Scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection

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I have mentioned this talk before, but it is so excellent, I want to reference it again.

"The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection. They contain the doctrine and laws and ordinances that will bring each child of God to a testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior and Redeemer." 

I encourage you to read the entire talk: Elder Boyd K. Packer, The Key to Spiritual Protection, General Conference, October 2013

Writing Scripture Letters - an initial report

A while back, I wrote about an amazing idea that I had seen on The Red Headed Hostess about writing letters to your children about the scriptures that they are going to be reading.

To begin with, the more I thought about this, I realized you could use this in so many different ways!!  Writing letters to a future missionary with scriptures they will study in Preach My Gospel.  Writing letters to Young Women that coincide with the scriptures they will read in their Personal Progress.  To a future spouse with explanations of the scriptures that mean the most to you.  To your parents to thank them for lessons they taught you from the scriptures.  The ideas are endless!!

I have two daughters going into Seminary this year.  For one it will be her last year and for the other it will be her first.  It was really interesting writing two separate letters for the same book of scripture.  (I started with Doctrine & Covenants 1.)  One of them is struggling with her testimony right now and the other is sailing along smoothly.  It is always so enlightening to me how one scripture can have so many facets.  It is truly marvelous!

I am looking forward to reporting how it goes when they read them.  I still have several more scriptures that I want to write them letters about, but at least I got this first one ready for them.

What all of us learn by studying the scriptures

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The Lord speaks to us through the scriptures

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I had a really interesting experience this last week that made me think of a quote that I had heard that said something to the effect of -- the Lord isn't going to tell us anything that He hasn't already told us in the scriptures. (If anyone knows the source of that quote, PLEASE add it to the comments! It is really bugging me that I can't remember it!)

I called a friend of mine to ask if she remembered the quote, and she remembered this talk by Elder David M. McConkie, (Gospel Learning and Teaching, General Conference, October 2010). He said pretty much the same thing.

"Immerse yourself in the scriptures. We cannot love what we do not know. Develop a habit of daily scripture study.

"The Lord has commanded us to search the scriptures, to feast upon them, and to treasure them up. As we earnestly search and ponder the word of the Lord, we will have His Spirit with us. We will become acquainted with His voice.

"Soon after I was called to be a stake president, our stake presidency received training from an Area Seventy. During the training, I asked a question to which he responded, “That is a good question. Let’s turn to the Church Handbook of Instructions for the answer.” We then went to the handbook, and there was the answer to my question. A little later in our training, I asked another question. Once again he responded, “Good question. Let’s turn to the handbook.” I did not venture to ask any more questions. I thought it best to read the handbook.

"I have thought since that the Lord could give a similar response to each of us as we go to Him with concerns or questions. He could say, “That’s a good question. If you will review Alma chapter 5 or Doctrine and Covenants section 76, you’ll remember that I have already spoken to you about this.”

"Brothers and sisters, it is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively. The scriptures contain the words of Christ. They are the voice of the Lord. Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord’s voice."

I love that!!  "It is contrary to the economy of heaven for the Lord to repeat to each of us individually what He has already revealed to us collectively.  Studying the scriptures trains us to hear the Lord's voice."

As an aside, It's also funny how unrelated gospel understanding can lead us to greater understanding of the gospel.  That was really cryptic.  What I mean by that is, for example, I was in Relief Society this Sunday and we were talking about Baptism, from the manual, and as we were discussing baptism, there was a particular idea I commented on.  President Smith said, "Baptism is literally, as well as a figure of the resurrection, a transplanting, or resurrection from one life to another—the life of sin to the life of spiritual life. …"  I had not heard the term "transplanting" referred to in relation to the effects of baptism before, but it certainly broadened my understanding of what it meant. When I think of transplanting, I think of taking a plant that has grown too big for it's container. It's growth is limited. The roots are squished. When it is transplanted, put in new soil, it has room to grow, branch out, expand, and grow as tall as it can. It is the same with our spiritual potential when we are baptized.

This thought, this greater understanding of a gospel principle, opened my mind to a greater understanding of another principle that I suddenly realized I had experienced.

