“Thou shalt read thy scriptures before thy homework”

[Fether]

So the other day while attending institute, the class president got up and bore testimony on studying scripture before doing his homework. I hadn’t heard this notion since I was in seminary and even then I felt uncomfortable about it.

it was a very popular belief in my high school and others that reading scriptures before doing your homework was a righteous and worthwhile thing to do, that it would bless in your classes.

is there anything in the gospel that supports this? I know that getting up early to study scriptures is an important thing to do, and when we do that our scriptures will naturally come before homework... but that is different than “you should do scriptures before homework”

[omegaseamaster75]

18 minutes ago, Fether said:

is there anything in the gospel that supports this? I know that getting up early to study scriptures is an important thing to do, and when we do that our scriptures will naturally come before homework... but that is different than “you should do scriptures before homework”

No, but reading your scriptures is never a bad thing to do. If you want to study your scriptures at a set time everyday and that time happens to occur before you do your homework nothing bad will come of it.  Will it actually help you complete your homework faster or retain what you are studying better? IMHO no, but people believe what they want to.  

[zil]

If you study the Old Testament, it becomes clear (to me) that sacrifices (firstlings, firstborn) and offerings (firstfruits) were to be first (best) in quality and first in sequence.  IMO, this principle could be applied as a broad truth when doing what the Lord has asked us to do - put it first sequentially, and do your best quality work for Him, then let the rest follow.  I know more than one person who has testified of the blessings which come from following this principle (myself included).

This is the closest principle I can think of from scripture.  I think you could find conference talks that say similar things.

[Jane_Doe]

48 minutes ago, Fether said:

is there anything in the gospel that supports this? I know that getting up early to study scriptures is an important thing to do, and when we do that our scriptures will naturally come before homework... but that is different than “you should do scriptures before homework”

This is totally a personal choice (aka between you and the Lord).  I've known a person who finds such study gets them in the mindset to do rest of their work.  I know people who like to start the entire day off with scripture study.  Personally, for me I like to get my work 'done' (aka done enough) and then study and rest at the end of the day.  

[Midwest LDS]

I wouldn't be too concerned about how other people do things @Fether . Personal scripture study is, by it's nature, personal. You should do it everyday, but the details are left up to you. I wouldn't worry about what everyone else does, just focus on what helps you remain close to the Lord.

[person0]

1 hour ago, Fether said:

is there anything in the gospel that supports this?

While I will admit I did not ever really try to do this, I think the principle is fairly straight forward.  If you read the scriptures you can invite the Spirit, if you invite the Spirit you can have comfort and the blessings of remembrance to guide you as you do your homework.  This can help you to accomplish the task quicker, with greater focus, and with less frustrated reactions to difficult subjects.  As I said, I never really made efforts to attempt this, but I can easily envision it being effective so long as the scripture study was done in sincerity and with the appropriate attention and focus, rather than as a vain repetition.

[anatess2]

1 hour ago, Fether said:

So the other day while attending institute, the class president got up and bore testimony on studying scripture before doing his homework. I hadn’t heard this notion since I was in seminary and even then I felt uncomfortable about it.

it was a very popular belief in my high school and others that reading scriptures before doing your homework was a righteous and worthwhile thing to do, that it would bless in your classes.

is there anything in the gospel that supports this? I know that getting up early to study scriptures is an important thing to do, and when we do that our scriptures will naturally come before homework... but that is different than “you should do scriptures before homework”

I have a different pattern... I pray before doing homework.  But reading scriptures would act the same way.  It's basically the same as tithing - when you tithe on your gains FIRST before doing the rest of your financial obligations, it puts you in the mindset that everything you do is dedicated to the service of God.  This makes it harder (if not impossible) to use the rest of your finances for unrighteous things - like using your grocery money to buy Jordans.  Prayer or scripture reading before homework dedicates your work in the service of God.  This would make it harder (if not impossible) to cheat on your homework by copying your friend's work, or even just using only half your brain for the homework while the other half is killing aliens in Halo.  Rather, it puts you in the mindset of doing your best because it is what God would want.

 

[Namaskar]

I have ADD and didn’t know until I was an adult. It took a lot out of me to read and retain information when I was in school. I don’t think reading scriptures = better grades. I do think I enjoyed the challenge of reading one verse a day because challenges are actually a motivator for someone with ADD. 

But as an adult I’ve studied a lot about brains and since our brains are wired certain ways, we can train our brains by what is being inputted. If we fill our minds with scary, negative stuff, we see the world negatively. If we fill it with new and positive, we see the world positively. 

I now love to read, listen and watch enlightening things from all different sources. I think the idea of reading something enlightening, like some of the scriptures (but let’s be real, not all of the scriptures would be good to read before homework) could add to that positive brain pool.

 

[Guest]

I would imagine it would help one get into the right frame of mind to study other materials as well. I know just starting to study is usually the hardest part, so doing this could help both our secular and spiritual studies.

[Blossom76]

I'm studying at the moment, and I read the scriptures before study, then a prayer, I find it helps me focus.  Of course I read them after studying too but just a little reading before studying really helps my mindset

[seashmore]

When I decided to read my scriptures before I did homework in college, I looked at it as putting the spiritual before the temporal. I can't say I noticed a huge difference in anything once I changed my habits, but it was enough of a difference to keep it as my goal. (Even if I didn't always meet that goal.)