“Personal Value of the Scriptures,” About the Scriptures (2019)
“Personal Value of the Scriptures,” About the Scriptures
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man reading scriptures
Personal Value of the Scriptures
The scriptures are truly like a “pearl of great price” (Matthew 13:46). When we study and immerse ourselves in the scriptures, our lives are blessed in many ways.
For instance, “likening the scriptures to our personal lives helps us discover gospel principles and receive revelation. Nephi testified, ‘I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning’ (1 Nephi 19:23). Even though the scriptures were written long ago, they provide inspiration for our modern-day dilemmas when we learn to liken them to ourselves” (“Likening the Scriptures to Our Personal Lives,” Ensign, Mar. 2009, 33).
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woman reading scriptures
President Dallin H. Oaks has also taught about the power of the personal revelation we can receive as we study the scriptures. As he noted: “Our belief in an open canon also includes private revelations to individual seekers of the meaning of existing scriptures. Such revelations are necessary because, as Elder Bruce R. McConkie of the Quorum of the Twelve observed, ‘Each pronouncement in the holy scriptures … is so written as to reveal little or much, depending on the spiritual capacity of the student’ (A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1985, p. 71)” (“Scripture Reading and Revelation,” Ensign, Jan. 1995, 7).
The following “What Scriptures Mean to Me” videos feature several members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as they share their personal experiences with the scriptures.
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President Nelson reading scriptures
President Russell M. Nelson has also said this about the revelatory power of the scriptures:
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President Russell M. Nelson
“As you ponder and pray about doctrinal principles, the Holy Ghost will speak to your mind and your heart [see Doctrine and Covenants 8:2]. From events portrayed in the scriptures, new insights will come and principles relevant to your situation will distill upon your heart.
“You cultivate such revelatory experiences by living according to the light already given you and by searching the scriptures with pure motives—with real intent to ‘come unto Christ’ [Jacob 1:7; Omni 1:26; Moroni 10:30, 32]. As you do so, your confidence will ‘wax strong in the presence of God,’ and the Holy Ghost will be your constant companion [Doctrine and Covenants 121:45]” (“Living by Scriptural Guidance,” Ensign, Nov. 2000, 18).
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man reading scriptures
As we make scripture study an integral part of our lives, we will be guided to make the right decisions for our individual circumstances, and we will become the people that the Lord wants and needs us to be.