A Lifetime Pursuit . . .

Good morning all! Such a fabulous day! I thought I'd start it off with a quote by Richard G. Scott.

"President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized the importance of spiritual knowledge, saying:

'We should make daily study of the scriptures a lifetime pursuit. … The most important [thing] you can do … is to immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them diligently. … Learn the doctrine. Master the principles. …

'You must … see that … searching the scriptures is not a burden laid upon [us] by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity' (Ezra Taft Benson, “Godly Characteristics of the Master,” Ensign, Nov 1986, 45).

President Spencer W. Kimball commented:

'Spiritual learning takes precedence. The secular without the foundation of the spiritual is … like the foam upon the milk, the fleeting shadow. … One need not choose between the two … for there is opportunity to get both simultaneously' (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p. 390)."

Richard G. Scott, “Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov 1993, 86

In a World Filled With Conflict . . .

"Study and ponder the scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon, individually and as families. In a world filled with conflict and confusion, you will find peace and safety in the revealed word of God."

M. Russell Ballard, “Equality through Diversity,” Ensign, Nov 1993, 89

Always Remember Him. . .

In a previous post, I talked about the importance of finding the ‘rocks’ or important things that we need to accomplish in our daily lives. One thing in particular stands out to me; it is the covenant we make with the Lord every Sunday when we partake of the sacrament. And it’s interesting because the Lord teaches by repetition. In the prayer on the bread, we covenant to “always remember Him” (DC 20:77). Then in the prayer on the water, we covenant AGAIN to “always remember Him” (DC 20:79). It is the only covenant repeated in both prayers. Heavenly Father wouldn’t have us covenant twice to always remember his Son if it weren’t essential to our spiritual journey on this earth.

One way that we can “always remember” Christ is to make time in our daily lives is to “give heed to the words of Christ” (Alma 37:44). In other words, we can set a time in our schedules to study the scriptures. I’m going to do that. My goal is to read the scriptures around 12pm every weekday, around 1pm on Saturday and after 8pm or before church on Sunday. I have a goal also to record my progress here, because "to change is difficult." And this is a big change for me.

Do you have a set time for studying the scriptures? Is it a set length of time or just until you feel fulfilled?

Let’s make the journey together.

Burning Questions about Scripture Study

Lately I've had a burning desire to understand how to study the scriptures better. How is it that I'm supposed to read and understand the information inside them? How am I to apply and live the words of Christ daily? What's the difference between a spiritual immersion into the scriptures and reading just because we're told to?

I'm going to focus on finding the answers to these and other questions about scripture study. I really want to know what I'm supposed to do and how to do it.

Come on the journey with me.