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There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives themoment you begin a serious studyof the Book of Mormon. You willfind greater power to resist temptation.You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path…When you begin to hunger and thirst after thosewords, you will find life in greater and greater abundance.President Benson, Ensign, Nov. 1986, 7 As you read the Book of Mormon there will Come into your lives and into your homes an added Measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God.” President Gordon B. Hinckley
Make a Habit of studying the scriptures DAILY President Thomas S. Monson said: “Participate in daily scripture study. Crash courses are not nearly so effective as the day-to-day reading and application of the scriptures in our lives. Become acquainted with the lessons the scriptures teach. … Study them as though they were speaking to you, for such is the truth.”1
INDIVIDUALLY & AS A FAMILY INDIVIDUAL FAMILY • It’s a commandment • Mysteries of God will be unfolded unto us (1 Nephi 10:19) • We must KNOW the scriptures if WE are to use them to teach or children • YOURlove for the scriptures will help your CHILDREN love them • Book of Mormon is the ANTIDOTE for the temptations of Satan (1 Nephi 13: 38 -40) • You will FIND CHRIST and come to KNOW HIM • Be ACTIVE in your scripture study – teens & children need something to do to keep involved ex. Marking card • Use the scriptures to explain the “WHY” (doctrines supply reasons for keeping commandments) • ex. Alma 39 - Alma & Corianton • Pick out verses and DISCUSS during dinner • MIRACLES will happen in your life and in your family • Make it ENJOYABLE
Set a regular time and find a quiet (relative term) where you can focus! • WHAT WORKS FOR YOU(MORNING if at all possible) (Sending your child or yourself out into the world without prayer is like going out in a blizzard without a coat) • TIME vs. Amount • ACTIVE vs. Passive • Establish a place or a basket of tools • Develop a habit – Make it work for YOU! • This is YOUR TIME – ENJOY IT!!!
YOUR TOOL BASKETIT’S OK TO WRITE IN SCRIPTURESMake them your own so you are Lost without them • Archival pens (they don’t yellow over time) • Ball point pens (they don’t bleed through the pages– fine or extra fine point) • Water color pencils (they color soft and smooth) • Scriptures AND tablet with GOSPEL LIBRARY (great for looking up footnotes) • Institute or Seminary Manuals • Notebook or Scripture Journal • Other books
Study By Chapter “We should not be haphazard in our reading but rather develop a systematic plan for study. There are some who read to a schedule of a number of pages or a set number of chapters each day or week. This may be perfectly justifiable and may be enjoyable if one is reading for pleasure, but it does not constitute meaningful study. It is better to have a set amount of time to give scriptural study each day than to have a set amount of chapters to read. Sometimes we find that the study of a single verse will occupy the whole time (President Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64).
Study by Topic Christ – his attributes, the atonement, mark references to Christ in a different color Temples, FAITH, blessings of the faithful, Tender mercies, forgiveness, repentance You can study the different characters and write down everything you learn about them and from them. GOOD/EVIL CONTRAST
Elder Oaks I have tons of books that give commentary on the scriptures, and they are wonderful, and helpful. How great that these people have studied so much and gone through the toil and sacrifice to write books in the hope that it will help others to better understand the scriptures. And I definitely have my favorite books that have helped me gain incredible insights. However, one thing I have learned over the years is that if we rely solely on other’s thoughts and on them receiving revelation on the scriptures and then telling us about them, we are doing ourselves a greatdis-service. Why shouldn’t we be writing our own books (either literally or figuratively) and receiving our own insights? Don’t we have that ability as well? Can’t we receive inspiration from the Spirit about the scriptures, just as the authors of other books have done?
