From D. Kelly Ogden, (Continued from a previous post, ‘Revealing Ourselves, Revealing God’) . . . A missionary wrote to me: “President, for more than half a year now I’ve had a question I couldn’t answer. But during your talk to our stake youth, the Lord gave me the answer. It wasn’t anything grand; actually it was something quite simple. And it all happened because I was writing what came to my mind, as you told us to do—now I’m writing down what the Lord tells me.”
Remember: your scripture study is not a race. (Now continuing:) I used to mark all those charts and squares and color-in themes for each chapter to keep me on schedule and meeting my quota and reading the four standard works once a year or some other such regimen. I’ve changed my mind. I don’t try to adhere to any strict quantity in scripture reading any more, because I want to stop and ponder and write about what I’m thinking and feeling. A strict one-page-a-day or one-chapter-a-day schedule may inhibit your taking the time to ponder, as well as inhibiting the free flow of revelation.
Pray, meditate, write about the scriptures, and teach your impressions to others. Pray for guidance in your study of the Lord’s words. I know one leader in the Church who prays over each page; as he turns each page he offers a little prayer that he will gain something wonderful from that page. After you have prayed and paused to reflect on what you are learning, and after you have written some of your new understanding, make a point of teaching the new idea or revelation that has come to you to another person—your spouse, roommate, family friend, friend, anyone. By teaching a principle to someone else, it will cement the concept even more in your mind. (Caution: Sometimes the Lord will reveal something to you that he does not want you to share with others. Be discerning and careful about what to share from personal revelation.)
The Lord’s Promises for Mighty Scripture Study
The Lord will indeed show us great things as we do our part: praying over and studying and reflecting upon the words of scripture—and taking the time to be “in the Spirit.” Jesus Christ has given us a remarkable promise: “Whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (Joseph Smith—Matthew 1:37). With all the deceit in the world, that is a comforting assurance, a veritable guarantee: anyone who treasures up (notice he didn’t say just “reads” or “studies,” but one who treasures up) the Saviors words will not be deceived. We need not worry about those who love the scriptures and spend time to study and ponder them. Things will go well for them spiritually. That doesn’t mean they will have no problems. We are here in mortality to encounter and learn to deal with problems, challenges, ordeals, even painful afflictions. But in the end (as well as along the way), it will be well for those who love the Lord enough to dedicate the necessary effort to treasuring up his words. ~ D. Kelly Ogden, “8 Mighty Changes God Wants for You Before You Get to Heaven. Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 2004) 7-8 (continued) 8-9, 12-13
