Jan. 15, 2017: "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33 (New Testament)

Jan. 14, 2017: "Behold, I say unto you that you shall let your time be devoted to the studying of the scriptures" D&C 26:1 (Doctrine and Covenants)
 Jan. 13, 2017:  “It beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me” (Alma 32:28; emphasis added).(Book of Mormon)

Jan. 12, 2017: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).  (Old Testament)


I have been remiss so here are the scriptures for the days from the last time I posted, Jan. 11, 2017
It is important that we are continually learning and growing.  For part of that learning is scripture study.

We are to first seek the kingdom of God what is the best way to know about that kingdom but read the scriptures.  Joseph Smith had a method of doing things that I think works well.  First of all he was not a learned man but if you read what he personally wrote (not translated) you will notice that the writing he wrote when he started was not as well done as his later writings.  Joseph was schooled by the ultimate teacher, the Lord.  We can't help be become better by reading, studying and thus learning.  Joseph's method was to read through the scriptures and if he came upon something he didn't understand he would then pray about it. 

Even though I did not write about a scripture a day this week I did always read some scripture before going to sleep.  I have the scriptures on my phone, my ipad, and a hard copy version.  I use the online version to be able to copy and paste to my blog. 

Many years ago I had a calling (that is what we call it when we are given a specific job in the church.  A job without monetary benefits but many spiritual ones.)  My calling was to be a proof reader for church curriculum department.  I would go to Salt Lake after our General Conference and proof read the conference talks for the next month's Ensign.  In between that assignment I would do various jobs from proofing books for General Authorities to helping write instructions for computer programs of the church.  The particular assignment I am thinking about now is one where I proof read the online scriptures.  I had to take my hard copy of the scriptures and compare it to the version that is online.  So using the online scriptures brings back fond memories.  As an interesting sidenote all things that need to be proofread are read by at least 4 people but sometimes more.  So I was part of a much bigger team.  It is very rare but sometimes errors do get through.

Anyway scripture study is an interesting endeavor because I have noticed that 2 people can read the same scripture and each of them could have a different interpretation on how it applies to their lives.  For me I have been studying the scriptures for almost 30 years and I have noticed that the same scripture can have different meanings at different times in my life.  I find it absolutely amazing that something as old as the scriptures are and it has that affect on people.  I mentioned earlier this week how Job helped me to even have a belief in God.  I have a different interpretation now and they didn't have the same effect that it did so many years ago.

Here is an interesting thing about me:  I did not have a total belief there was a God until I was in college and took the Bible as Literature class.  This might surprise many of those I went to school with.  The reason I was the way I was in school (miss goody goody twoshoes type) had to do more with rebellion than God.  You see my homelife was the exact opposite.  My mother lived with my step fathers without marriage, was an alcohlic and had many strange people coming round.  If you notice I didn't invite many over to my home past my 4th grade (and I was nervous about that one too).  I had been in just about every bar from Thurmont including Pennsylvania by the time I was 14 but I chose not to drink. 

Don't get me wrong my mom worked hard and she never lost or jeopardized her job by drinking but when she wasn't working that was a different story.  My mom expected me to run around, go to parties and be promiscous so I rebelled by doing the opposite.  I don't recommend that as a parenting strategy but apparently my older siblings tried her patience too much and by the time she had me she was tired and without answers.  So she would say,"You are going to do what you want anyway."  She did have some good parenting strategies that worked - like her rules about smoking.  Usually when you have 4 children and you smoke 3 out of the 4 will smoke. My mom's rule was smoke if you want but you buy your own.  The result only 1 out of four smoked. 

Going back to scripture study, there have been many times in my parenting that I have been without a clue what to do with that child.  I would think about how we are children to our Heavenly Father and I would search the scriptures for a time when his children were doing something similar like being rebellious or asking for something they good and well knew was not good for them but they wanted it anyway.  Sometimes I would do what Heavenly Father did and sometimes I would just share the story with my kids and the consequences the person in the scriptures had and then ask the kid if they still wanted to do whatever it was. 

The scriptures have brought me knowledge, peace and understanding and it is only because I have been willing to study them.