"May each of us . . . draw closer to our Father in Heaven and his Beloved Son through consistent study of the holy scriptures."
Sister Janice Cunningham conducted our meeting today in the absence of Sister Anni Groves.
Our scripture for today was given by Sister Linda Winston from John 5:39
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."
A well-chosen scripture pertaining to today's lesson.
Announcement was made that Brother Jerry Ricksecker has had his surgery and he is doing well. The surgery appears to have been a success. Bro. Ricksecker will be having physical therapy to regain full use of his legs. He will most likely be going to a rehab facility upon leaving the hospital. Your continuing prayers for his recovery are appreciated.
Our teacher for today was Sister Alexis Ricks. Sister Ricks opened her lesson by asking of the class members: "Can you recall any experience where a scripture helped you through a difficult time in life?"
She pointed out that President Hunter seemed always to find and use scriptural stories (or parables) to help make gospel principles better understood.
Sister Murray mentioned that the parable of the Prodigal Son always held a special place in her heart. She especially loves the way the father in this parable welcomes his son home with open arms and no recriminations.
Sister Martin related an experience when one of her children began to fall away from the church, she was overcome with feelings questioning whether she was crazy or if the gospel was not really true. But, while reading the scriptures, she was overcome with a warm feeling of reassurance and comfort which gave her peace.
Sister Kisby mentioned that often we have a recurring theme scripture in our lives which can help us through multiple difficulties. She specifically recalled how the story of Ismael's daughters' behavior after he died has helped to temper difficult situations for her. We read about their murmuring, accusations against Lehi and Nephi and loss of faith with predictions of bad things to come in the future. Whenever a new problem arises with accompanying worry and stress and the temptation is to rehash past, present and future complaints, she is reminded to slow down, have faith and watch carefully how other things fall into place.
Sister Joseph's favorite scripture during times of trial is "Be still, and know that I am God."
Sister Trockel said that she felt the stories of Limhi and his people in the Book of Mormon can be related to our current lives and particularly to her children's experiences.
Sister Stephanie Clark said that the scripture in 2 Nephi 2:24 - " But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things." - frequently gives her peace and faith to ride out the storm and know she and her family will make it through their difficult times.
President Hunter has said, "I am grateful for the library of scripture through which a greater knowledge of Jesus Christ can be learned by devoted study . . . the Old and New Testaments, . . . the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price. . .These bear witness that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God."
Studying the scriptures is the most profitable of all study in which we can engage.
President Hunter tells us that a testimony that Jesus is the Christ, the Great Jehovah, the Savior of the World and the Only Begotten Son of the Living God is central to all truth. Each and every book of scripture that we possess asks us to believe and have faith in God the Eternal Father and in his Son, Jesus Christ - to do the will of God and keep his commandments.
Our books of scripture contain the record of the "self-revelation of God, and through them, God speaks to man." President Hunter recognizes that time is a precious commodity and that we are always busy, but cautions that many hours are "wasted in reading or viewing that which is frivolous and of little value." Rather than spending time on the Internet or watching television programs, we should first spend our time in daily reading and studying the scriptures and then in other worthwhile pursuits. This pattern will help us to set our priorities straight for the day.
A suggestion was made by a class member to look for and experience personal progress moments in our days. Try to make sure we are not spending so much time on one source that we are wasting time which could be used to enrich our lives or increase our knowledge more fully.
Sister Cindy Johnson remarked that she has a testimony that Heavenly Father always prepares us for what is coming next in our lives. If we are watching and listening we will receive His messages.
President Hunter states that: "Not in this dispensation, surely not in any dispensation, have the scriptures - the enduring, enlightening word of God - been so readily available and so helpfully structured for the use of every man, woman, and child who will search them. The written word of God is in the most readable and accessible form ever provided to lay members in the history of the world. . ."
As we study the scriptures daily, we invite the Spirit to dwell in our homes and in our lives.
