In preparing to
leave on a mission, there are a lot of things I've had to do. One of
which is figuring out what to do with my guitars while I'm gone. Why
can't I just put them up in the attic with everything else? Because
guitar strings need to be constantly strummed and tuned to keep them
in good condition. If they are not, they will go out of tune. The
longer they are left alone, the more out of tune they get. Once the
strings get to this point, it is really hard to get them back into
tune and to keep them that way for longer than a few minutes, because
they have developed a natural tendency to loosen up and go flat.
What does this have to do with anything? The strings on my guitar
are like our own personal spirituality. When left alone, it cannot
maintain its previous state, but inevitably deteriorates. The longer
it is left alone, the harder it is to get it back and to keep it from
going “out of tune” again. So how can we keep this from
happening? How do we keep our own spiritual strings in tune? Elder
Quentin L. Cook gave this answer: “Clearly, a dividing line
between those who hear the music of faith and those who are tone-deaf
or off-key is the active study of the scriptures.” Daily, active
study of the scriptures will provide us with divine protection from
the adversary and ensure that our spiritual strings are in tune.
President Spencer W. Kimball once said “I find that when I get
casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no
divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am
far far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures, the distance
narrows and the spirituality returns.” I have been assigned to
speak on the scriptures, specifically how I have used them to prepare
for a mission.
The way we study
the scriptures has a profound impact on how in tune we are to the
spirit and the blessings we receive from our study. Notice that
Elder Cook did not say that “casually reading” or “passively
glancing” at the scriptures would keep us in tune to the music of
faith, but that it takes “active study.” President Kimball did
not strengthen his relationship with God through “half-heartedly
browsing,” but by “immersing himself in the scriptures.” In
Lehi's dream of the tree of life, those who made it to the tree were
those who were “clinging” and “continually holding fast to the
rod of iron,” which represents the word of God, or the scriptures.
Nephi tells us to “press forward, feasting upon the words of
Christ,” while the Savior in His ministry to the Nephites commanded
them to “search these things dilligently.” Do you see a theme
here? Scripture study should be active.
So what does it
mean to actively study the scriptures? To me, that means study with
a purpose. Whether you are looking for guidance in an important
decision, more clarity on a certain topic, or comfort in a time of
trial; if you study with a purpose, your study will not only be more
effective, but you will receive the answers and guidance you are
looking for.
Another way to keep
our scripture study active is to study with a pen. Underline verses
you like and write down any insights you receive or lessons you
learn. Elder Richard G. Scott said “Knowledge carefully recorded
is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually sensitive
information should be kept in a sacred place that communicates to the
Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the likelihood of
your receiving further light.” You may still gain insights and
inspiration while studying the scriptures, but if it is not written
down and kept in a sacred place, it won't do you much good beyond the
day you received it. I finally started doing this a few years ago
and it has made all the difference. I've learned a lot more since
then, and I can remember specific verses I've read and lessons I've
learned; and I can look back and revisit things I have learned in the
past. I know that by doing this we can make our scripture study more
active as well as enhance our opportunities to receive more
revelation.
Another important
thing to remember when studying the scriptures is that the words of
the living prophets are also scripture. The Lord has said “And
whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost 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.” Likewise, President Ezra
Taft Benson taught that “The living prophet is more vital to us
than the standard works.” Many of us do not take this as seriously
as we should. The most important words we have are that of our
living prophet, and we should include this in our scripture study as
well. The Church pays for a current copy of the Ensign to be sent to
each missionary apartment throughout the world every month. That's
how important it is. I know that as I have studied the messages
shared at General Conference and in the Ensign that I have gained
important insights and knowledge. I have a testimony that these men
are called of God to declare His word to us in our day.
There are many
blessings that come from daily scripture study, both individually and
as a family. If you think your children aren't hearing any of the
words read during your family scripture study, you're probably right.
But more important than the words they hear is the Spirit that will
come into your home from your obedience and persistence in studying
the scriptures as a family. And some day, your children will grow up
and will start to pay attention, and they will thank you for forcing
them into it all those years. I'm grateful that my parents have been
so persistent in holding family scriptures each day. As much of a
circus as it is trying to get everyone there and attentive, I do
notice a difference between days when we've had family scriptures and
days when we haven't. It's helped me develop a testimony of the
importance of the scriptures and has a profound effect on the Spirit
in our home.
We can also invite
the Spirit into our lives by studying the scriptures individually.
President Monson, in an address during priesthood session a few years
ago stated “Every holder of the priesthood (and I would add every
member of the church) should participate in daily scripture study.
Crash courses are not nearly so effective as the day-to-day reading
and application of the scriptures in our lives. I promise you . . .
that if you will study the scriptures diligently, your power to avoid
temptation and to receive direction of the Holy Ghost in all you do
will be increased.” Daily scripture study will provide us
protection against the adversary as it invites the Holy Ghost to be
with us. Just as in days when we have held family scripture study,
on days when I study the scriptures personally I notice a difference.
