The Sacrament: Understanding the Covenants we Make During the Sacrament

The Sacrament

I. Willing to Take Upon Them the Name of Thy Son

Henry B. Eyring, “Be One,” Ensign, Sep. 2008

 “We promise to take His name upon us. That means we must see ourselves as His. We will put Him first in our lives. We will want what He wants rather than what the world teaches us to want.”  

Dallin H. Oaks, “Taking upon Us the Name of Jesus Christ,” Ensign, May 1985

“Our witness that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ has several different meanings. Some of these meanings are obvious, and well within the understanding of our children.

·         When we become members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

·         Whenever we publicly proclaim our belief in him

·         When we do the work of his kingdom

Others are only evident to those who have searched the scriptures and pondered the wonders of eternal life.

·         [We witness] a willingness to take upon us the authority of Jesus Christ.

·         We witness our willingness to participate in the sacred ordinances of the temple.

·         We signify our commitment to do all that we can to achieve eternal life in the kingdom of our Father.

Elder Bednar, Act in Doctrine, p. 53

For those individuals who have received and are striving to honor baptismal and temple covenants, the third commandment suggests a particularly pointed implication: "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain." 

This commandment focuses upon much more than the use of inappropriate language. When we knowingly violate covenant conditions after having pledged our willingness to take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ, we literally are taking His name in vain.

II. Always Remember Him

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Ensign, Nov. 1995

 “Since that upper room experience on the eve of Gethsemane, children of the promise have been under covenant to remember Christ’s sacrifice in this newer, higher, more holy and personal way.  If remembering is the principal task before us, what might come to our memory when those plain and precious emblems are offered to us?”

1. His love and strength in the Grand Council of Heaven.  That he is the Creator of heaven and earth.
2. All that he did in his premortal life as Jehovah.  
3. The simple grandeur of his birth.
4. His teachings, His miracles and healings.
5. That “all things which are good cometh of Christ” (Moroni 7:24).
6. The unkind treatment, rejection, and injustice he endured.
7. That he descended below all things in order to rise above them.
8. That he made his sacrifices and endured his sorrows for each of us.

 Henry B. Eyring, “Be One,” Ensign, Sep. 2008

“Second, we promise always to remember Him. We do that every time we pray in His name, especially when we ask for His forgiveness, as we must do often, we remember Him.”   

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “To Always Remember Him,”  Ensign, Apr. 2011

“I wish to elaborate on three aspects of what it means to “always remember him”:

·         First, seeking to know and follow His will:  The blessing on the bread commits us to “always remember him and keep his commandments.”  It would also be appropriate to read this covenant as “always remember Him to keep His commandments.” This is how He always remembered the Father.  We can begin by stripping everything out of our lives & then putting it back together in priority order with the Savior at the center.

·         Second, recognizing & accepting our obligation to answer to Christ for every thought, word, & action:  Always remembering Him means we always remember that nothing is hidden from Him. There is no part of our lives, whether act, word, or even thought, that can be kept from the knowledge of the Father & the Son.

·         Third, living with faith and without fear so that we can always look to the Savior for the help we need:  The Savior reminds us that through His Atonement He has been given all power in heaven and earth and has both the capacity and will to protect us and minister to our needs. We need only be faithful, and we can rely implicitly on Him.”                                  

III. Keep His Commandments Which He Has Given Them

Henry B. Eyring, “Be One,” Ensign, Sep. 2008

Third, we promise as we take the sacrament to keep His commandments, all of them. President J. Reuben Clark warned us against being selective in what we will obey. “The Lord has given us nothing that is useless or unnecessary. He has filled the Scriptures with the things which we should do in order that we may gain salvation. When we partake of the Sacrament we covenant to obey and keep his commandments. There are no exceptions. There are no distinctions, no differences.”

IV. That They May Always Have His Spirit to be With Them

Bruce R. McConkie, A New Witness for the Articles of Faith (1985), 253

Men ought--above all things in this world--to seek for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  There is nothing as important as having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. There is no price too high, no struggle too severe, no sacrifice too great, if out of it all we receive and enjoy the gift of the Holy Ghost.     --Bruce R. McConkie

Elder David A. Bednar, “That We May Always Have His Spirit to be With Us,” Ensign, May 2006

The Spirit of the Lord can be our guide and will bless us with direction, instruction, and spiritual protection during our mortal journey. We invite the Holy Ghost into our lives through meaningful personal and family prayer, feasting upon the words of Christ, diligent and exacting obedience, faithfulness and honoring of covenants, and through virtue, humility, and service. And we steadfastly should avoid things that are immodest, coarse, crude, sinful, or evil that cause us to withdraw ourselves from the Holy Ghost.

