge is to keep studying. I never tire of discovering the rich treasures of truth in the scriptures because they teach with 'plainness, even as plain as word can be'.
"Through my scripture reading and the prayers that accompany my study, I have gained knowledge which brings me peace and helps me keep my energies focused on eternal priorities. Because I started reading the scriptures daily, I have learned about my Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and what I need to do to be like Them."
To illustrate this point, Kerry Brinsdon, of Australia, recounts, “I joined the Church when I was 20 years old and made many friends with other young single adults. I hoped to find someone to marry; yet as time went by, I began to feel as though the odds of my obtaining a celestial marriage in this life were waning.
“During a period when I was feeling particularly discouraged, I counseled with my bishop. He surprised me by pulling out a list of scriptures, each of which he said could teach a lesson about preparing for marriage. Working to prepare myself for marriage and focusing less on the fact that I was single would help me feel happier and more patient while I looked for a spouse.
“He recommended that I study the scriptures on the list and then add others to it. I could watch for possible applications to marriage in my personal scripture study. The list could then be a reference for me to turn to when I needed encouragement.
“Preparing for marriage wasn’t a topic I remembered ever having seen in the scriptures before. But as soon as I began studying the verses on the bishop’s list, I found that they—and many others—did, in fact, give me marriage preparation counsel and that studying them brought me comfort.
“At age 31 I married in the temple. Shortly afterward, my husband and I were invited to teach an institute course on preparing for eternal marriage. I shared with the students my experiences finding marriage-related scriptures, and we began searching for marriage advice in them together. Each week the students found other marriage-related scriptures to add to the list.”
Along these same lines, one of our friends asked himself what advice the scriptures would impart to help him become a better sales person. He reported that as soon as he humbly asked for this insight and applied the scriptures to his particular question, applicable counsel flooded his mind.
One summer at Girl’s camp, the Stake President’s wife informed us that we had to read at least two scriptures daily, otherwise you wouldn’t be studying the scriptures, just studying the scripture.
Why Search the Scriptures? According to the Visiting Teaching Message: Ensign, April 2009
President Howard W. Hunter (1907–95): "I commend to you the revelations of God as the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed. Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets" ("Fear Not, Little Flock," in 1988–89 Devotional and Fireside Speeches [1989], 112).
President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994): "Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word. . . . Certain blessings are to be found only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it. . . .
" . . . Recommit yourselves to a study of the scriptures. Immerse yourselves in them daily so you will have the power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. Read them in your families and teach your children to love and treasure them" ("The Power of the Word," Ensign, May 1986, 82).
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