Likening the scriptures unto ourselves

In 1 Nephi 19:23, Nephi instructs us: "I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning."

What does that mean? To me it means that we can't say that these things were written so long ago that they don't apply to me. These are the words of God to us, of course they apply to us.  Then, now, in the future.

One way that I use to "liken the scriptures" unto myself is to put my name into the scriptures.  I touched on this in an earlier post, but I wanted to go into more detail.

The scriptures were written for us, for our "profit and learning".  God is speaking to each and every one of us!  Individually.  The great thing is, that since we are all different, the Lord is able to speak to us through the same scripture in ways that apply to our individual lives, circumstances and experiences.

As I study my scriptures I add my name into the verses.  I make notations to make the scripture applicable to me and my life.

I know that as we add our names to the scriptures, personalize them, liken them unto ourselves, we will find greater meaning for them in our lives.  We can't just write our names there and be done with it.  We have to follow the counsel and direction we are given in each of the scriptures.  The word of God to us.  Right here, right now.

Time to pray & read scriptures

(image source)

Truth!

Effort is required

(image source)

Nothing in the gospel of Jesus Christ is meant to come easily.  Heavenly Father imparts freely of His spirit, but it is after we show how much we really desire to have that spirit in our lives.

In Matthew 11:29-30 the Savior says: "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The yoke is not easy the moment we put it on, we have to do some work -- "learn of me" -- and when we do, we will find rest, and strength.

When we show effort, things become easier.  It's like weightlifting.  When we first pick up that 20lb dumbbell, it can be hard to lift it for a set.  The more we make the effort to lift that dumbbell, however, the stronger our muscles get, and the easier it is to lift it.  Studying the scriptures is the same.  It takes some effort at first, to find the time, to understand what we are reading, to find additional resources to help us better clarify their meaning, etc..  But the more we do it, the stronger we get. 

Then we pick up the heavier weights! : )

Studying the scriptures in another language

"Many of you study foreign languages. You might like to start reading the Book of Mormon in another language. When you read the scriptures in another language, you learn what the words mean in a new way."  (Julie B. Beck, My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures, General Conference, April 2004)

(image source)

I really like this idea.  I learned Spanish in high school, but didn't have an occasion to use it very often, so my knowledge slowly faded away to a few words and phrases.

In my ward, we have a great deal of Spanish-speaking members and I have tried to find ways to increase my ability to communicate effectively with them, other than the initial "welcome" and "how are you?", but there haven't been any Spanish language classes anywhere near where we live.  (I even asked if I could attend the Spanish classes at the high school, but was told no.)  

Recently, I volunteered to give a talk in the Spanish Group so that I could work on my vocabulary.  I got a lot of help, and it went well.  Interestingly enough, the topic I was assigned to speak on was scripture study. : )

I also have started to read the Book of Mormon in Spanish.  I have been pleased with how much I understand as I read it.  I mean, I know the words I am reading, since I have read them in English, but I haven't had to constantly look up words to know what they are saying.  I know that Heavenly Father blesses us through the power of the Holy Ghost to "bring all things to our remembrance."  John 14:26

Of course, you can do this with any language and any book of scripture.  The possibilities are marvelous!!  I feel that the Lord blesses our efforts to improve ourselves and our abilities and talents, and especially when it affords us the opportunity to increase our ability to communicate and share the gospel with so many more of His children.  The gift of tongues is truly a reality and a miracle.  

A Pearl of Great Price

(image source)

“Please…read more slowly and more carefully and with more questions in mind…Ponder, [and] examine every word, every scriptural gem…Hold it up to the light, and turn it, look and see what’s reflected and refracted there…such an examination may unearth a treasure hidden in a field: a pearl of great price; a pearl beyond price” (Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, Summer 1992 CES Satellite Broadcast, 4).

Marking Your Scriptures - colors and themes

As a follow up to my last post, I wanted to add that you can use different colors for different themes in the scriptures.  For example, if you highlight all the scriptures about faith in green, than any time you are reading the scriptures and you see green, you know it is a scripture about faith.

Here is the color code that I use for my scriptures:

The great thing is that you can use whatever colors you want for whatever themes you want.  It is completely up to you!