V. The Sacrament- An Opportunity for Spiritual Growth

David B. Haight, “The Sacrament,” Ensign, May 1983

 “Associated with the partaking of the sacrament are principles that are fundamental to man’s advancement and exaltation in the kingdom of God and the shaping of one’s spiritual character. We should reflect in our own weekday conduct the spiritual renewal and commitments made on Sunday. We may fail to recognize the deep spiritual significance this ordinance offers to each of us personally. Is it possible that a casual attitude on our part of routine formality of this sacred occasion might deaden our opportunity for spiritual growth?”

David O. McKay, Conference Report, Apr. 1946

"Meditation is one of the most secret, most sacred doors through which we pass into the presence of the Lord.  I believe the short period of administering the sacrament is one of the best opportunities we have for such meditation.  If we partake of it mechanically, we are not honest, or let us say, we are permitting our thoughts to be distracted from a very sacred ordinance."

Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, May 1977 

“To make a covenant with the Lord to always keep His commandments is a serious obligation, and to renew that covenant by partaking of the sacrament is equally serious. The solemn moments of thought while the sacrament is being served have great significance. They are moments of self-examination, introspection, self-discernment—a time to reflect and to resolve.”   

VI. A Broken Heart & Contrite Spirit

3 Nephi 9:19-20

“And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.  And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”

D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted,” Ensign, May 2004

“In ancient times when people wanted to seek the Lord’s blessings, they often brought a gift. For example, when they went to the temple, they brought a sacrifice to place on the altar. The gift or sacrifice He will accept now is “a broken heart and a contrite spirit.”  As you seek the blessing of conversion, you can offer the Lord the gift of your broken, or repentant, heart and your contrite, or obedient, spirit. In reality, it is the gift of yourself—what you are and what you are becoming.

Is there something in you or in your life that is impure or unworthy? When you get rid of it, that is a gift to the Savior. Is there a good habit or quality that is lacking in your life? When you adopt it and make it part of your character, you are giving a gift to the Lord.”   

President Ezra Taft Benson, “A Mighty Change of Heart,” Ensign, Oct. 1989

“Godly sorrow … is a deep realization that our actions have offended our Father and our God. It is the sharp and keen awareness that our behavior caused the Savior, He who knew no sin, even the greatest of all, to endure agony and suffering. Our sins caused him to bleed at every pore. This very real mental and spiritual anguish is what the scriptures refer to as having ‘a broken heart and a contrite spirit.’”      

Trials: The Obstacles Before Us Are Never as Great as The Power Behind Us.

This is one of those stories that I try to read on a regular basis, especially when I am facing trials that don't seem to have an apparent solution. At the end of the article, Elder Oaks teaches that the Lord blesses us when we "are on the move." I have found this to be true so many times in my own life. 

"The obstacles before us are never as great as the power behind us"

Reach Out and Climb!

BY ELDER DALLIN H. OAKS of the Quorum of the Twelve – April 2002 New Era

---

Making it to the top means doing the difficult, even when you think you can’t.

How do we respond when we are confronted with a task that seems to be impossible?

All of us face obstacles. All of us have challenges. We all walk paths that lead us toward heights we think we cannot ascend. Sooner or later we all stand at the foot of cliffs we think we cannot scale.

In 1895 my great-grandfather, Abinadi Olsen, was called on a mission to the Samoan Islands. Obedient to the call of the prophet, he left his wife and four small children, including my maternal grandmother, Chasty Magdalene, in the town of Castle Dale, Utah. He traveled by train and ship to the mission headquarters in Apia, a journey of 26 days. His first assignment was to labor on the island of Tutuila.

