Nephi, an ancient prophet whose emigration from Jerusalem to the Americas is recorded in the Book of Mormon, revered two particular Bible men: Moses and Isaiah.
As we read through Nephi’s words we can see that he has taken studying his scriptures quite seriously. It is obvious how much he respects the words of the prophet Isaiah as he quotes entire passages of Isaiah’s prophecies. It is also quite obvious he considers Moses to be one of his greatest heroes, as Nephi refers to him, and the great man he became, time and time again.
His purpose in doing so was to remind himself as well as his family the importance of studying scripture, of learning from the examples and righteous words of the prophets of God, and of likening the scriptures to our own lives.
“And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning” (1 Nephi 19:23).
The written word is sacred, so sacred records have been kept since the beginning with Adam and Eve. Scriptures are a written record of the words of the Lord. How can we truly follow in the footsteps of the Lord if we have not feasted upon His words?
There are steps we can take in our journey of feasting upon the words of the Lord and of likening all scriptures to our own lives. Five steps to help you begin have been addressed by David A. Bednar, an apostle of the Lord and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (nicknamed the Mormon Church).
1. Pray for understanding, and invite the help of the Holy Ghost. How can we learn the things of the Spirit without the help of the Spirit? We are encouraged to pray before we begin studying, as we study, and after.
2. Work. Does that sound a little odd? Take a moment to think about the difference between reading for fun and reading the words of the scriptures. I can often read a 300+ page book in less than a day when it’s purely for entertainment. When it comes to reading my scriptures I find my mind tired after reading a few pages. Why do you think this is? When we read the word of the Lord there is work involved: lessons to be gathered, studying to be done, truth to be unfolded in front of our eyes.
3. Be consistent. Studying the Bible or Book of Mormon every day is a choice. It won’t simply happen. Even if it’s just for ten or fifteen minutes before school or after dinner, we daily need to make the choice to study.
4. Ponder. What do you think of when you read that word?
“The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed” (David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” New Era, Apr 2006).
Don’t be so concerned with reading a certain amount every day, like three chapters. Instead make the time you spend studying mean something to you. As you read you might find something catching your eye, like the blessings given to Jacob’s sons. This leads us to the final step.
5. Write down impressions, thoughts, and feelings. I call this a Scripture Journal, and recently took a class where a young lady had put this idea into action. She now has dozens of journals, and has fine-tuned her writings to an art. Revelations about her life have come through this activity. Just as Richard G. Scott, another apostle of the Lord, has taught us:
“You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life. Always, day or night, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Express gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will reinforce your capacity to learn by the Spirit. It will permit the Lord to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent in your being” (Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Knowledge and the Strength to Use It Wisely,” Ensign, June 2002).
Likening the scriptures to our own lives takes work, but it can only lead to blessing our lives in such a way as to guide us on our journey to becoming more like Jesus Christ.