PRAYER • “No message appears in scripture more times, in more ways than ‘Ask and Ye Shall Receive.’”(President Boyd K. Packer,Ensign, November 1991, p.21) • “The first, the middle, and the last thing to do is PRAY.” Elder Henry B. Eyring
TIP # 1 – Read with a pen and a red pencil!! • Mark Notes • Circle key words • Write quotes and facts in the margin • Glue ins - Write notes and insights onto sticky notes or type on velum. Use RESTICKABLE glue sticks. Run a thin line of glue down the edge and stick it in. • If you have a quote you really love that you want next to a certain scripture, you can put it in permanently
To Memorize a new scripture is to forge a new friendship. Tip #2 Mark and Memorize 100 Scripture Mastery Scriptures – These passages provide an important scriptural foundation for understanding and sharing the gospel and for strengthening faith. Write key word in margin- Try memorizing the scripture or at least the Book and chapter
NOW WHERE WAS THAT SCRIPTURE? Come on let’s face it, we aren’t as young as we used to be. It’s okay to put a cheat sheet in the front of our scriptures!
TIP #3 The Church has given us tools – USE THEM • Topical Guide • Index • Bible Dictionary • Look up Chronology in the Bible dictionary • Maps – How far was it? • Chapter and book headings • Footnotes (tablets are great for these)cross references, words that may have had a different meaning anciently or are foreign to us (wrestle also meant embrace – Jacob receives a new name Genesis 32:24-30) • Ensign • Seminary and INSTITUTE MANUALS
Tips #4 LOOK!!! • ALWAYS LOOK FOR THE SAVIOR • Look for Cause and Effect (If/Then, Therefore) 1 Nephi 16:3 • Repetition – Must be important (What in the scriptures are we told to cleave to? Only 5 things – study and find them) • Look for LISTS Prophets often give lists – number them & see how they apply to you (Mosiah 4: 8-30 – conditions of exaltation in ascending order) • SYMBOLISM – words such as like, as or like unto Ponder and explore these symbols Ex . Daniel 2:31-35 and Daniel 2:36-46 • PROMISES AND BLESSINGS (If ye will keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land – Mosiah 1:7) .
TIP # 5 SCRIPTURE CHAINS SCRIPTURE CHAINS ARE CONNECTED CROSS REFERENCES – THEY CONNECT A SERIES OF SCRIPTURES TO FORM A COMPLETE PICTURE OR UNDERSTANDING OF A PRINCIPLE Steps To a Chain • What is the question? Use TG, footnotes, etc to locate scriptures that explain the question – WRITE ALL REFERENCES DOWN • Read the references and delete ones that don’t really fit or aren’t concise • Get down to 8-15 of the clearest (Try to use all 4 but definitely Bible & BOM) • Put them in logical order/use natural cross-references also • Choose a scripture mastery scripture to start(remember we’ve memorized these) • Chain them – Beside the 1st scripture write the reference to the 2nd, 2nd to 3rd and so on – last scripture should be chained back to the first! • Anyone can do it – TAKES TIME - now you can explain those “hard” questions to your Friends
TIP #6 APPLY IT IN YOUR LIFE Look for PATTERNS Is there a pattern to how revelation is received? 1 Nephi 1:5-13 Find the pattern and then do a “So What Session “. So what, will it work for me? Relate it to experiences you have had or want to have! Ask Questions! COMPARE EVENTS IN THE SCRIPTURES TO EVENTS IN YOUR OWN LIFE Ask yourself “What principles will help me at this time with my life? Why this? Why here?
TIP # 7 WRITE IT DOWN SCRIPTURE JOURNAL/NOTEBOOK Your personal insights are the most important thing you can write down! “The prompting that goes unresponded to may not be repeated. Writing down what we have been prompted with is vital. A special thought can be lost later in the day through the rough and tumble of life. God should not, and may not, choose to repeat the prompting if we assign what is given such a low priority as to put it aside.”(Elder Neal A. Maxwell, Press Forward, 122)
“I’ve found, as I’m sure you have, that when you’re trying to learn from the Lord and you feel an impression from the Spirit…. It is important to make a note so it will not be forgotten. The more you not only hear but abide by what you’ve been told, the more the Lord will give to you.It will come more and more rapidly and you will begin to hear and feel those impressions of the Spirit more quickly than you have previously done.”(Elder Gene R. Cook)
MOST IMPORTANTLY SLOW DOWN!!!!! SEARCH WITH THE SPIRIT Moroni 10:5 JSH 1:73-74 The Sadducees and Pharisees knew the scriptures, but did they know Christ?
Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.John 5:39