(In case you are unfamiliar with a Patriarchal Blessing, it is a blessing directly from our Heavenly Father to an individual, with direct guidance and revelation for their life. It is given by an ordained Patriarch. If you would like to know more, click HERE.)
Our Bishop gave us all a copy of the Book of Mormon with a color code in it to mark different scriptures that apply.
I really loved going through the Book of Mormon this way! Even though I have read the Book of Mormon several times, I was finding all sorts of "new" scriptures that I had somehow never seen before because now I was looking at it in a whole new way. I love rediscovering the scriptures like that!
For example, in 1 Nephi 15:11 it reminds us that the Lord told us that in order to receive answers to prayer or blessings, we need to open our heart, ask in faith, believe that we will receive and answer, and keep the commandments (do our part). I went back to my original scriptures and I had only underlined this passage, not delved into it like I did this time.
Another example is in Alma, chapter 5, where Alma asks many thought provoking, soul-searching questions. This time around I read it, imagining it as a personal interview with my Heavenly Father.
(As a quick aside, another scripture study tip I would suggest is to put your name into the scriptures. If it say, "behold I say unto you", I write my name above it so it says "behold I say unto you Lora". Personalize the scriptures! This gives you the opportunity for the Holy Ghost to speak directly to you!)
So, these verses would say, "Lora, have ye spiritually been born of God? Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? I say unto you, Lora, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, Lora, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?" It makes me strongly consider how I would answer those questions when I am standing face to face with my Heavenly Father.
Since then, I have read the Book of Mormon again, each time studying it in a whole new way. One time I read it, answering all the questions that the Book of Mormon asks. This year I am reading it looking for the attribute of Mercy. It is one that I need to improve on. The next time I go through it (after I go through it reading each chapter three times) I want to look for all the references to the Temple.
It is amazing what you find when you are really looking for it!
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