Scripture Study

[ryujin84107]

Hey everyone, I’m new here and need some advice. I haven’t ever really got into the scriptures, mostly because they bore me, but recently I heard something that struck me. I heard “Study the scriptures, don’t just read them.” The concept was that when you read a novel your brain is active and enjoying it and the drama. The scriptures are not built like a novel and don’t have the drama to keep your brain engaged and that’s why you need to study the scriptures.

The problem I am having is that I don’t know how to study the scriptures, I was never taught how to or cared enough to do it. Now I want to start but don’t know where to start or how. Can someone please help me better understand how I would study the scriptures?

[KayCee]

I'm a convert myself so I totally relate about getting into the scriptures. I don't know how many times I've read 1 Nephi! I don't read the scriptures cover to cover...I jump around based on what I need to study at the time.

A couple of suggestions:

-My best friend got reactivated by reading Gordon B. Hinckley's "Stand a Little Taller" which is a daily "calendar" that gives a scripture per day along with Pres. Hinckley's comments about it. It helped her stick to her goal of reading scripture daily and also received some great spiritual morsels from the prophet's comments.

-Read General Conference talks and cross reference the scriptures mentioned. Again, using the voices of our modern-day leaders these definitely help the referenced scriptures come alive for me.

-Take notes IN YOUR SCRIPTURES. When you're in Sunday School or other meeting, or cross referencing like I mentioned above...write down notes or tidbits you'd like to remember in your actual scriptures. You're most likely not going to carry around a notebook or the Ensign with you regularly...but you'll always have your scriptures.

I usually date my notes in my scriptures so then when the scripture comes up again during study, I can remember the last time I took note of it and recall what was going on in my life at the time.

Hope these help.

[ozzy]

I agree with KayCee largely.

In addition, I would recommend actually doing both notes in and out of your scriptures. Highlight scriptures, do chains in them, and reference notes. I personally enjoy keeping a study journal. With it, I pick a topic, study what the scriptures have to say, study what the prophets/apostles/other have to say, and keep tabs on my personal thoughts and impressions concerning what is said. Sadly there isn't enough room in the margins them selves for it all so I do keep a separate one.

So yeah, topical study is good. Another thing is you could simply read a chapter and then write your impressions about what you read in the chapter. I find that doing this can help stir interest even more.

And when all else fails, check out the war chapters. :)

[rameumptom]

Two suggestions:

1. Study it by topic. Think about something about the gospel you would like to know more about, then study it by that topic. Write down the answers you find as you go over specific verses related to your questions. Allow revelation to guide you on this trip.

2. Use guides to the scriptures to help you understand them better. Just don't let the other books replace the scripture study. Rather let them enhance your study.

3. Also, One thing I'm doing here at LDS.Net and on my blog, is as I go through the Sunday School lesson, I write down what I know about the assignment. This includes a lot of interesting stuff (to me). Since I'm rather well-read in ancient scripture, I include a lot of info regarding that stuff. However, you could write about how a specific concept has worked in your life or in the life of someone you know. See it here: Old Testament forum

Edited January 21, 2010 by rameumptom

[MeIRL]

Hey everyone, I’m new here and need some advice. I haven’t ever really got into the scriptures, mostly because they bore me, but recently I heard something that struck me. I heard “Study the scriptures, don’t just read them.” The concept was that when you read a novel your brain is active and enjoying it and the drama. The scriptures are not built like a novel and don’t have the drama to keep your brain engaged and that’s why you need to study the scriptures.

The problem I am having is that I don’t know how to study the scriptures, I was never taught how to or cared enough to do it. Now I want to start but don’t know where to start or how. Can someone please help me better understand how I would study the scriptures?

If you like novels, that is probably because you like following a story line. Which scriptures have a story line you can follow?

• Old Testament: Sort of. Certainly Genesis does, Exodus and Leviticus, too, and other books like Judges, Ruth, and the books of the kings (I and II Samuel, I and II Kings, I and II Chronicles). But there is no cohesive story line running through it.
• New Testament: Most Christians enjoy reading the New Testament because they find it inspirational, but it does not really have a "story line" as such.
• Book of Mormon: Yes. This book has a strong story line involving the history of the Nephite nation, from its birth to its death.
• Doctrine & Covenants: Nope. It's a list of revelations about related, tangentially related, and unrelated topics.
• Pearl of Great Price: Sort of. See "Old Testament" above. No real story line running through it.

So my opinion is: Start with the Book of Mormon. Read one chapter every day. Some days, that might take as much as 30 minutes (depending on how fast you read), but most days it's a 5- to 10-minute job. When you get done, read it again.

After a few times, branch out and give the New Testament a try. Then reread the Book of Mormon. Then try reading the Doctrine and Covenants; with your newly established scriptural foundation, you will find it quite interesting. Take a couple of weeks at some point to read the Pearl of Great Price, and you will find it is well-named. Save the Old Testament until you have read the other scriptures and have some foundation in scripture study.

After a while (a few months, maybe a few years), you will find that scripture study is not a chore. It's very enjoyable! You might even find that your scripture study time is a highlight of your day, something not to be missed.