Reasons to read scripture
Reasons to read scripture
Scriptures help remind us how our Father in Heaven touches our own lives through the story of how he historically touched the lives of some of his other children. We learn about God's faithfulness to the covenants he has made with all of us (all of us before this earth, and some of us while on this earth—with glimpses of promises made for covenant souls in the next life).
Hearing the word of God (study of inspired scriptures) is the beginning of faith. As you hear and ponder and pray about inspired words you are at the same time inviting encounters with the Holy Ghost. One of the roles of the Holy Ghost is to testify to you that the scriptures are true, and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior, and the Messiah. Faith in Christ is one of the first principles of the gospel. Following the principles and ordinances of the gospel are steps along the covenant path to return into the presence of God, thanks to the redeeming power of Jesus Christ. The work and glory of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind. One of Father in Heaven's greatest desires is for you to be re-united with Him after you are better prepared for it. As you ponder the scriptures, pray for the Holy Ghost to help guide your understanding, your desire, and your ability to better apply God's principles and ordinances in your life. Look for the lessons from these stories and prophecies, and learn how to wisely apply them in your life today.
Other important ways God can help you grow in your faith (by the witness of the Holy Ghost) are through earnest prayer, participating in Church and Temple services, serving your neighbor, and keeping God's commandments.
Reasons to set a 365-day goal
COMING SOON . . .
Dealing with the Mistakes of Men
in the Holy Scriptures
Originally, God gave us authoritative and inspired scriptures. But over time fallible men introduced mistakes into them. God is omniscient and could foresee what would happen—He wisely planned ahead for the errors of men. Therefore, the vast majority of scripture is accurate enough to still be the inspired Word of God, and useful as instruction for building our faith and teaching us what our loving Father in Heaven expects of us. "And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God . . ."
God cannot lie. He loves us and is laboring diligently to help us find our way back to Him in a way that will help us to become better people. God has given us the scriptures, as well as several other tools to help guide us. The scriptures were perfect as God gave them to His prophets.
Copying errors and transmission mistakes found their way into scripture. Sometimes things that should have been written were forgotten. Variations began to crop up. Men may have occasionally made changes they thought were corrections. Rather than trusting God, sometimes men leaning on their own understanding, decided to correct that which needed no correcting or made choices resulting in missing verses or sacred books being lost to the recognized cannon of scripture. Plain and precious teachings have been lost from some scriptures.
Apparently one such plain and precious truth is the mortal ministry and sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God. I believe the ministry of the Messiah in mortality was much more clearly emphasized in the original revealed versions of scripture. But those scriptures were changed, much was lost, and so a large portion of the House of Israel failed to recognize their Messiah during his mortal ministry. Manmade gaps and errors in sacred records resulted in a variety of serious misunderstandings about God and gospel doctrines.
But God had a plan from the beginning to overcome the errors and sins of mankind. Part of His plan was to reveal truth and His sacred Word to the prophets and apostles many times in many places so that the children of God would find at least some of the overlapping and corroborating witnesses to God's love for us. Using all of the available scripture in totality helps us to fill-in and clarify altered or missing sections—it helps us better understand what God originally tried to tell us.
By study and prayer, faith in Jesus Christ, and the witness of the Holy Spirit to our souls we can gain our own personal testimony of the truths of the sacred Word of God. We can discern between truth and falsehood as guided by sacred scripture ancient and modern, by the inspired words of the living prophets, by the testimonies of believers, and by observing the fruits of those who keep the commandments and serve their fellow children of God.
That which points to Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and Messiah is true. Holy scripture testifies the Son of God overcame the fall, atoned for our sins, and was resurrected to show the way for us to follow. God invites us to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, always remember him, and keep his commandments. That is the plain and precious message of true scripture. That is how God's plan overcomes the errors and sins of men meddling with scripture. The message of the Son of God is what gives the holy scriptures their power and authority.
God continues to repeat that message in the inspired scriptures which He has given us many times, in many places, and over many different generations—and He will keep it up until we finally get it. The on-going revelation of new inspired scripture from God will eventually break through and overcome any mistakes men have introduced into older scriptures.
Reasons to read chronologically
Understanding the timeline of events, characters, and prophecies of the scriptures gives a fresh perspective on God's unfolding plan for us. It helps us see more of the interconnected themes with greater insights into how God sees our role in his creation. The overlap of differing parallel verses about the same gospel story (or prophecies) helps us compare, contrast, and better comprehend and appreciate God's grand purposes. Learning about the growth (or lack thereof) of mankind over time can help us better see where we could improve our own lives. The overarching themes of the Plan of Happiness (Plan of Salvation, or Covenant Path) may become clearer in view of God's dealings with His children over time. Reading the word of God in chronological order can teach us to appreciate our Father in Heaven's timeless efforts to prepare us to return to His presence.
You can do this!
You may be motivated to start on the path of listening to (or reading) all the scriptures in a year as a kind of challenge—but it will probably turn into a rewarding discovery for you. It is easier to take it one day at a time—about half an hour at a time. Discipline and self control in the study of scripture may help in your mastery of other aspects of your life. As you better understand the word of God it will contribute to spiritual growth. Learn to be thankful for the scriptures and the many people who have labored to bring them to us. The unifying themes of God's work among his children through the ages can inspire you. Focusing on God's word helps cope with life's hard experiences and temptations.