Here is an example of how the different theme colors look as you highlight scriptures:

You can also use this idea for certain sections of scripture.  For example, there was a section in the book of Revelation that I wanted to differentiate between which branch of the church John was referring to, the reference that is made to Jesus Christ, and the blessing the people would receive if they corrected their problems.  I made a smaller selection of colors and themes for that specific section of scripture:

I believe that colors and themes are a way to more effectively retain the information that we have gleaned from our study of the scriptures.

Marking Your Scriptures - Make them YOURS!

I know there may be people who disagree with me, but I am one of those people who believes that we should mark our scriptures.  And, by mark them, I mean MARK them!  Underline, circle, connect, write, color, add, MARK them!!!  

There is a saying that goes something like, "Scriptures that are falling apart usually belong to someone who isn't."  (I believe the original quote is attributed to Charles Spurgeon.)  We don't want our scriptures to be pretty additions to our book cases, or decoratively arranged on our living room tables.  We want them to be used, opened, in the way, and treasured!

I am by no means an expert or trying to tell anyone how they should mark their scriptures (that is a VERY personal thing!!), but I wanted to share how I frequently mark my scriptures, and how it has helped me as I study.

As you can see, I do a lot of different methods as I mark my scriptures.  This is a great representation of what many of the pages in my scriptures look like.  Underlinings, circling, connections, writing, coloring, additions, MARKINGS everywhere!!!  I get very excited to turn to a page like this and see all that I have learned and gleaned from my studies!

Here is an example of how you can "partition" certain scriptures that go together in a parable, or a thought, or a principle.  I use both brackets and circles to highlight sets of scripture:

I also underline parts, or highlight, or underline and highlight.  It is what works best for your individual ideas and thoughts.

This helps me when I am looking for a particular scripture, or group of scriptures, especially when I am teaching.  I sometimes even find scriptures by thinking, "I can't remember which scripture it is, but I know it is on the right hand column of the page highlighted in blue."  I can always find it that way! 

I will often use page headings to make it easy to see what is included in the scriptures on the page.  In this example, I have shown the different parts in the book of Luke where Jesus Christ went through during the Atonement, the Crucifixion, His Burial, the Resurrection and Ascension:

I often use linking lines to connect a word or phrase to a notation in the footnotes:

Sometimes the cross references I want are not in the footnotes, so I will add them to the pages.  In this example, I have added the interpretation references for the symbolism of Lehi's Dream in the Book of Mormon:

I like to put my thoughts or quotes or longer explanations in the margins of my scriptures:

This allows me to remember other points or thoughts in relation to the scripture that are important to me.  For example, in the first photo I added, Luke 14:27 is highlighted.  "And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple."  In the margin I wrote: "THERE IS A HEAVY PRICE TO FOLLOW CHRIST!!  HE MUST COME FIRST! NOTHING SHOULD BE BEFORE HIM!!  If you say you follow Him, you will be tested!"  I am reminding myself that we cannot simply say that we believe in Jesus Christ and then consider ourselves His disciples.  To bear His cross means that we pay the price -- of our obedience, our love, our service, all of it!  That is the only way we qualify to be considered His disciple.

Then there are books of scripture, like the writings of Isaiah for example, that need a LOT of markings of all kinds!  Isaiah used a LOT of symbolism, and he was trying to describe things that he saw of the modern day that were not in existence in his time, and therefore he didn't have a lot of references or words that he could use that the people in his time would understand.  My Isaiah sections are pretty crowded.  (You may notice that I am referring to Isaiah, but showing pictures of 2 Nephi in the Book of Mormon.  Nephi felt that Isaiah's words were of great worth!  (And that is where I have done most of my notations about the words of Isaiah.)  Nephi states: "my soul delighteth in the words of Isaiah."  (2 Nephi 25:5)

In 3 Nephi 23:1, Jesus Christ himself says: "And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah."

Here are a few more examples of how I mark my scriptures:

The most important part of marking your scriptures is marking them!!  Imagine how your descendants will feel to have a treasure of not just your scriptures, but your testimony of what was important to you IN them!  How they have affected your life, changed you, challenged you, made you a better person!  That is truly a treasure of great worth!