After many weeks of living in what he called a grass hut, eating strange food, suffering severe illnesses, and struggling to learn the Samoan language, he seemed to be making no progress in his missionary work. Homesick and discouraged, he seriously considered boarding a boat back to Apia and telling the mission president he didn’t want to waste any more time in Samoa. The obstacles to the accomplishment of his mission seemed insurmountable, and he wished to return to his wife and children, who were struggling to support him in the mission field.

A friend who heard Abinadi Olsen describe the experience some years after his return, quoted him as follows:

“Then one night, as I lay on my mat on the floor of my hut, a strange man entered and in my own language told me to get up and follow him. His manner was such that I had to obey. He led me out through the village and directly up against the face of a perpendicular solid rock cliff. ‘That’s strange,’ thought I. ‘I’ve never seen that here before,’ and just then the stranger said, ‘I want you to climb that cliff.’

“I took another look and then in bewilderment said, ‘I can’t. It’s impossible!’

“‘How do you know you can’t? You haven’t tried,’ said my guide.

“‘But anyone can see’—I started to say in objection. But he cut in with, ‘Begin climbing. Reach up with your hand—now with your foot.’

“As I reached, under orders that I dared not disobey, a niche seemed to open in the solid rock cliff and I caught hold. Then with my one foot I caught a toe hold.

“‘Now go ahead,’ he ordered. ‘Reach with your other hand,’ and as I did so another place opened up, and to my surprise the cliff began to recede; climbing became easier, and I continued the ascent without difficulty until, suddenly, I found myself lying on my pallet back in my hut. The stranger was gone!

“‘Why has this experience come to me?’ I asked myself. The answer came quickly. I had been up against an imaginary cliff for those three months. I had not reached out my hand to begin the climb. I hadn’t really made the effort I should have made to learn the language and surmount my other problems” (Fenton L. Williams, “On Doing the Impossible,” Improvement Era, Aug. 1957, p. 554).

It is hardly necessary to add that Abinadi Olsen did not leave the mission. He labored for three and a half years, until released by appropriate authority. He was an exceptionally effective missionary, and he was a faithful member of the Church for the rest of his life.

When we face seemingly insurmountable obstacles in the fulfillment of righteous responsibilities, we should remember that when we are involved in the work of the Lord, the obstacles before us are never as great as the power behind us. We should reach out and climb. Handholds will only be found by hands that are outstretched. Footholds are only for feet that are on the move.

The scriptures record many instances when the Lord blessed those who tried to do the impossible. Nothing is impossible to the Lord.

When Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt, they encamped by the Red Sea. The Egyptians thought the Israelites were trapped. Their backs were to the sea as they faced the pursuing chariots of Pharaoh. “Fear ye not, …” Moses declared, for “the Lord shall fight for you” (Ex. 14:13–14). The Lord then told Moses to command the children of Israel “that they go forward” into the sea (Ex. 14:15). As they did so, Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, as commanded, and the children of Israel went through the sea on dry ground (Ex. 14:16, 22). They had gone forward in faith, and what seemed impossible had occurred.

When Nephi was directed to return to Jerusalem to obtain the sacred records from Laban, he went forth in faith to do as he was commanded, even though he did not see how this could be done. Nephi knew that the Lord would give no commandment, save he would prepare a way to accomplish the thing he had commanded (1 Ne. 3:7). Through Nephi’s faith and initiative he accomplished his mission, and generations have been blessed by the outcome.

Nothing is impossible to those who keep God’s commandments and follow his directions. But the blessings that carry us over obstacles do not precede our efforts; they follow them. The Liahona was given to guide Lehi and his children, but it came after years in the desert, not when they were still in Jerusalem. The word of the Lord on the organization of the Camp of Israel (see D&C 136) didn’t come in Nauvoo. It came on the west bank of the Missouri near present-day Omaha, almost a year after the Saints had left Nauvoo.

What do we do when we face obstacles in the fulfillment of righteous responsibilities? We reach out and climb! The blessings that solve problems and carry us over obstacles come to persons who are on the move.

Trials: Why Should This Anxious Load, Press Down Your Weary Mind? - Finding Trust in the Lord

A few years ago I had several months of especially challenging times. As I was standing in my room one evening, trying to stop the tears from starting again, I had the words to this hymn come into my mind:

Why should this anxious load

Press down your weary mind?

