Study the Scriptures: Know of God by Studying the Scriptures

A form of divine communication--To study the scriptures

Communication is typically defined as speaking and listening. Likewise, communication with Heavenly Father is speaking and listening. How is this done?

Prayer is typically our speaking with God while he listens.

Studying the scriptures is typically God's speaking to us while we listen.

Because prophets under the influence of the Holy Ghost wrote the scriptures, the scriptures are the word of God—Through the scriptures God speaks to us and we hear his voice.

“And whatsoever they [prophets] shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” 1

Study the scriptures to learn of Christ

The primary purpose of the scriptures is to testify that Jesus Christ is the Savior and Redeemer.

“And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins.” 2

Studying the scriptures teaches us all truth and how to conduct ourselves. Prophets of God exhort us to “feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.” 3

Study the scriptures as a model for living.

We should “[liken] the scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning;” 4 and we should “search the scriptures.” 5

Thus, we have divine permission to “liken” scriptural accounts of other people to ourselves with the confidence that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. In other words, the instructions that God gave under similar circumstances yesterday are fully applicable today.

To study the scriptures is to feast upon the words of God

Studying the scriptures opens the door to personal revelation from God. Studying the scriptures show us:

what we need to do,

how we need to do it,

and who we can become.

We search the scriptures to hear God’s voice and to learn about Jesus Christ and his gospel.

By studying the scriptures, we are accessing the library of all saving truth

These declarations have been made about the scriptures:

The Book of Mormon “contains the truth and the word of God.” 6 This book of scripture chronicles God's dealings with people in the western hemispere.

The Bible is “the word of God so far as it is translated correctly.” 7 This book of scripture chronicles God's dealings with people in the eastern hemispere

The Pearl of Great Price and the Doctrine and Covenants are also scriptural books that contain the word of God. The Pearl of Great Price contains restored writings of Moses, Enoch and Abraham, plus a restored translation of parts of the Gospel of Matthew concerning the Savior's prophecies of the signs before his Second Coming, and Joseph Smith's History. The Doctrine and Covenants contains revelations give to Joseph Smith and subsequent prophets concerning the Restoration of the gospel and Church of Jesus Christ.

These sacred books are called the Standard Works. They:

• testify of Jesus Christ and contain the teachings that he preached on both hemispheres



• contain both preserved and restored writings of ancient prophets
  


• chronicle the restoration of the true gospel of Jesus Christ in these latter-days
  


• set forth the doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ
  


• reveal and renew the covenants made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, which covenants are now available to their descendants and the entire world.
  

Studying the scriptures is a manifestation of faith

We demonstrate our faith by studying the scriptures and believing and obeying God’s revealed word. The apostle Paul said, faith comes by “hearing the word of God.” 8 To study the scriptures is to hear the word of God. Therefore, hearing the word of God, feasting upon the word of God, and living according to the word of God develop faith that leads to eternal life.

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” 9

Questions about 'Study the Scriptures: Know of God by Studying the Scriptures'

Prayer and studying the scriptures go hand in hand. How do they form the full cycle of communication?

What is the primary purpose of the scriptures?

Studying the scriptures teaches us all truth and how to conduct ourselves. Why, then should we "feast upon the words of Christ?"

When we study the scriptures and read accounts of other people, do we have permission to liken those accounts to us?

Studying the scriptures opens the door to personal revelation for God. What can we expect to learn and gain by studying the scriptures?

Studying the scriptures accesses the library of all saving truth. What are the four books of scripture that comprise the Standard Works and what do they contain?

How can studying the scriptures become a demonstration of our faith?

References for 'Study the Scriptures: Know of God by Studying the Scriptures'

1. D&C 68:4
2. 2 Nephi 25:26
3. 2 Nephi 32:3
4. 1 Nephi 19:23
5. John 5:39 – Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
6. D&C 19:26 – ...the Book of Mormon, which contains the truth and the word of God—
7. Articles of Faith: 8
8. Romans 10:17 – So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
9. 2 Nephi 31:20