Sister Kisby remarked that when she was a newly baptized member, she was impressed when she heard President Spencer W. Kimball call upon all women of the church to become more proficient in their scriptural knowledge and Sister Ricks read a quote from President Spencer W. Kimball regarding scripture study:
"Regardless of your particular circumstances, as you become more and more familiar with the truths of the scriptures, you will be more and more effective in keeping the second great commandment, to love your neighbor as yourself. Become scholars of the scriptures - not to put others down, but to lift them up!"
Studying the scriptures helps us learn and obey God's will.
We must first understand the law and ascertain the will of the Lord if we are to be obedient to the law of the Gospel and to the teachings of Jesus Christ. In order to become familiar with what God has revealed to man, we must read, search and study the scriptures.
In the 9th Article of Faith we state that "We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God."
Because God's will has been revealed in the scriptures, we have been commanded to read them to find the truth. Our lesson refers to a scripture in the New Testament where Paul has written a letter to Timothy and urges him to read the scriptures. 2 Timothy 3:15-16 reads,
"From a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."
Sister Cunningham related how we can benefit from teaching scriptural things the best we can in our homes and as our children grow, they will bring other perspectives and experiences from their lives that become apparent in relation to the very lessons we have taught. We can then add their worthy contributions to our own store of knowledge.
To understand the scriptures requires concentrated, consistent, prayerful study.
How much time are we really giving to prayerful pondering of the scriptures? President Hunter, as one of the Lord's servants gives us a challenge (which Sister Ricks suggests we consider as more of an 'invitation') to
"1. Read, ponder, and pray over the scriptures daily as individual members of the Church.
2. Hold family scripture reading on a regular basis. We (the Presidency) commend those of you who are already doing this and urge those of you who have not yet started to begin doing so without delay.
"May each of us go forth with a firm resolve to be more prayerful, to seek to live more fully by the Spirit, and to draw closer to our Father in Heaven and his Beloved Son through consistent study of the holy scriptures."
Regardless of our varying reading habits, in order to understand the scriptures requires more than casual reading - we must devote ourselves to concentrated study.
It is pointed out in our lesson that there is nothing more helpful than prayer to open our understanding of the scriptures. When we preface scripture study with prayer, we can prepare our minds to seek answers in our searching.
While the time of day and the length of time we devote to scripture study should be consistent with our daily activities, the most important aspect is that we have a regular time to be set aside for study and that we allow nothing else be allowed to interfere with our study. Meaningful scripture study does not necessarily require a certain number of verses or chapters to be accomplished every time. As is pointed out in the lesson, "Sometimes we find that the study of a single verse will occupy the whole time." The goal seems to be not quantity, but quality of understanding and knowledge of what we are reading.
Contemplating the brief scriptural account of Jairus brings a great depth of understanding and meaning.
Due to time constraints, we did not review Section 4 which uses the account of Jairus from the New Testament in demonstrating how much knowledge and understanding can be gained from thoroughly contemplating a single scripture. Sister Ricks, however, strongly urged us all to read this portion for suggestions on how to ponder scriptures in our daily study. This section is found on pages 149-151 in our manual.
The Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants will bring us closer to Christ.
President Hunter quotes President Ezra Taft Benson as he admonished us not to neglect reading and abiding by the precepts of the Book of Mormon. President Benson said, "Its great mission is to bring men to Christ (and thus to the Father), and all other things are secondary."
President Hunter declares that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That reading it will expand our knowledge of the way God deals with man and that it will provide us with a powerful testimony of Jesus.
In speaking of the Doctrine and Covenants, President Hunter states that it is a unique book in that it is the only book "on the face of the entire earth with a preface composed by the Creator himself." He also states that this book contains more direct quotations from the Lord than any other existing book of scripture. It is not an ancient document, but a book of modern revelation for our day.
We are encouraged to have a daily personal scripture study and to also have a family scripture study time each day that we might have the Spirit to dwell with us and that we might gain a more full understanding of the will of the Lord and what He would have each of us do to achieve our exaltation.
One final quotation from the Study Help for this Chapter which comes from President Henry B. Eyring:
"Reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully."
May we each move forward in achieving this 'invitation'.
Your bloggess,
Karen
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