(https://www.lds.org/music/library/hymns/how-gentle-gods-commands?lang=eng )

As I looked up the rest of the words to the hymn, I realized that I could trust in my Father in Heaven more and I felt my burden being lifted. I started searching for more scriptures that remind me that "His ways are higher than my ways."

In the Lectures on Faith, the prophet, Joseph Smith, taught:

"Let us here observe that three things are necessary for any rational and intelligent being to exercise faith in God unto life and salvation.

• First, the idea that he actually exists;
• Secondly, a correct idea of his character, perfections, and attributes;
• Thirdly, an actual knowledge that the course of life which one is pursuing is according to His will."  

Part of having a correct idea of God's "character, perfections, and attributes" is understanding that he has perfect love, perfect knowledge and perfect power. This means that our Heavenly Father knows me perfectly and knows what is best for me, so I need to have faith in his plan and timing for me. To remind myself of these truths, I often quote the first two scriptures below to myself, especially when I am facing challenges:

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

Jacob 4:8,10 No man knoweth of his ways save it be revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God. Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he counseleth in wisdom and in great mercy.

Mosiah 2:36 If ye should transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit of the Lord that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom’s paths that ye may be blessed, prospered and preserved—

Abraham 2:8 My name is Jehovah, and I know the end from the beginning; therefore, my hand shall be over thee.

2 Nephi 9:20 O how great the holiness of our God! For he knoweth all things, and there is not anything save he knows it.

Alma 26:35 For he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation.

Elder Bednar, 10/2013 We also will remember the Lord’s declaration, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts”  Isaiah 55:8–9

I testify that as we are spiritually attentive and observant, we will be blessed with eyes that see more clearly, ears that hear more consistently, and hearts that understand more fully the significance and subtlety of His ways, His thoughts, and His blessings in our lives.

Pres. Benson 10-1967 God does not have to justify all his ways for the puny mind of man. If a man gets in tune with the Lord, he will know that God's course of action is right, even though he may not know all the reasons why.

Trials: Why Do We Have Trials? Of Thorns, Burdens, and Weakness

One of the truths of life is that no one escapes trials and challenges. Sometimes as I hear about the trials of family and friends, I wonder how they are enduring. I think the answer to that comes from one of the themes found in the scriptures: When we have trials that challenge us beyond what we think we can bear, then we learn that the Lord is the only way we can make it. Our testimonies become much deeper because we know that the Lord did "visit [us] in our afflictions." Notice in the three scriptures below, why we have trials:

THORNS: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

BURDENS: Mosiah 24:14-15 I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. ...Yea the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

WEAKNESS: Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. 

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

WATCH: Mormon Messages: Mountains to Climb

WATCH: Mormon Messages: The Refiner's Fire

WATCH:  No Blessings Denied the Faithful by Elder Gary Stevenson

Blog Post: It is Difficult to See Clearly through Eyes Blurred with Tears

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, Fourth Floor, Last Door

The purpose of faith is not to change God’s will but to empower us to act on God’s will. Faith is trust—trust that God sees what we cannot and that He knows what we do not. Sometimes, trusting our own vision and judgment is not enough. …

Faith means that we trust not only in God’s wisdom but that we trust also in His love. It means trusting that God loves us perfectly, that everything He does—every blessing He gives and every blessing He, for a time, withholds—is for our eternal happiness.

With this kind of faith, though we may not understand why certain things happen or why certain prayers go unanswered, we can know that in the end everything will make sense. …

Until then, we walk by whatever faith we have, seeking always to increase our faith. Sometimes, this is not an easy quest. Those who are impatient, uncommitted, or careless may find faith to be elusive. Those who are easily discouraged or distracted may hardly experience it. Faith comes to the humble, the diligent, the enduring.

It comes to those who pay the price of faithfulness. …

Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith

Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation.

For a man to lay down his all, his character and reputation, his honor, and applause, his good name among men, his houses, his lands, his brothers and sisters, his wife and children, and even his own life also ‑‑ counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ ‑‑ requires more than mere belief or supposition that he is doing the will of God; but actual knowledge, realizing that, when these sufferings are ended, he will enter into eternal rest, and be a partaker of the glory of God.