I'm happier, more kind, and not as easily bothered if things don't
go as I planned. When I started Jr. High, my mom encouraged me to
read my scriptures each day before doing my homework. It took me a
while to get into the habit, but when I did, the results were
amazing. It was hard to wrap my mind around the thought that even
though I had so many other things I needed to do, that I should still
put scripture study first. But on days when I felt overwhelmed and
that I had to much to get done, if I read my scriptures first my mind
was more clear and focused and I was able to do what I needed to. I
know that one of the major reasons for my success in school
throughout all these years, especially in adjusting from high school
to college, is because I did what my mom suggested and put scripture
study first. Studying the scriptures, much like attending the
temple, can take a cluttered, worn out mind and make it clear and
focused.
The scriptures, in
particular the Book of Mormon, are written for our day. We can learn
great lessons by applying the stories we read in the scriptures to
our own lives. We can learn obedience from the example of Nephi. We
learn from Captain Moroni and King Benjamin what qualities to look
for in choosing righteous leaders. We learn from Abinadi's example
of how to stand for what's right in a wicked world. We learn about
repentance from Alma and missionary work from Ammon; faith from the
Brother of Jared and prayer from Enos. Most importantly, we learn
how to prepare for the second coming of Christ from the account of
the years leading up to his visit to the Nephites. President Eyring
shared this story about applying the scriptures in his own life. “I
was once invited to speak at graduation services at a university. The
university president had wanted President Gordon B. Hinckley to be
invited but found that he was unavailable. So by default I got the
invitation. I was then a junior member of the Quorum of the Twelve
Apostles. The person who invited me to speak became anxious as she
learned more about my obligations as an Apostle. She called me on the
phone and said that she now understood that my duty was to be a
witness of Jesus Christ. In very firm tones she told me that I could
not do that when I spoke there. She explained that the university
respected people of all religious beliefs, including those who denied
the existence of a God. She repeated, “You cannot fulfill your duty
here.” I hung up the phone with serious questions in my mind.
Should I tell the university that I would not keep my agreement to
speak? It was only two weeks before the event. My appearance there
had been announced. What effect would my failing to keep my agreement
have on the good name of the Church? I prayed to know what God would
have me do. The answer came in a surprising way to me. I realized
that the examples of Nephi, Abinadi, Alma, Amulek, and the sons of
Mosiah applied to what I was. They were bold witnesses of Jesus
Christ in the face of deadly peril. So the only choice to be made
was how to prepare. I dug into everything I could learn about the
university. As the day of the talk grew closer, my anxiety rose and
my prayers intensified. In a miracle like the Red Sea parting, I
found a news article. That university had been honored for doing what
the Church has learned to do in our humanitarian efforts across the
world. And so in my talk I described what we and they had done to
lift people in great need. I said that I knew that Jesus Christ was
the source of the blessings that had come into the lives of those we
and they had served. After the meeting the audience rose to applaud,
which seemed a little unusual to me. I was amazed but still a little
anxious. I remembered what happened to Abinadi. Only Alma had
accepted his witness. But that night, at a large formal dinner, I
heard the university president say that in my talk he heard the words
of God. Now, such a miraculous deliverance is rare in my experience
as a witness of Christ. But the effect of the Book of Mormon on your
character, power, and courage to be a witness for God is certain. The
doctrine and the valiant examples in that book will lift, guide, and
embolden you.” President Eyring was able to have courage and
success because of what he had learned from the Book of Mormon. As
we apply the scriptures to our own lives, we too can learn important
lessons that will give us courage, strengthen our testimonies, and
ultimately prepare us for Christ's second coming in the latter days.
The scriptures can
provide us with answers to our prayers. Elder Robert D. Hales stated
“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.”
We find similar counsel in 2 Nephi 32:3 “Wherefore, I said unto
you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ
will tell you all things what ye should do.” We do not receive
answers to our prayers simply by praying. Answers come by praying,
pondering, fasting, and studying the scriptures. By “likening the
scriptures unto ourselves,” we can receive answers to our prayers.
As well as
providing answers to our prayers, the scriptures can also provide us
with a feeling of peace and calm. When I was a wee lad, from the
ages of about 8 to 12, I was really intense about BYU football; like,
I would cry when they lost. It was unhealthy. I remember one
particular day, in 2005, I was home, by myself, watching BYU play
against the University of Utah. This particular game went into over
time, and at the end of regulation I was feeling extremely anxious.
I did not want them to lose to the Utes again. I wasn't really sure
what to do with myself. Then, the thought popped into my head that I
hadn't read my scriptures yet that day. So, during the commercial
break before overtime, I grabbed a Book of Mormon sitting on the
shelf, and opened to a random page, and this is the verse that I
read: 3 Nephi 12:44: “But behold, I say unto you, love your
enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you.”
After that, I knew that Utah was going to win. But I was okay with
it; in fact, I was even a little bit happy for them. Ever since
then, I have not been nearly as upset about my favorite sports teams
losing, but more importantly, I gained a stronger testimony that day
of the power of the scriptures to bring peace and calm into my life,
as well as the enormous amount of love that my Heavenly Father has
for me.
The most important
blessing we can gain from the scriptures is a witness and a testimony
of Jesus Christ. This is the whole reason they exist. As John
declares “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life
through his name.” You cannot seriously study the scriptures
without receiving a greater witness that Jesus is the Christ, “Now
these things are written unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, and
for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of the living God.” “And now, after the
many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony,
last of all, which we give of him: That he lives!”
