Scripture Chains

The footnotes at the bottom of the pages of our scriptures are incredibly useful and can give us many added insights into the meaning of the scriptures we are studying, but they are by no means all-inclusive.

Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "I received a letter from a seminary teacher in which he criticized our new scriptural publications because they had footnotes, cross references, and teaching aids.  He argued that these were crutches which kept people from that intensive study in which they would make their own cross references.

"Well, I for one need these crutches and recommend them to you.  They include the Joseph Smith translation items, the chapter headings, Topical Guide, Bible Dictionary, footnotes, the gazetteer, and the maps.

"None of these are perfect; they do not of themselves determine doctrine; there have been and undoubtedly now are mistakes in them,  Cross references, for instance, do not establish and never were intended to prove the parallel passages so much as pertain to the same subject."  (BYU Symposium, August 17, 1984, Elder Bruce R. McConkie, The Bible -- A Sealed Book)

This is why I think Scripture Chains are important.  One, they are very useful in the flow of doctrine and guidance from the scriptures.  And, two, they are of our own making, which shows how WE, individually, receive doctrine and guidance from the scriptures.

Here is an example of one of the Scripture Chains I have in my scriptures about receiving personal revelation.

Here is another Scripture Chain explaining the concept of "cross yourself":

Matthew 16:24-26 (and especially the Joseph Smith translation) --> Alma 39:9 --> Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, McConkie & Millet, pg. 292: Alma 39:9 --> 3 Nephi 12:30

(Important tip: at the end of the chain, always make a notation that states which is the originating scripture, that way you know where you started.)

The significant part is that these chains are a representation of YOUR personal study and understanding of the scriptures.

Thankful for the scriptures!

I am very thankful for the abundance of blessings that my Heavenly Father bestows upon me daily, hourly, every minute.  He knows my needs and is in constant readiness to bless me with the things that I stand in need of.  I am grateful, especially for the scriptures, and the amazing comfort, guidance and strength they are to me as I open them and read and study their words.  I am grateful for the testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ and His Atonement, which is found in the scriptures, which strengthens and enriches my own!  Heavenly Father so carefully directed those who recorded their inspiration, histories and knowledge, that we might benefit from them!  

What a marvelous, marvelous blessing we enjoy in the scriptures!

Psalms 100:4 

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: 

be thankful unto him, and bless his name."

Colossians 3:15

"And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, 

to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Psalms 95:2

"Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, 

and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms."

Colossians 2:7

"Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, 

as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Alma 34:37-38

"And now, my beloved brethren, I desire that ye should remember these things, 

and that ye should work out your salvation with fear before God, and that ye should 

no more deny the coming of Christ;

"That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you 

the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in 

whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, 

for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you."

Doctrine & Covenants 46:7

"But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which 

the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, 

walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with 

prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, 

or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils."

Doctrine & Covenants 136:28

"If thou art merry, praise the Lord with singing, with music, with dancing, 

and with a prayer of praise and thanksgiving."

Definitions

When I am able to sit down and really study my scriptures or a lesson or a General Conference talk, one of the things that I like to do is look up words in the dictionary to discover their meaning.  Most of the time, I already know what the word means, but often I have found that there is usually more in the definition of a word than I realized.  

For example, the lesson for Relief Society/Priesthood yesterday was from Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Fielding Smith, chapter 20: Love and Concern for all of Our Father's Children.  As I read through the lesson, in section 1, there was the following quote:

I think if all men knew and understood who they are, and were aware of the divine source from whence they came, and of the infinite potential that is part of their inheritance, they would have feelings of kindness and kinship for each other that would change their whole way of living and bring peace on earth.

We believe in the dignity and divine origin of man. Our faith is founded on the fact that God is our Father, and that we are his children, and that all men are brothers and sisters in the same eternal family.

As members of his family, we dwelt with him before the foundations of this earth were laid, and he ordained and established the plan of salvation whereby we gained the privilege of advancing and progressing as we are endeavoring to do.

I love that first paragraph! Beautiful! 

Actually, this is what my page looked like:

But the word I want to focus on is privilege.  I know what that word means.  It means that you have something that someone else doesn't, by virtue of your birth or work or efforts.  When I looked up the word, however, I discovered that it had a lot more meaning than I thought.  And, in a different way, I am sure, than Mr. Webster had in mind.

(image source)

I was intrigued by the fact that nearly all of the definitions for the word privilege contained the word immunity.  That concept in relation to the word privilege had never before entered my mind.  

From a Latter-day Saint perspective, with an understanding of the Plan of Salvation, the word immunity, in relation to privilege, makes perfect sense!

