THis talk was given this past sunday. I wish I hadn't written it all out and maybe talked more from the heart, but that aside, I was proud of it. I enjoyed talking.
Brothers and sisters, I am delighted to be speaking to you today. I was ecstatic when I was asked to speak and I pray that my words will touch your souls and witness the reality of the scriptures unto you while bearing witness of the truth of this church as you have done for me time and time again.
While considering how to go about this talk, I realized, I am not as knowledgeable as some of the people here. Many of you in this room have spent years learning and studying the scriptures while I have only had a short amount of time to do so. When I considered this fact, I became intimidated by it. How am I supposed to tell people how to study their scriptures when they have so much more experience than I do. Then I realized, that’s not what I’m supposed to do at all. No one in this audience needs me to tell them how to study their scriptures. If you are having problems doing so and are seeking answers, you will find them whether or not I tell you how to go about doing it. So today I am going to speak to you about why the scriptures and the study thereof is important to me and how it has influenced my life.
I am a convert to this church and am very grateful for that fact. My mother got re-married when I was 14 years old to an inactive member of the church. When they discussed how they wanted to raise their future children, there was no doubt in either of their minds that Church should be a part of their lives. My step father said he could not imagine life in any other church other than the LDS church. So with the help of him mother and a close friend of mine, my mother and I were baptized together on January 7th, 2005, the day before my birthday. Every time I hear some inspiring and tear jerking story about baptism, I have to admit, I get jealous. I have no amazing story about how I came across the gospel or how I accepted it. I simply heard it was true and believed it. I thought of the book of mormon as more of a text book. Something I had not yet learned but did not doubt. Since I came to BYU, this fact bothered me to a great extent. I began to question my faith, wondering if I was too young to make such a life altering descision or if I did it out of family pressure. Over the past few years, I learned to work around those doubts and progress in my faith, but never quite got past them. This is where my testimony of the importance of scripture study comes in.
The scriptures are such a powerful resource we have as Latter Day Saints. It is amazing to me how something as historical as the scriptures, so concrete and constant, can be so fluid and diverse at the same time. We can look at the same scripture a thousand times and never pay any attention to it until one day, it is the answer to all our questions. One night I was talking to a friend and we got into a discussion about the Church. We discussed my conversion and I willingly told the story of how it came about, and almost without noticing, went into my doubts and worries that I had hidden away for so long. This inspired and educated friend proceeded to share with me one simple scripture that solved this problem that had plagued me for so long. Quoting Alma 32:15-16
When I had gone for so long thinking that me converting and accepting the gospel into my life in such a casual sort of way, without angels singing or the Lord commanding me to do so as if it was a bad thing had been a road block in my spiritual progession. This one simple scripture changed all of that and I was beyond thankful for it. This is an example of comfort. One of the many uses of the scriptures and the one that I personally use the most.
I find myself lying in bed, far to late for me to be just getting to sleep, being very conscious of the scriptures not more than 2 feet away from my hand. There’s always that voice of reasons (I say reasons because there is no “reason” to this voice, all it gives me is excuses) that voice of reasons that tells me it’s ok to just go to sleep. I wouldn’t be completely committed to studying tonight anyways. Then the next morning after I am rested and am strong enough to push that voice away, I feel horribly guilty. Not because I didn’t read the scriptures that night, but because in my mind, I have told the Lord that he is unimportant. That I do not appreciate all he has done for me and that sleep or other activities are more important to me. When we read our scriptures, we are remembering God. When we do not, we are pushing him aside and forgetting him in our lives. He has given us such a powerful resource to get back to him someday. It is literally an instruction manual with everything we need to do. I don’t think the Lord could have made it any easier for us. Not only does it tell us what we need to do, it helps us do it! It gives us strength and confidence that its words are true. It tells us what is to come and what to expect, it guides us along our way and invites the spirit to give us even more revalation. I would now like to quote a hymn that sums up the power of the scriptures and how incredibly important they are.
“1. As I search the holy scriptures,
Loving Father of mankind,
May my heart be blessed with wisdom,
And may knowledge fill my mind.
2. As I search the holy scriptures,
Touch my spirit, Lord, I pray.
May life’s myst’ries be unfolded
As I study day by day.
3. As I search the holy scriptures,
May thy mercy be revealed.
Soothe my troubled heart and spirit;
May my unseen wounds be healed.
4. As I search the holy scriptures,
Help me ponder and obey.
In thy word is life eternal;
May thy light show me the way.”
This hymn so articulately puts into words what I feel and have been trying to tell you today. The lord speaks to us through the scriptures. He speaks to our hearts as we study and show our faith in him. I know that the Lord has all the answers and longs to give them to us, be cannot do so unless we follow his commandments, ask, and seek those answers. By searching the scriptures, we are not only remembering him, but we are inviting him into our lives and giving him permission to guide us along our way. I have a testimony of this church and I believe that the scriptures are here to help us in every aspect of our lives. They answer the questions of our heart and help us receive the Lord into our lives. I am greatful to have had the opportunity to speak to you today and I want all of you to know that I believe in this church wholeheartedly. I know President Monson is a prophet and that he receives revalation on our behalf. I know we are all sons and daughters of our heavenly father and that all he wants is for us to come back home to him. That is why he gave us these holy scriptures. I am ungreatful and if I did not take advantage of this blessing and feast on the words they contain. I know without a doubt that this church is true and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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