RS Activity: Scripture Study

We had a wonderful activity on Tuesday night with our sisters on how to enhance our scripture study. We shared some great discussions and methods for making our scripture study more convenient and more meaningful. Sister Egbert presented on the ways we can use traditional methods to enhance our scripture study, and Sister Hansen followed up with how to include the technological resources as well. We had a lot of fun meeting together as sisters and learning about this important topic.

If you missed our activity or want a reminder about the things we discussed Sister Egbert's presentation is posted in our last blog post, and Sister Hansen's is posted on her personal website. Hopefully we'll see you at our activity next month.

Personal Scripture Study Lesson

Presentation by Sister Egbert from our July 2010 activity

“Roll making is a great homemaking skill. As I bake them, a sweet aroma fills the house. I am able to show my love for my family by sharing something I created. When I study the scriptures, the Spirit of the Lord fills my home. I gain important understanding, which I then share with my family, and my love for them increases. The Lord has told us that our time should “be devoted to the studying of the scriptures” (D&C 26:1) and that “the Book of Mormon and the Holy Scriptures are given … for [our] instruction” (D&C 33:16). Every woman can be a gospel doctrine instructor in her home, and every sister in the Church needs gospel knowledge as a leader and teacher. If you have not already developed the habit of daily scripture study, start now and keep studying in order to be prepared for your responsibilities in this life and in the eternities.

My early attempts at making rolls and scripture reading were not always successful, but over time it got easier. For both pursuits I needed to learn proper techniques and gain an understanding of the ingredients. The key was starting and doing it again and again.”

Julie B. Beck, “My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures,” Liahona, May 2004, 107–9

Cost of Preserving the Scriptures

Some of the best blood that has been ever shed upon the earth has come from martyrs who sought to preserve & protect the holy word of the Lord

1. John Wycliffe sought in 1300’s to create an English Translation of the Bible for his countrymen to read. Was only in Latin at the time. He was fired & shunned by many of his friends & associate. One of his assistants was excommunicated and put in prison for 5 years. Wycliffe died soon after he completed his work. Because of official opposition to his work w/ the bible, his body was later dug up & his bones were burned to ashes, which were then scattered in a river.
2. In 1520’s & 1530’s, after the printing press had been invented, William Tyndale sought to provide a printed version of the English Bible. To escape capture & punishment, he had to travel from city to city in Europe under assumed names. Printing was done in secret, & the copies could only be smuggled into England. In 1535 he was betrayed by a friend and imprisoned in a damp dungeon for 16 mos. He was tied to a stake strangled and burned. He refused to recant.
3. Others also suffered & many were put to death just for reading or possessing the forbidden Bibles
4. Joseph Smith also was physically hurt many times after he received the plates and was on his was home with them. Several times he was shot at, and very narrowly escaped, and every device was made use of to get the plates away from him.

One of the greatest blessings of the scriptures is that they enable us to hear the voice of the Lord

1. Prepare ourselves by praying in faith every time we read
2. Prepare ourselves by humbling ourselves
   
   1. How truly Merciful the Lord is to us in our sins & weaknesses
   2. Letting our hearts be filled with gratitude
   3. Realizing how dependent we are on the Lord for his gifts & His blessings
3. Search diligently as we’re reading.
   
   1. Ponder
      
      1. Keep a scripture journal. Write down thoughts and ideas you have on each chapter or set of chapters you read.
   2. Ask the Lord questions & give him time to answer
      
      1. Write down thoughts and ideas you have on each chapter or set of chapters you read
   3. Seek to discover patterns the Lord gives us
      
      1. For instance, you might want to mark every reference to the Savior’s life or every reference about service.
   4. Mark & Cross reference the things that are important to you
      
      1. Look at how verses in the Bible relate to verses in the Book of Mormon.
      2. Read conference talks by General Authorities on the same principle and find similarities.
   5. Apply what you are reading to yourself
      
      1. Write your testimony in the front of a Book of Mormon and share it with a friend.
      2. I love the story of Mary Whitmer because it bears testimony to me that God love us and knows our hearts and knows what heaviness they carry.
         

         In 2 Nephi 27:13 it tells us that there will be witnesses to the gold plates, which will bear testimony of it to the children of men. But there is one other recorded witness of the gold plates who was not called upon to bear witness to the world as directed in verse 13, but who, nevertheless, saw the gold plates, her name was Mary Whitmer. She is the mother of David Whitmer. Her husband, Peter Whitmer, Senior, invited Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to come to the family farm in Fayette, NY, and continue the work of translating the gold plates there, after persecution because too dangerous for them to remain in Harmony, PA.

         David Whitmer came with his horse and buggy to Harmony and transported Joseph and Oliver to Fayette. Emma Smith stayed behind to finish some details and soon joined Joseph at the Whitmer home in Fayette. Having extra people to feed and take care of was an extra burden from Mother Whitmer, which overwhelmed her at times, but she never complained. One evening , as she went to the barn to milk the cows, Moroni appeared to her and expressed appreciation for her kindness in hosting the Prophet and Oliver and offered to show her the plates so she would know for sure that she was helping with the work of the Lord. He did so. Mary Whitmer’s son, David, reported this incident as follows;

         “She was out near the yard by the same old man [the Angel Moroni, seen earlier by David] (judging by her description of him) who said to her: “You have been very faithful and diligent in your labors, but you are tired because of the increase of your toil; it is proper therefore that you should receive a witness that your faith may be strengthened” There upon he showed her the plates.” (Report of Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith, pp772-73; spelling standardized.)This quote is used in the Institute of Religion student manual for Church History, Church History in the Fullness of Times, Religion 341-343, published in 2000, Chapter 5.

         
         
   6. Obey the truths we are learning (if we don’t He will less likely to give you more)
      
      
      Family Scripture Study Time Idea
      
      1. We have one person read a verse or two.
      2. The person who read then calls on another family member, without notice, to explain what was read. That helps everyone to pay attention.
      3. Next, the rest of the family can comment on the verse
      4. Then the person who read has to generate a question out of the verse. Why is that important? It helps us to see the scriptures as an answer book. We learn much more from the scriptures when we ask questions & try to connect them to the answers we are reading.
      5. Finally, the one who just explained the verse becomes the next reader. (When you simply read straight through, family members tend to look ahead to see when their next turn is- and they may not pay as much attention until it is their turn again.)

Testimony Of the Prophets

Pres. Ezra Taft Benson –“I promise you that from this moment forward, if we will daily sup from its pages and abide by its precepts, God will pour out upon each child of Zion and the Church a blessing hitherto unknown.” (Ensign, May 1986, 78)

Elder Marion G. Romney – “I feel certain that if in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase. Mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children to greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to that counsel. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope and charity, the pure love of Christ will abound in our homes and in our lives, bringing in their wake, peace, joy, and happiness.” (Conference Report, April 1960, 112-13)

President Howard W. Hunter – “It is certain that one who studies the scriptures everyday accomplishes far more than one who devotes considerable time one day then lets days go by before continuing…” (Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64)