From the book ‘Searching the scriptures’, Gene R. Cook taught:
Once when we were having family scripture study, one of the children asked, “Why do we have to pray when we’re reading the scriptures, Dad: Why can’t we just read?”
We were studying the Doctrine and Covenants at the time and that is where we found our answer: “And they shall give heed to that which is written”—meaning the scriptures—” and pretend to no other revelation;” and they shall pray always that I may unfold the same to their understanding.” (Doctrine & Covenants 32:4.)
According to that verse, what will happen if you fail to pray about the scriptures? The Lord will not unfold their meaning to you. If you want to unlock the secret of the scriptures, you have to pray about them as you read them. I recommend that each day, before you open your book and start reading, you first pray for understanding.
We’ve tried to teach our children about these things, explaining that they ought to offer a very humble and very specific prayer to the Lord. “Father, help me to understand. Open my heart. Help me be more humble. Remove this unbelief or lack faith that I struggle with. Please open my heart. Write upon my heart the things that thou wouldst tell me.” If we will fervently pray in that manner, I bear testimony that something wonderful will happen spiritually. The Lord will begin to speak to you, just as you asked.
Some years ago, motivated by one of the brethren, I did a study of the first thirty or forty sections of the Doctrine & Covenants, revealed when the Church was being organized. As I read, I asked one question throughout: What seemed to be the Lord’s greatest concern about the people in those early days? To me the answer is evident because it is in almost every section. To paraphrase: “My people will not ask me. They go on acting like they know the answers. They won’t ask. If they would just ask, I would tell them, but few ask.”
The way we ask is to pray. If we will humbly pray, in faith, the Lord will unfold the scriptures to our minds, the blessing will come.~~Gene R. Cook, Searching the Scriptures. (Salt Lake City: Deseret Book 1997) 49-50