Neal A. Maxwell,  All These Things Shall Give Thee Experience, p.28

An equally hard but essential doctrine, if we are to understand life itself, is the reality that since this is a gospel of growth and life is a school of experience, God, as a loving Father, will stretch our souls at times. The soul is like a violin string: it makes music only when it is stretched. (Eric Hoffer.) God will tutor us by trying us because He loves us, not because of indifference! As already noted, this sort of divine design in our lives clearly requires the omniscience of God.

Submitting Our Will to His

 Neal A. Maxwell, Ensign, Nov. 95, p. 23

As one’s will is increasingly submissive to the will of God, he can receive inspiration and revelation so much needed to help meet the trials of life.  In the trying and very defining Isaac episode, faithful Abraham “staggered not...through unbelief.” (Rom. 4:20) Of that episode, John Taylor observed that “nothing but the spirit of revelation could have given him this confidence, and sustained him under these peculiar circumstances.

The submission of one’s will is really the only uniquely personal thing we have to place on God’s altar.  The many other things we “give,” brothers and sisters, are actually the things He has already given or loaned to us.  However, when you and I finally submit ourselves, by letting our individual wills be swallowed up in God’s will, then we are really giving something to Him!  It is the only possession which is truly ours to give.

The Purpose of Trials

Quentin L. Cook, Ensign, Nov. 2011

The refiner’s fire is real, and qualities of character and righteousness that are forged in the furnace of affliction perfect and purify us and prepare us to meet God. There are many kinds of challenges. Some give us necessary experiences. Adverse results in this mortal life are not evidence of lack of faith or of an imperfection in our Father in Heaven’s overall plan.

Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1987
If you have troubles at home with children who stray, if you suffer financial reverses and emotional strain that threaten your homes and your happiness, if you must face the loss of life or health, may peace be unto your soul. We will not be tempted beyond our ability to withstand. Our detours and disappointments are the straight and narrow path to Him, as we sing in one of our favorite hymns:

"When through fiery trials thy pathway shall lie, My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply. The flame shall not hurt thee; I only design Thy dross to consume and thy gold to refine."

Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 345
If the Saints could realize things as they are when they are called to pass through trials, and to suffer what they call sacrifices, they would acknowledge them to be the greatest blessings that could be bestowed upon them.

Elder Jeffery R. Holland, October 2013

In striving for some peace and understanding in these difficult matters, it is crucial to remember that we are living—and chose to live—in a fallen world where for divine purposes our pursuit of godliness will be tested and tried again and again.

Of greatest assurance in God’s plan is that a Savior was promised, a Redeemer, who through our faith in Him would lift us triumphantly over those tests and trials, even though the cost to do so would be unfathomable for both the Father who sent Him and the Son who came. It is only an appreciation of this divine love that will make our own lesser suffering first bearable, then understandable, and finally redemptive.

George Q. Cannon, Millennial Star, Saturday, Oct. 3, 1863
The Saints should always remember that God sees not as man sees; that he does not willingly afflict his children, and that if he requires them to endure present privation and trial, it is that they may escape greater tribulations which would otherwise inevitably overtake them. If He deprives them of any present blessing, it is that he may bestow upon them greater and more glorious ones by-and-by.

President Thomas S. Monson, October 2013
Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass. We know that there are times when we will experience heartbreaking sorrow, when we will grieve, and when we may be tested to our limits. However, such difficulties allow us to change for the better, to rebuild our lives in the way our Heavenly Father teaches us, and to become something different from what we were—better than we were, more understanding than we were, more empathetic than we were, with stronger testimonies than we had before.
This should be our purpose—to persevere and endure, yes, but also to become more spiritually refined as we make our way through sunshine and sorrow. Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress toward our goal of eternal life. The poet expressed much the same thought in these words:

Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger wind, the stronger trees.

The further sky, the greater length.

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.

Only the Master knows the depths of our trials, our pain, and our suffering. He alone offers us eternal peace in times of adversity. He alone touches our tortured souls with His comforting words:
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Whether it is the best of times or the worst of times, He is with us. He has promised that this will never change.
Francis M. Lyman, in Conference Report, Oct. 1898, p. 48
We may have a rough road to travel over, as we have had in the past; we may have difficulties and trials, and the world may be measurably arrayed against us, and try to destroy us or do us harm, feeling all the time, no doubt, in their hearts that they are doing the greatest possible good and are anxious for our salvation; but I want to say to you that our Father who dwells in heaven . . . that same great Parent overlooks these affairs, and is guiding and controlling the destinies of this people as He is the destinies of all other people.

