Sunday, September 1, 2013

What the Scriptures Mean to Me

Not long ago, in the second half of 2005, President Hinckley challenged all of the members of the church to read the Book of Mormon again before the end of the year. As I did this, I thought of how blessed we are to have the scriptures available to us.

The Mulekites came away from Jerusalem without any scriptures, and before many generations they were a lost and godless people. The Lamanites, when they destroyed the Nephites, also destroyed the scriptures, rejecting them intentionally.  Their descendants dwindled even further in unbelief.

The Nephites and other righteous groups who had and used the scriptures flourished, both as to things of righteousness and as to material prosperity.

Personally, my day goes better and I am spiritually stronger when I begin the day by reading in the scriptures. There is a better spirit in the home when we read as a family. This is true of the Book of Mormon and the Bible, of course, but I find that the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price also have that spirit about them. Which of the four has the most impact on us? That depends on the circumstances of the day and upon what the Lord has in store for us to learn at the time. When is the right time to start reading the Book of Mormon again? I think it's the day you finish reading it. I hope that there is never a day in which I don't read something from that book. Consistent studly of the Bible, D&C, and Pearl of Great Price are also essential.

I testify that the scriptures are a very important part of our Heavenly Father's approach to providing gospel knowledge to his children. Many of our problems in life can be answered through prayerful scripture study. I thank the Lord that this is so.

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