Week Six Focus: Scripture study.
I have a great love for the Scriptures. From the time of my conversion when I was just 12 years old I have had a love affair with these amazing books. In fact they have become an addiction.
I have learned to love the language of the scriptures. I love the incredible people whose lives are recorded there. They have all blessed my life in countless ways.
I stand in awe of the great Old Testament prophets who gave so much that I might more fully understand the ways of God. I have been among the throngs of Nephites. I’ve agonized as I witnessed the death of Abinadi. I’ve trudged through the jungle with Alma. I’ve worked beside King Benjamin in the fields and sat at his feet as he delivered his great sermon, and Nephi became a treasured friend. The Pearl of Great Price has enhanced my understanding of the teachings of the Temple. In many verses of the Doctrine & Covenants I have inserted my own name for they were written for me and to me personally.
As I study and ponder the scriptures the spirit whispers that timeless question, “What desireth thou?” As I have asked questions they have been answered. I have not had visions unfold to my view but in the quiet moments of early morning my heart and mind have been enlightened and layers of meaning in the scriptures have been peeled back to reveal truths I hadn’t seen before.
When I was a young girl I would love to throw pennies into the deepest part of the Mildura swimming pool and dive down to retrieve them. It’s not pennies I dive for any more, but for the truths of the gospel. I have no desire to float around on the top of this great sea of knowledge that the Lord has seen fit to bless my life with. I want to dive deep, and find hidden treasures, and I have, but there are still fathoms beyond me that I have not reached, nor will I ever.
The blessings that have come to me through loving the scriptures are so numerous.
My understanding of my Temple covenants has been enlarged.
Having a love of the scriptures has seen me through difficult challenges. Through the scriptures I have seen that history repeats its self and the patterns that people have set throughout time still apply today. How these people handled their trials, their deliverance and the blessings that were given after the trial of their faith, inspire and encourage me.
I have always been touched by the words of the prophets, ‘Remember, O remember’. I remember better when I write. I can read the scriptures and enjoy them but when I write my feelings and what I learn I am touched to the core. My journals are a source of comfort to me.
As I study I am amazed at the love my Heavenly Father and the Savior have for their children. I am amazed by their patience and long suffering for all mankind.
The scriptures fill me with light, hope, comfort and peace. I have come to know that whatever measure of peace I have in my life is only equal to the knowledge that I have.
Through the scriptures I have come to know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is as magnificent, beautiful, and as awesome as He is.
Here are 30 reason why we should have a blazing love of the scriptures. Some of these have been adapted from Gene R Cook’s book, “Why I love the scriptures.” Some of them are my own. I’ve long since forgotten which belong to who.

30 REASONS WHY WE SHOULD LOVE THE SCRIPTURES

1. They can give you answers to difficult problems throughout your whole life. They are full of patterns and answers to today’s problems.

2. They can make you sure and steadfast in your course in life.

3. They can teach you things that no man knows.

4. They can be the means through which you can prayerfully receive more revelation than any other way.

5. They can be an unshakable, unquestionable standard in your life, both for you and your family – a common standard on which to rely.

6. They can be one of the greatest aids of all in nourishing and teaching you and your family.

7. They can teach you how to return home.

8. They can be instrumental in your own conversion and in the conversion of numerous non-members and less actives throughout your life.

9. They can fill you with light, revelation, and truth. Their truths will frequently come to you as strokes of pure intelligence.

10. They can be one of the greatest single factors in helping you to raise up a family to the Lord.

11. They can cheer you up, lift your spirit, and give you hope, comfort, and peace.

12. Along with prayer, they can be the single greatest developer of you faith.

13. They can strengthen your commitment to God.

14. They can bring words of peace to your soul. They can reach to the depth of your soul. They are true nourishment to your soul.

15. They can have the effect of humbling you. They can continually bring you to a state of repentance.

16. They can bring peace to your family and largely remove contention.

17. They can teach you to have total, 100% confidence in their direction, absolute direction. They literally mean what they say.

18. They can alert you to, and protect you from temptation. They can give you power to resist.

19. They can give you vision and wisdom beyond your years – a more profound understanding of life and God’s purposes.

20. They can lift your sights to an eternal view and give you an eternal perspective on everything that may happen in your life.

21. They can lead you to Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. They can teach you how to be like them. They can teach you how to draw nearer to God. They can lead you to the love of God.

22. They can teach you of the pure love of Christ, and bring the spirit of charity into your own life, and with it, the ability to love all of God’s children.

23. They are the words of the Lord to you personally.

24. They reveal to you a multitude of hidden truths, so deep that you will never be able to uncover them all. The mysteries of God will be unfolded to your view.

25. They will be a perfect witness of God to you. There is no error in them.

26. They can be a way of rekindling your pre-mortal memory. They have a familiar voice, as a voice through the veil.

28. Within these volumes, the words of pure truth, will set at naught all the subtle teachings and half truths, false doctrines, and worldly teachings of men and the devil. They will give you the power to avoid deception and combat falsehoods.

29. Your understanding of your Temple covenants will be enlarged.

30. You will have a greater understanding of the atonement and what it means to you, not only eternally but on a daily basis.

This week I had to talk to about 60 Primary children encouraging them to read their scriptures. Sari came with me. I was wearing Melanie’s old tennis shoes that she wore in high school. My toes were sticking out the ends. They were as worn and used as any shoes could get. I made the comment that our scriptures needed to be as comfortable and as well worn in our hands as Melanie’s shoes were on my feet. Sari then gave a quote that will forever be my favorite and sums up everything.

“Scriptures that are falling apart are usually owned by someone who isn’t.”

2 Nephi 33:13-15 And now, my beloved brethren, all those who are of the house of Israel, and all ye ends of the earth, I speak unto you as the voice of one crying from the dust: Farewell until that great day shall come. And you that will not partake of the goodness of God, and respect the words of the Jews, (the bible & Pearl of Great Price) and also my words, (the Book of Mormon) and the words which shall proceed forth out of the mouth of the Lamb of God, (the New Testament & Doctrine & Covenants) behold, I bid you an everlasting farewell, for these words shall condemn you at the last day. For what I seal on earth, shall be brought against you at the judgment bar; for thus hath the Lord commanded me, and I must obey. Amen.

Our Challenge this week is to read at least 30 minutes day.