The Parable of the Unwise Bee

How do I Improve my Scripture Study? Suggestions to Make it More Meaningful

President Spencer W. Kimball said:

“I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns.”

Elder M. Russell Ballard, "Be Strong inthe Lord, and in the Power of His Might,"  CES Fireside 3 March 2002

Here are some practical suggestions that I hope will help you derive greater power from your study of the scriptures:

• If possible, set a consistent time and place to study when you can be alone and undisturbed. Knowing the lifestyle of many young adults, I think it is safe to say that early morning in your apartments is one time you can be both alone and have it quiet.
• Always have a marking pencil ready as you study. Make notations in the margins. Write cross-references. Make the scriptures yours by marking them.
• Commit yourself to study for a set amount of time, rather than to just read a chapter or a certain number of pages. Sometimes a single verse or short passage will take the entire time as you think about it and consider what it means for you.
• Study topically as well as chronologically. Both approaches have merit, but we need to go to the Topical Guide or the index from time to time and read all that the Lord has said on repentance, or faith, or some other principle.
• Take time to ponder, reflect, meditate, and pray about what you read. Ask yourselves questions such as "What can I learn from this passage that will help me come unto Christ and be more like Him?"

One thing I have learned in life is how frequently the Lord answers our questions and gives us counsel through the scriptures. It is not unusual for one of us in the Quorum of the Twelve to say, "I saw this teaching more clearly than ever before in this verse of scripture." Let us, then, go to the Lord in prayer, pleading for help or answers; and those answers will come as we open the scriptures and begin to study them. Sometimes it is as though a passage hundreds or thousands of years old was dictated specifically to answer our question.

Remember the promise of the Lord. If you "hold fast" to the word of God, the fiery darts of the adversary will not penetrate your chain mail. Your spiritual armor will be strong.

Gordon B. Hinckley, “Feasting upon the Scriptures,” Ensign, Dec. 1985, 42
I love our scriptures. I love these wonderful volumes, which set forth the word of the Lord—given personally or through prophets—for the guidance of our Father’s sons and daughters. I love to read the scriptures, and I try to do so consistently and repeatedly. They contain so much for each of us.  I urge our people everywhere to read the scriptures more, that peace, that knowledge “which passeth all understanding” (Philip. 4:7), as he has promised. 

Suggestions: 

•     Pray before you read.   There is nothing more helpful than prayer to open our understanding of the scriptures. Through prayer we can attune our minds to seek the answers to our searchings. The Lord said: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Luke 11:9). Howard W. Hunter, “Reading the Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64

•     Daily scripture study brings the peaceful influence of the Spirit into your life.   The only way you can be sure that a busy schedule doesn’t crowd out scripture study is to establish a regular time to study the scriptures. So my pattern since I was a boy has been to read my scriptures at the beginning and end of the day. I read the Book of Mormon many times before I was 18 because of that pattern.  Elder Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, July 2005, 22.

•     Feast on the Lord’s word for a set amount of time each day.  

Not only should we study each day, but there should be a regular time set aside when we can concentrate without interference.  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.

Perhaps what is more important than the hour of the day is that a regular time be set aside for study. It would be ideal if an hour could be spent each day; but if that much cannot be had, a half hour on a regular basis would result in substantial accomplishment. A quarter of an hour is little time, but it is surprising how much enlightenment and knowledge can be acquired in a subject so meaningful. The important thing is to allow nothing else to ever interfere with our study.   Howard W. Hunter, “Reading the Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64

•     Try studying one topic of interest, asking questions, pondering insights, and checking the footnotes. When I came into the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Elder Richard G. Scott suggested I buy an inexpensive set of scriptures and mark the insights and revelations I would gain in my new calling.  I asked Heavenly Father what He would have me do as an Apostle. I wrote down what I felt His answers were. I typed, color coded, and pasted those answers in the front of my scriptures. Then I read my scriptures looking for ideas that taught me how to witness that Christ is the Son of God. Every time I came to something, I marked it in blue. Soon I developed my own topical guide around what I thought the Lord wanted me to do.  Elder Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, July 2005, 22.

