3 Nephi 1:24
Understanding
the Scriptures
What
24 And
there were no contentions, save it were a few that began to preach,
endeavoring to prove by the ascriptures that
it was no more expedient to observe the law of Moses. Now
in this thing they did err, having not understood the scriptures.
Why
some
wanted to not follow the law of Moses because they misunderstood the
scriptures. Do we ever misunderstand the scriptures? The law would
not be fulfilled until Jesus died on the cross.
Pattern
Alma
34:13
13
Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last
sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should
be, a stop to
the shedding of blood;
then shall the law of
Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and
tittle, and none shall have passed away.
14 And
behold, this is the whole ameaning of
the blaw,
every whit cpointing to
that great and last dsacrifice;
and that great and last esacrifice will
be the Son of God, yea, finfinite and
eternal.
15 And
thus he shall bring asalvation to
all those who shall believe on his name; this being the intent of
this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which
overpowereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may
have faith unto repentance.
2
Timothy 3:
14 But acontinue thou
in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of,
knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
15 And
that from a achild thou
hast known the holy bscriptures,
which are able to make thee cwise unto dsalvation through
faith which is in Christ Jesus.
16 aAll bscripture is given
by cinspiration of
God, and isdprofitable for edoctrine,
for freproof,
for correction, for ginstruction in hrighteousness:
Romans
15:4
For
whatsoever things were awritten aforetime
were bwritten for
our clearning,
that we through dpatience and
comfort of the escriptures might
have fhope.
Moroni
10:4
4 And
when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye
would aask God,
the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are
not btrue;
and if ye shall ask with a csincere
heart,
with dreal
intent,
having efaith in
Christ, he will fmanifest the gtruth of
it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
Conference
One
of the most beautiful and inspiring passages in the Book of Mormon is
often referred to as “The Psalm of Nephi.” It begins with these
stirring words: “My soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart
pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of
my children.
There
is so much we can learn from the example of the young Prophet Joseph
Smith, whose persistent, prayerful study of the Holy Bible compelled
him to seek the God of Heaven for divine guidance. This brought him
to the threshold of the greatest revelation ever given to man since
the mortal ministry of the Savior Himself. Throughout the Prophet’s
life, he continued to probe and ponder until he gained a mastery of
the scriptures.
Another
young man, Spencer W. Kimball, was about fourteen when Susa Gates
spoke at their stake conference. He recalls: “She gave a rousing
talk on the reading of the scriptures; … then she stopped … to
ask … us, ‘How many of you have read the Bible through?’
I
concur with the strong counsel of President Romney, given to a group
of seminary and institute coordinators in 1973. He told them, and I
quote: “I don’t know much about the gospel other than what I’ve
learned from the standard works. When I drink from a spring I like to
get the water where it comes out of the ground, not down the stream
after the cattle have waded in it. … I appreciate other people’s
interpretation, but when it comes to the gospel we ought to be
acquainted with what the Lord says. … You ought to read the Book of
Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants; and … all the scriptures
with the idea of finding out what’s in them and what the meaning is
and not to prove some idea of your own. Just read them and plead with
the Lord to let you understand what he had in mind when he wrote
them.” (Address delivered at Coordinators’ Convention, Seminaries
and Institutes of Religion, 13 Apr. 1973.)
I
fear there are far too many Latter-day Saints who do not have a
testimony of the gospel from their own diligent efforts. Is it
possible that you are living on the reflected light of others who
have prayed and pondered the revelations of God? A testimony comes
from personal endeavor. The Lord has provided us the means of
salvation, but our success is dependent upon individual effort.
“Search
the scriptures—search the revelations which we publish and ask your
Heavenly Father, in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, to manifest the
truth unto you, and if you do it with an eye single to His glory
nothing doubting, He will answer you by the power of His Holy Spirit.
You will then know for yourselves and not for another. You will not
then be dependent on man for the knowledge of God; nor will there be
any room for speculation. … For when men receive their instruction
from Him that made them, they know how He will save them. … Again
we say: Search the Scriptures, search the Prophets and learn what
portion of them belongs to you.” (Teachings
of the Prophet Joseph Smith, comp.
Joseph Fielding Smith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1938, pp.
11–12.)
Apply
Study
the scriptures. Do not just read them but study and ponder them so
that you know what you should learn from them. Remember to study all
of the Standard Works and the words of the modern day prophets.
Hymns
277-As
I search The Holy Scriptures
children
I
Know the Scriptures Are True
109-Search
Ponder and Pray
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