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[The first half of my talk given 1/11/15. Read the second part here.]
The
chorus to one of the Primary songs reads:
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Every day I need
The power that I get each time I read.
Now these sons of Mosiah . . . had waxed strong in the
knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had
searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the
word of God.
But this is not all;
they had given themselves to much prayer,
and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of
revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. [emphasis
mine]
Why
do we need power from the scriptures? As those verses show, first, we need
power to be effective teachers and preachers of the gospel. The best example is
of the full-time missionaries. They are given an hour every day to study the
gospel individually and another hour to study as a companionship, and greenies
are given an extra hour for the first 12 weeks. That may seem overwhelming, but
there is wisdom in it. The Lord revealed:
Seek not to
declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue
be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the
power of God unto the convincing of men. (D&C 11:21)
What
a promise! To achieve that, we not only need to immerse ourselves in the
scriptures, but we also need to desire that spiritual power. Otherwise, our
study will be meaningless. The missionary manual Preach My Gospel shares how to have meaningful scripture study:
Effective daily
study must always begin with prayer. Study is an act of faith requiring the use
of personal agency. Many missionaries struggle to know how to study
effectively. Some rely heavily on others or on structured programs to tell them
what and how to study. While learning from a good teacher is very important
[especially for new missionaries and converts], it is more important for you to
have meaningful learning experiences on your own [even more especially for new
missionaries and converts, because your testimony of something is stronger when
you’ve learned it by yourself]. Getting good results from your study depends on
having a strong desire to learn, studying with “real intent” (Moroni 10:4),
“hunger[ing] and thirst[ing] after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6), and searching
for answers to your investigators’ questions and concerns. [In our case, our
own or our loved ones’ questions and concerns.]
Your gospel study is most effective when you are taught by
the Holy Ghost. Always begin your gospel study by praying for the Holy Ghost to
help you learn. He will bring knowledge and conviction that will bless your
life and allow you to bless the lives of others. Your faith in Jesus Christ
will increase. Your desire to repent and improve will grow.
This kind of study prepares you for service, offers solace,
resolves problems, and gives you the strength to endure to the end. Successful
gospel study requires desire and action. . . . Like Enos, as you hunger to know
the words of eternal life and as you allow these words to “[sink] deep into
[your] heart” (Enos
1:3), the Holy Ghost will open your mind and heart to greater light and
understanding.
As you feel the joy that comes from understanding the
gospel, you will want to apply what you learn. Strive to live in harmony with
your understanding. Doing so will strengthen your faith, knowledge, and
testimony. Acting on what you have learned will bring added and enduring
understanding (see John 7:17).
The
lessons the missionaries study are very thorough. I didn’t get why they needed
to read and learn all those details just to give a brief and simple lesson,
until I read in Preach My Gospel, “Although
you will not teach all you know about the doctrine, your increased knowledge
will build your testimony and your ability to teach with spiritual power” (19). This
is confirmed in D&C 84:85: “Neither take ye thought beforehand what ye
shall say; but treasure up in your minds continually the words of life, and it
shall be given you in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every
man.”
Although
we are not full-time missionaries, the same principle applies to us. If we
study the gospel completely and treasure that knowledge, we will be blessed
with what to say and how to say it when sharing it with others, including our
own families or fellow church members.
For example, one day when I was talking to a former neighbor (and now dear friend) about the gospel, she asked me a question regarding the Atonement. I read to her Alma 7:11-13, which gave her a new and personal understanding of the Savior and His suffering. It was pivotal in her accepting the rest of the gospel and being baptized. Had I not been familiar with this passage and its application, she may not have found the peace she was looking for.
Challenge: Read your scriptures so you can be a better missionary and teacher, at home and at church.
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