•     Apply the teachings to your life, and practice what you learn. Keep a paper and pencil handy while you read. This is a stimulating activity, and often goals, exciting ideas, or original thoughts will creep into your mind. Ask questions as you read the scriptures. … Question and then call upon the Lord.

•     Read the Book of Mormon. •     There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find 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. Ezra Taft Benson, “The Book of Mormon—Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 4

Through the Book of Mormon the Lord can also teach us about being with and serving people. This book reveals the will of the Lord for family life in a way that the other scriptures don’t even approach. I believe that is largely because of its interesting structure. It’s about families; it’s about people’s relationships. It starts with families, it ends with families, and we come to love these families. Elder Henry B. Eyring, Ensign, July 2005, 22.

Elder D. Todd Christofferson, Apr 2004

I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you. You will know that the gospel is being written in your heart, that your conversion is happening, as the word of the Lord from His prophets, past and present, feels more and more delicious to your soul.

     “But for most of us, who readily acknowledge the truthfulness of the standard works, if we are ever guilty of disrespecting the sacred nature of scriptures, it is by neglect. The risk we must guard against day to day is the tendency to treat lightly, or even ignore, the sacred word.”  -- Elder D. Todd Christofferson  CES Fireside, November 7, 2004, B.Y.U.

“Understanding the Importance of Scripture Study,” Elder David A. Bednar, 1998

Let me summarize the three reasons why scripture study is so important: (1) It is one of the major ways whereby we keep our covenant to always remember him. (2) It helps us become familiar with the voice of the Lord and thus better prepared to receive his direction in our lives. (3) It is a necessary preparation for and prerequisite to receiving personal revelation. 

Now I would like to suggest just a few principles that can help each of us become more effective in our personal study of the scriptures. Let me summarize the six principles: 

   • Pray for understanding and invite the help of the Holy Ghost. 

   • Work. 

   • Be consistent in terms of time and place. 

   • Ponder. 

   • Look for connections and patterns and parallels in the scriptures. 

   • Record your thoughts and feelings. 

The sixth principle is to write your thoughts and feelings. Recording what we learn and writing about what we think and feel as we study the scriptures helps us to revisit the same spirit that brought the initial insight or revelation and invites even greater understanding than was originally received. Recording our learnings and writing about our thoughts and feelings is another form of pondering and of always remembering him and is an invitation to the Holy Ghost for continued instruction. 

I personally bear testimony of the power of this principle. As we take the time to write what we think and feel in relation to studying the scriptures, an additional and increased outpouring of insight will come. 

How do I Improve my Scripture Study? What Favorite Scriptures Bring Peace and Increase Faith?

A few weeks ago in Church, our Bishop asked the question, "What favorite scriptures do you turn to when you need to find peace or want to strengthen your faith?" This became the basis for discussion during the whole hour, with people sharing their favorite scriptures and how those scriptures have helped them. I have thought a lot since about what my favorite scriptures are.

Several times in General Conference we have been encouraged to memorize some scriptures to have in times of need. So I went through my scriptures and copied down many of the scriptures I have marked over the years; I decided to put my favorite ones into categories. These are the ones I decided are some of my favorite and what I want to memorize:

My Ways Higher Than Your Ways

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

The Savior

2 Ne 25:26 We talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.

Mosiah 3:7 An lo, he shall suffer temptations, and pain of body, hunger, thirst, and fatigue, even more than man can suffer, except it be unto death; for behold, blood cometh from every pore, so great shall be his anguish for the wickedness and the abominations of his people.

Alma 7:11-12 And He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.... And he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.

Helaman 5:12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo.

Grace & the Strength of the Lord

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

BURDENS: Mosiah 24:14-15 I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions. ...Yea the Lord did strengthen them that they could bear up their burdens with ease, and they did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.

BURDENS: Alma 33:23 Plant this word in your hearts...nourish it by your faith...And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his son. And even all this can ye do if ye will.

THORNS 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

WEAKNESS Ether 12:27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

WEAKNESS Jacob 4:6-7. Nevertheless, the Lord God showeth us our weakness that we many know that it is by his grace, and his great condescensions unto the children of men, that we have power to do these things.

