This week’s scripture block was 3 Nephi 23-30
In 3 Nephi chapter 23 we are commanded to search the scriptures,
not merely read them. This topic has been hitting home for me. This is one of
the most wonderful tools provided in this Pathway experience. Each semester we
have the opportunity to participate in an institute class in the subject of
Book of Mormon religious studies. As members we have always been encouraged and
challenged to read the scriptures daily, and to study them. But I didn’t really know how to search them,
we aren’t always given the tools. Then we struggle to have the will, drive or
discipline to actually spend hours daily “searching” these pages. But in this
course it is a requirement, and having an assignment or deadline helps greatly
to challenge us to actually do the studying and searching. They also provide
some new informative ways that we might “search”. We are taught 7 study skills
to achieve this deeper learning the Lord has asked from us. Some of these were
familiar to me, but many were new skills and they have greatly improved upon my
personal scripture search.
Each week we take a study skill and apply it to our
scripture study block. These skills are: Substitution,
Setting, Principles
and Doctrine, Clustering, Flag Phrases, Symbolism, Visualize and Cause and
Effect. Instructions from our student syllabus: Rather than read every word in a passage,
your goal should be to gain greater understanding for some words and passages
that, hopefully, are already quite familiar to you. Then do something because
of your new insight. If done with pure intent, your actions will help you come
closer to Christ.
So back to this week’s scripture block, in chapter 23 he
also challenges us to search the words of the prophets. We are so fortunate to
be living in a time where those words are at our fingertips at any given
moment. We can listen to podcast of any of the general authorities from the
earliest recordings to the most recent talks and devotionals. We can
immediately share a favorite or impacting talk through our social media pages
or send them as a link to friends and family via e-mail or smartphones. I have
loved having this technology at my immediate disposal, many talks and videos
that have inspired me I am able to immediately share and send to my children or
friends and share my testimony of these experiences.
We are encouraged to search the scriptures so that we can
have an independent witness of the truth of this book. We are encouraged to
pray and ask the Lord if it is true. And then we are asked to share this truth
with all of those we come in contact with so they can gain their own witness of
its truth. I want to bear my personal witness that I know this book is true.
The message it contains is a record of Jesus coming and visiting his people
here in the Americas. I testify that there are answers in this book to the
questions in your life: “why are we here”, “what is my purpose”, “is there life
after death”. This book should be one of the most loved and well-read books in
your personal library. If you would like to obtain one, they are free and so
easy to acquire. Contact any LDS church or LDS temple visitor center through a google
search, ask an LDS neighbor or friend. Pray for one, the Lord will answer with
a member or a missionary will contact you. He will find you if you search for Him
and truly desire to find the truth of Him. Ibear my testimony of the truths of
these things, and this book, the Book of Mormon, in the name of Jesus Christ
our Savior.
