“The Scriptures Turn Our Hearts to God,” Liahona, July 2022.
Come, Follow Me
The Scriptures Turn Our Hearts to God
President Spencer W. Kimball said that the account of King Josiah, found in 2 Kings 21–23, “is one of the finest stories in all of the scriptures” (in Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Old Testament 2022, 129).
How King Josiah Found the Scriptures
King Josiah Cleansing the Land of Idols, © Look and Learn / Bridgeman Images
Josiah became king of Judah when he was only eight years old. He had inherited a kingdom of people who believed in false gods, but he wanted to follow the Lord. In the eighth year of his reign, he ordered that altars and idols of false gods be destroyed throughout Judah.
Josiah, King of Judah, Restores the Worship of God in His Kingdom, by unknown artist, photo by Stefano Bianchetti / Bridgeman Images
Ten years later, he asked his people to restore the temple in Jerusalem, where the high priest Hilkiah found the scriptures. When King Josiah read the book, he was inspired to follow its teachings. He then gathered his people and read the book to them.
For so long, the people had hardened their hearts against God. But the scriptures helped turn the hearts of the people back to God. King Josiah promised the people he would walk in the ways of the Lord and obey the commandments.