I think we all have lessons or talks that stick with us more than others. For me, one of these lessons happened in December 2011. In a Relief Society lesson, the teacher encouraged us to write down a question as part of our scripture study. She encouraged us to make a chart where we recorded the question, the verses, and the answers we’d gotten. While I’d asked questions as part of my scripture study before, I’d never actually created a chart to record the answers. With a somewhat reluctant and doubting attitude, I decided to give it a try.
My First-Attempt Results
The next morning, I decided on a question. I prayed about it and created my chart, writing down my question. I don’t 100% remember what I asked. It had to do with either asking if the church was true or if the Book of Mormon was true. I’m pretty sure it was kind of a combination of the two questions.
Once my prayer was over and my question was recorded, I opened my scriptures and turned to 1 Nephi 4 to begin my scripture study. Two phrases from the third verse hit me hard. The first part says, “Now behold, ye know that this is true.” The second says, “Wherefore can ye doubt?” These two phrases were a slap in the face. It was as though Heavenly Father was saying, “You know this true. Why are you asking? Quit doubting the things you know to be true.”
I’ll admit it hurt a little extra realizing these words were directed at Laman and Lemuel. They had seen an angel, and yet they doubted. I’d definitely like to believe I’m more like Nephi than like Laman and Lemuel, but in that moment, I knew I shared at least some characteristics with his less-obedient brothers.
Changing My Scripture Study Practices
From there, it became a habit to have a question in mind every time I read the scriptures. I feel like having a question in mind when I do my scripture study allows me to get more out of the experience. I know what I’m looking for, which allows me to focus my study better. It has helped me to better understand how the scriptures relate to my life personally.
Changes I’ve Made Since that First Time
In the begining, I would create a new question every day. When I did that, I generally felt like I’d only gently touched on the question. Sometimes, I didn’t really feel like the question had been answered at all. I’d often end up asking the same question two or three days in a row, or I’d go back and ask that same question a few days later.
Before long, I realized for me it works best to focus on the same question for a week. I create the question on Sunday. Then I’ll keep that same question for the full week. Occassionally, I’ll keep the same question for two weeks in a row when I feel like my question wasn’t answered at all. It’s been a while since I’ve done that, but generally I feel like I do that when I really haven’t been putting full effort into my scripture study.
Another change I’ve made is including answers from other sources This includes recording answers from my patriarchal blessing, from general conference talks, and from articles in the “Liahona.” I also like to watch the podcast “Don’t Miss This,” which goes along with “Come Follow Me.” It often offers answers to my weekly questions. I may also record thoughts I have throughout the day related to my question or answers I receive through talks in sacrament.
Tips to Make Your Scripture Study Experience Better
One of the most important elements of scripture study is discovering what works for you. For some people, that means reading in the morning. For others, that means ending their day with their scripture study. I’ve found that having the same question for a week works best for me. For others, they may find going in with a different question or even more than one question works best for them.
When creating a chart for my scripture study, I create four columns. The first is “date.” The second is “question.” The third is “reference.” The final column is “answer.” At the beginning of the week, I fill in the date and question columns. As I receive answers, the fill in the other two columns. For me, I usually make the “question” and “answer” columns a bit wider than the other two columns. I find they need a little extra space. Throughout the week, there are several things I often encounter in my scripture study.
Don’t Stress Over a Lack of Answers
There are weeks where I feel like as I’m recording answers, I’m recording six or seven verses a day. There are other weeks where my first answer won’t come until Tuesday or Wednesday. I might only feel like two or three verses throughout the whole week apply. At times, even those two or three verses might feel like a bit of a stretch.
It can definitely feel discouraging when you pick a question for your scripture study, and yet you don’t feel like you’re getting any answers. My rule for myself is that if I don’t record at least seven answers, which equals out to an average of one per day, I keep that question for the next week.
Record the Thoughts that Don’t Fit
Sometimes, I’ll feel like I need to record a specific verse as an answer, but I’ll also feel like that verse doesn’t fully fit with my question. When that happens, one of two things will generally happen afterwards. First, I’ll record that verse. Then I’ll start to notice other verses, which more clearly fit with my question. When that happens, I’ll generally start to see how the first verse also fits.
The second scenerio is that the direction of my question starts to adjust. Sometimes, my question becomes more specific. Sometimes, the actual direction of the question, including the wording, might change as I realize that particular verse is an answer to my question. While not the perfect example, recently I was asking a question about how I could trust my own judgment concerning a specific issue. As the week progressed, verse after verse reminded me that I shouldn’t trust my own judgment. I should trust Heavenly Father. He knows better than me. I then found myself adjusting the working of the question.
Expect Similar Answers Throughout Your Scripture Study
If you’re anything like me, you’ll start to notice a pattern of similar answers. When it’s similar answers to the same question, I take that as evidence that this is something I really need to pay attention to when it comes to that question or concern.
I also find that I have similar answers to many of my questions. “Patience” and “trusting God’s timing” have become scripture themes in my life. You’ll likely notice some of your own scripture themes throughout your scripture study.
Short Lessons Change Lives
Over twelve years after that lesson, I still do my scripture study this way. Lately, I was trying to remember who taught that lesson. I couldn’t remember. It wasn’t just that I couldn’t remember the lady’s name. I literally have no idea who taught that lesson. It was probably only a minute or two of her lesson. Yet that minute or two has changed how I go about doing my scripture study. Looking back on that change reminds me how much a small thing we say or do can really change someone’s life.
I encourage everyone to find the scripture study method that works best for you. If you’re strugging to figure out what that might be, consider creating your own scripture study chart. Along with that, if you are ever teaching a lesson and you feel inspired to include something, even just a simple thought, realize there might be a reason for that, even if you never know the reason.
1 comment
Comments are closed.