Ask for God's help as you ponder his word. Pray for growing faith and understanding about what you hear or read each day in scripture. Fellowship with faithful people can also be a help. Apply what you have learned in your life with loved ones and the community around you. Put scriptural principles you learn through daily study to work in your life as a way to be open to the wonders of God.
Hearing (reading) and pondering all of God's revealed word in a year certainly will be a worthwhile accomplishment—it will draw you closer to God (and God closer to you). May it bring you joy.
Scriptures on the Value of Reading Scripture
To teach love of God to your children
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. –Deuteronomy 6:4-7
To learn to fear the Lord and keep his law
And it shall be with him [the King], and he
shall read therein all the days of his life: that
he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep
all the words of this law and these statutes, to
do them: —Deuteronomy 17:19
To learn to fear the Lord and do all his words
Gather the people together, men, and women,
and children, and thy stranger that is within
thy gates, that they may hear, and that they
may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and
observe to do all the words of this law: — Deuteronomy 31:12
To prosper and have good success
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. — Joshua 1:8
To be God's covenant people
And the king went up into the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant. — 2 Kings 23:2-3
To teach God's law and judgments to the people
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments. — Ezra 7:10
To understand God's law
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. — Nehemiah 8:8
To seek God's commands and his spirit
Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them. — Isaiah 34:16
To avoid error and know the power of God
Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. — Matthew 22:29
To be open to gospel truths
And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. — Luke 16:31
To learn concerning Jesus Christ
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. — Luke 24:27
They testify of Christ—the source of eternal life
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. — John 5:39
So that we may believe the words of Christ
For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? — John 5:46-47
To search for and verify the truth
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. — Acts 17:11
To show Jesus is the Christ
For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. — Acts 18:28
For learning, comfort, and hope
For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. — Romans 15:4
To be approved of God, and correctly explain the truth
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. — 2 Timothy 2:15
To gain wisdom unto salvation through faith in Christ
And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. — 2 Timothy 3:15
For divinely inspired teachings
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. — 2 Peter 1:24
For the blessings of hearing and obeying the word
Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. — Revelation 1:3
To give heed and remember to keep the commandments always
Wherefore, I, Nephi, did exhort them to give heed unto the word of the Lord; yea, I did exhort them with all the energies of my soul, and with all the faculty which I possessed, that they would give heed to the word of God and remember to keep his commandments always in all things. — 1 Nephi 15:25
That the remnant of Israel may have hope
Wherefore I spake unto them, saying: Hear ye the words of the prophet, ye who are a remnant of the house of Israel, a branch who have been broken off; hear ye the words of the prophet, which were written unto all the house of Israel, and liken them unto yourselves, that ye may have hope as well as your brethren from whom ye have been broken off; for after this manner has the prophet written. — 1 Nephi 19:24
For the delight, for pondering, and for teaching of our children
And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. — 2 Nephi 4:15
To learn of the future and to glorify the name of our God
And now, behold, I would speak unto you concerning things which are, and which are to come; wherefore, I will read you the words of Isaiah. And they are the words which my brother has desired that I should speak unto you. And I speak unto you for your sakes, that ye may learn and glorify the name of your God. — 2 Nephi 6:4
As part of the pathway to eternal life
Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life. — 2 Nephi 31:20
For peace and the love of God, and to avoid wickedness
And it came to pass that peace and the love of God was restored again among the people; and they searched the scriptures, and hearkened no more to the words of this wicked man. — Jacob 7:23
Search them diligently and keep the commandments to prosper
And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them [scriptures] diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers. — Mosiah 1:7
Unfold the scriptures to overcome lying and deceiving
Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done. — Alma 12:1
As a follow-up to faith and repentance
And it came to pass after he had made an end of speaking unto the people many of them did believe on his words, and began to repent, and to search the scriptures. . — Alma 14:1
To overcome false teaching
And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them. — Alma 32:2
To study the fulfillment of prophecy
And now, whoso readeth, let him understand; he that hath the scriptures, let him search them, and see and behold if all these deaths and destructions by fire, and by smoke, and by tempests, and by whirlwinds, and by the opening of the earth to receive them, and all these things are not unto the fulfilling of the prophecies of many of the holy prophets. — 3 Nephi 10:14
To know when God's covenants with his people are fulfilled
Ye remember that I spake unto you, and said that when the words of Isaiah should be fulfilled—behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them—And verily, verily, I say unto you, that when they shall be fulfilled then is the fulfilling of the covenant which the Father hath made unto his people, O house of Israel. And then shall the remnants, which shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth, be gathered in from the east and from the west, and from the south and from the north; and they shall be brought to the knowledge of the Lord their God, who hath redeemed them. — 3 Nephi 20:11-13
To teach the resurrection
And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them? And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written. And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded. And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded. And now it came to pass that when Jesus had expounded all the scriptures in one, which they had written, he commanded them that they should teach the things which he had expounded unto them. — 3 Nephi 23:11-14
TO BE CONTINUED . . .