Back to last week.  I will not go into great detail, one, because it was all lame drama, and two, the end result was a personal revelation between me and the Lord.  That being said, this last week, I was accused, in a very public way, of doing something that I did not do.  The person who accused me had at least three different ways to contact me personally, but instead chose to air their grievances publicly on facebook.  I was very hurt that this person, who I thought was my friend, would choose to address this situation in this way.  I was up all night, tossing and turning, my mind trying to decide how to respond, and the next day I was sick to my stomach all day and had a hard time eating.  I prayed a lot that day!  I read the scriptures to try to soften and calm my mind.  I prayed that the Lord would forgive me if I had done something wrong, and if I had, help me to see it.  I prayed that I would feel better.  The Atonement of Jesus Christ is an amazing and beautiful thing!!

I sat down to draft a response to this person.  I had discussed the situation with trusted friends who told me that I didn't do anything wrong, so my drafted response was mainly explaining why I felt that I had not done what they were accusing me of.  As I wrote, I expressed my understanding to this individual.  I understand that their response was less about me than it was about the situation, and I was just the easy target.  I  understand that they have experienced a great deal of loss lately and that the situation would seem to them yet another loss.  I was able to see and express the feelings and intents behind the actions, rather than the actions themselves.

(I have not sent this response to this individual. I have prayed about this a great deal, and I have not felt directed to do so.  At the moment, the letter is more for me than for the individual.)

During the lesson on Sunday, as the teacher was talking about baptism, and transplanting, etc., a scripture I had recently read came to my mind. Completely unrelated, but because I was in a state of being enlightened, I believe that is why it came to my mind. It is in Alma 10:17.  Alma and Amulek are preaching in Ammonihah. Lawyers have come to Amulek to try to "trip him up" and make him contradict the words he had preached to them. "Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts."  The moment I remembered that scripture, I realized that is what Heavenly Father had helped me to do.  I had perceived the intent of this individual, understanding what had made them do what they had done.  I was able to empathize with them, rather than try to strike back or make them hurt, the way that they had hurt me.

I also immediately had the thought that the reason that I recognized Heavenly Father's hand in the process was because I had read it in the scriptures.  Amulek is not the only person who experienced the Lord helping them to perceive the thoughts and intents of others.  Because that was a pattern that the Lord has set forth in the scriptures, it is perfectly reasonable that I would be able to experience that as well.  The Lord is not going to do anything different for us than He has not already done for someone else in the scriptures.  A loose paraphrase, but you get the idea.

Another scripture that came to my mind frequently is Luke 6:27-28. "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you."  I have said a lot of prayers in this person's behalf.  I have prayed that this person will feel peace, that their heart will be softened and that they will find forgiveness there for me.  I feel like I have become a stronger, more Christ-like person because of this experience.  Not perfect, but facing in the right direction.

I am so grateful for the scriptures! During that dark, frustrating day last week, I turned to the scriptures for comfort and strength and received that and so much more!  Heavenly Father loves us so much and blesses us with so much more than we can possibly realize and appreciate sometimes.  I am grateful that I was paying attention this time and was able to see the blessings as they unfolded.  I am grateful to feel the strength of experiences that mirror those in the scriptures.  I have a testimony of the greatness of the word of God.  The power of the word of God!  I love it!

We read, we act, we learn

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"As a youth, the Prophet Joseph Smith had a great question weighing on his mind. He started reading the scriptures and found a solution in the Bible (see James 1:5). He said, “Never did any passage of scripture come with more power to the heart of man than this did at this time to mine.” He reflected on it “again and again” (JS—H 1:12). Because Joseph acted upon what he read in the scriptures, he learned about Heavenly Father, His Son Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and his identity as a son of God. Joseph learned who he was, why he was here on earth, and what he needed to do in this life."  (Julie B. Beck, My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures, General Conference, April 2004)

Mercy

I mentioned earlier that I have been reading through the Book of Mormon this year studying the Christ-like attribute of mercy.  As I come across references to mercy, or examples of mercy, I underline them and write notes in the margins.  This morning I was reading through Alma, chapter 9, I underlined several references to mercy.  Most pointedly in verse 26: "And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy, and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers."

As I pondered on these Christ-like attributes, I thought about what, if anything, has changed in me as I have studied this year.  Have I improved in my capacity to be merciful? Has my understanding of mercy improved? 