Because we know the Plan of Salvation, because we love God and keep His commandments, and, most importantly, because of the Atonement of Jesus Christ on our behalf, we can "endeavor to advance and progress" because we can repent and be forgiven and strive to do better.  This gives us an advantage, because as we take these steps, we gain immunity from the effects of physical and spiritual death.  How great is that?!!  And, that is definitely something to be enjoyed!

I am so grateful for the many resources that bless our lives and help us to find greater meaning and application to the scriptures in our lives!  It is indeed a privilege! 

(image source)

Words of comfort, love, strength and good cheer

Book of Mormon Online

I just found a really amazing website.  It is an online resource for studying the Book of Mormon.  It is extremely detailed!  I am very impressed!

http://bookofmormononline.net/home

You can go through each verse of the Book of Mormon and it has references, pictures, etc..  There are maps, timelines, a database of Book of Mormon people and places, relationships, and much more!  

I can't believe I hadn't found this before.  It is very helpful and VERY comprehensive!  Be sure to take a look!!

Reading the Book of Mormon with a purpose

I mean, there is always a purpose to reading the Book of Mormon.  To know that it is true.  Moroni, the last Book of Mormon prophet, left a promise at the end of the Book of Mormon, that when you read the Book of Mormon, with the intent to know that it is true, and then pray to Heavenly Father, He "will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost."

(If you are interested in a free copy of my favorite book, click HERE!)

I have read the Book of Mormon numerous times.  Each time I read it, I am at a different point in life and so I see and understand different things.  The Book of Mormon meant one thing to me as a missionary, and another thing to me as a mother, for example.  Recently I started reading the Book of Mormon with a different focus or theme so that I see even more than I have seen before.

In mentioning that to another tweeter, she mentioned a way that she is reading the Book of Mormon, and I really liked it.  But now I am about four Books of Mormon out, and I don't want to forget the ideas, so I figured this is the perfect place to start a list of ideas of ways that I want to read through the Book of Mormon. 

* Reading through three times
* All references to the Temple
* Keeping track of who is speaking
* The names of Jesus Christ
* The references to us

I am going to keep adding to this list as I think of or see new ideas.  If anyone has ideas that they have done or seen, please share in the comments!

Prayer Journal

I know that this doesn't immediately sound like it is related to scripture study, but prayer and scripture study are essential to each other, so it is. : )

I know there is a quote somewhere that says that our journals are basically the scriptures of our lives.  What we write in our journals is recorded in the heavens.  President Spencer W. Kimball said, in a talk entitled President Kimball Speaks Out On Personal Journals (December 1980), said:

From time immemorial the Lord has counseled us to be a record-keeping people. Abraham had a book of remembrance, and Adam had one. Early in the American life of the family of Lehi, his son Nephi said: “Having had a great knowledge of the goodness and mysteries of God, therefore, I make a record of my proceedings in my days. …

“And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.” (1 Ne. 1:1, 3.) This great record included not only the movements of his people, but his own personal life.

When the Savior visited this continent following his resurrection, he commanded the Nephites and Lamanites to bring their records up to date. He said to them: “Behold, other scriptures I would that ye should write, that ye have not.

“And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.

“And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

“Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

“And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, …

“And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

“And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written, … therefore it was written according as he commanded.” (3 Ne. 23:6–13.)

You should continue on in this important work of recording the things you do, the things you say, the things you think, to be in accordance with the instructions of the Lord. Your journal is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life.

What could you do better for your children and your children’s children than to record the story of your life, your triumphs over adversity, your recovery after a fall, your progress when all seemed black, your rejoicing when you had finally achieved? Some of what you write may be humdrum dates and places, but there will also be rich passages that will be quoted by your posterity.

We hope you will begin as of this date. If you have not already commenced this important duty in your lives, get a good notebook, a good book that will last through time and into eternity for the angels to look upon. Begin today and write in it your goings and your comings, your deeper thoughts, your achievements, and your failures, your associations and your triumphs, your impressions and your testimonies. We hope you will do this, our brothers and sisters, for this is what the Lord has commanded, and those who keep a personal journal are more likely to keep the Lord in remembrance in their daily lives.

A while ago, a friend that I follow on Twitter, Ashley Frederickson, tweeted about her Prayer Journal.  She had written a post on her blog and was talking about how it was benefitting her life.   Being the journaler that I am (is that a word?), I loved the idea of keeping a better record of what I have been praying for and how the Lord has been answering my prayers.

So, I got a journal and started writing.  It has been a marvelous experience, as, with my preparation, I feel that I have received answers to my prayers in ways that I might not have recognized previously.  I highly recommend it!