Faith, Hope & Charity

Ether 12:6 Faith: And now, I Moroni, would speak somewhat concerning these things; I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.

Ether 12:4 Hope: Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God.

Moroni 7:41-42 Hope: And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise. Wherefore, if a man have faith he must needs have hope; for without faith there cannot be any hope.

Moroni 7:45 Charity: And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

Moroni 7:46-48 Charity: If ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth, But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, is shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love.

Conversion

2 Nephi 4:31-32 Wilt thou make me that I man shake at the appearance of sin? ...that I may be strict in the plain road!

2 Nephi 31:20 Where 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.

Mosiah 5:2,4 We know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a might change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually. And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken that has brought this.

3 Nephi 9:13 Will ye not now return unto me, and repent of your sins, and be converted, that I may heal you?

Helaman 3:34-35 They did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

Moroni 10:32-33 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

Personal Revelation/Prayer

1 Nephi 4:6-7 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do. Nevertheless, I went forth...

1 Nephi 18:1-3 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not work the timbers after the manner which was learned by men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

2 Nephi 32:3,9 For behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. Ye must pray always, and not faint; that ye must not perform any thing unto the Lord save in the first place ye shall pray unto the Father in the name of Christ, that he will consecrate thy performance unto thee, that thy performance may be for the welfare of thy soul.

3 Nephi 11:3, 5 and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center...yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it.

Daniel 3: 16-18 Have faith in the Savior, not in hoped for outcomes - Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter [we don’t need to discuss this matter].  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.  But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.

Humility vs. Pride

Helaman 5:8 That ye may not do these things that ye may boast, but that ye may do these things to lay up for yourselves a treasure in heaven, yea, which is eternal, and which fadeth not away; yea, that ye may have that precious gift.

John 7:16,18 My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. … He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Family & Parenting & Relationships

1 Nephi 18:1-3 And the Lord did show me from time to time after what manner I should work the timbers of the ship. Now I, Nephi, did not wok the timbers after the manner which was learned by men. And I, Nephi, did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed unto me great things.

2 Nephi 25:28 I have spoken plainly unto you that ye cannot misunderstand.

2 Nephi 33:4 I know that the Lord God will consecrate my prayers for the gain of my people.

Alma 4:18-20 [Alma] delivered the judgment-seat unto Nephihah. And this he did that he himself might go forth among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them. Alma delivered up the judgment-seat to Nephihah, and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood of the holy order of God.

3 Nephi 22:13 And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children.

The Poor

2 Nephi 28:13 They rob the poor because of the fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing;

Mosiah 4:26-27 For the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God – I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor ... both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants. And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.

Alma 1:27, 30 And they did impart of their substance, every man according to that which he had, to the poor, and the needy, and the sick, and the afflicted; and they did not wear costly apparel, yet they were neat and comely. And they did not set their hearts upon riches.

Matthew 25:34–40. For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in, Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Satan’s Strategies & Effects

Helaman 3:29 We see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked.

2 Nephi 28: 20-21 For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good. And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security.

Mormon 5:18 But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.

Moroni 7:12, 17 That which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Their Journeys through the Wilderness as a metaphor for our Journey through Life

1 Nephi 16:16,28 And we did follow the directions of the ball, which led us in the more fertile parts of the wilderness. I Nephi, beheld the pointers which were in the ball, that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them.

Ether 2:24-25 For behold, ye shall be as a whale in the midst of the sea; for the mountain waves shall dash upon you. Nevertheless, I will bring you up again out of the depths of the sea; for the winds have gone forth out of my mouth, and also the rains and the floods have I sent forth. And behold, I prepare you against these things; for ye cannot cross this great deep save I prepare you against the waves of the sea, and the winds which have gone forth, and the floods which shall come.

Ether 6:5 And it came to pass that the Lord God caused that there should be a furious wind blow upon the face of the waters, towards the promised land.

If we are righteous, we won’t have to wander through life, we can take a more direct course:

Alma 37:41-43 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means it did show unto them marvelous works. They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey; Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions. And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow.

Ether 3:3 Behold, O Lord, thou hast smitten us because of our iniquity, and hast driven us forth, and for these many years we have been in the wilderness; nevertheless, thou hast been merciful unto us.