I reviewed the attributes again, and could specifically think of several instances this last week where I have been more patient, definitely more long-suffering, and, indeed, more merciful.  I was pleased that studying this way is making a difference in my life.  I have not always been as merciful a person as I should be, and I am grateful to be able to see the Spirit work on me and help me to improve myself!  The gospel is a marvelous thing!!

Insight found in scripture

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Helaman 5:12

It is really hard to pick out any particular verse in the scriptures and say, "this is my favorite!", because as soon as I say that, suddenly there are a hundred others that jump out at me!  That being said, my favorite scripture is Helaman 5:12.

In preparing this post I was a little surprised, and frankly embarrassed, that with all my talk about scripture study, that this is all I had done with my FAVORITE scripture ever!  Just underlining.  That's it.  Seriously. Embarrassing.

But, we can repent.  We can do better, right?!  So...onward and upward!  Thank heavens for reading through a scripture three times!

Now that is more like it!!!

If it is possible, I love this scripture even more than I did before!!  I was spiritually uplifted this morning as I took the time to dig into ever facet of this amazing scripture!  (Have I mentioned how much I love scripture study?! Haha!!)

First of all, why is Helaman 5:12 my favorite scripture?  It tells us exactly what we need to overcome the influence of Satan.  I LOVE scriptures that tell us how to overcome Satan!  I am all over that!  More importantly, it tells us the source of that power -- Our Savior, Jesus Christ.  As we follow His commandments and are obedient to His example, we will find that we have the strength and power to overcome anything that we may encounter in this life.  "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."  Philippians 4:13

I started by putting my name in the place of "my sons" so that this scripture applies to me personally.

"And now (right now, immediately, not later, not when we get around to it.  NOW!), my sons (Lora), remember, remember (DO NOT FORGET!!) that is it upon the rock (Matthew 7:24-27; D&C 6:34 - A rock is solid and strong, we use them to gain sure footing, to build things) of our Redeemer (to redeem means to make up for; make amends for; to obtain the release or restoration of, as from captivity, by paying a ransom; to deliver from sin and its consequences by means of a sacrifice offered for the sinner.  Jesus Christ redeemed us from physical and spiritual death, which we could not overcome on our own, and released us from it's effects through the Atonement and Resurrection), who is Christ (Christ is a Greek word, a title, which means "the anointed"), the Son of God (John 1:14) that ye (me) must (MUST!!) build your (my) foundation (We have to build it.  It takes work on our part to build this foundation.  It is not just handed to us.  However, when we are "done" it is all ours!  We built it!  The definition of foundation: the basis or groundwork of anything; the act of founding, setting up, establishing, etc.; basis for something physical or mental; support.  Our spiritual foundation is built on our testimony, scripture study, prayer, service, church attendance, magnify our callings, love others, share the gospel, ordinances, obediences. . .); that when (not if) the devil (Satan, Lucifer) shall (will) send forth his mighty winds (temptations, obstacles, opposition, anger, frustration, disappointment, etc.), yea, his shafts (debris, shrapnel - extra things that will hurt us even more!) in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm (3 Nephi 14:24-27) shall (will) beat upon you (it feels like that!), it shall have no power (NO POWER!!  God is that powerful!!  Despite Satan's raging, we can be completely protected!  We must, however, put ourselves into a position that we can be protected!) over you (me) to drag you (me) down (None of us, surely, would go willingly to hell with Satan, so if we make choices that put us in his control, and we realize what we have done and where we are going, we will put up a fight, and he will have to drag us there. Alma 12:6 -- 2 Nephi 9:45 -- 2 Nephi 28: 22-23) to the gulf (deep hollow; chasm or abyss) of misery (wretchedness of condition or circumstances; great mental or emotional distress; extreme unhappiness) and endless wo (exclamation of grief, distress or lamentation, "a condition of deep suffering from misfortune, affliction or grief." Book of Mormon manual, pg 110), because of the rock (blessings of obedience) upon which ye (I) am built, which is a sure (free from doubt as to the reliability, character or action, etc., of something; confident; assured or certain beyond question; reliable; stable; unfailing) foundation, a foundation whereon if men (all mankind) build they cannot fall (CANNOT FALL!  That is God's power!!).

I am grateful for my Savior and the power He brings to me daily to overcome the world and its temptations and wickedness.

Isn't that a marvelous scripture?!  You can see why it is my favorite!  So much meaning and strength for us to take into our lives!