"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it." (Matthew 13:45 & 46, KJV)
I believe that one sure way of getting closer to God is to read the words He has given to His children. To me, that means the Scriptures. For me, those include the Holy Bible (consisting of Old and New Testament), the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and The Pearl of Great Price. I try to study each of these, but this year, my focus is on the Book of Mormon.
Now, you don't have to believe the Book of Mormon is scripture. That's up to you. But a number of years ago - twenty-something now - I read it (yes, of my own free will and choice!) and came across an interesting passage in the back which says "Behold, I would exhort you
that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye
should read them, that ye would remember how merciful
the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam
even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things." (Moroni 10:3-5)
That verse went along so well with another one, James 3:5, that I figured it couldn't possibly hurt to try the experiment. So.... I..... Prayed. (Who knew, right!?) And lo, and behold, I felt the whisperings of the Holy Spirit in my heart and mind confirming that this was, indeed, words from God.
Well, twenty-some-odd years later, here I am, once again studying the Book of Mormon, the one book that, as a prophet of God once said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
Very cool book, by the way!
When I study, I need a PURPOSE. I can't just read the Scriptures for the sake of reading. I need to be digging in them, turning over the words, finding the meanings, and pulling out God's teachings for me at this particular time in my life. So, this year I decided I'd try something different. I decided I'd read each chapter seeking for the things I might teach, were I to be asked to teach a lesson from it. It has been quite an interesting venture so far.
Every time I've read in order to teach, I've discovered some valuable things about God, His Plan of Happiness and Salvation, and even about myself. I don't remember things if I don't write them down. (In fact, I'm starting to forget even if I DO write them down! LOL!!!) So my "brain" is full of notes and thoughts about what God has taught me through His word....
Well, twenty-some-odd years later, here I am, once again studying the Book of Mormon, the one book that, as a prophet of God once said, "I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book."
Very cool book, by the way!
And that's where my pearls are coming from this year.
When I study, I need a PURPOSE. I can't just read the Scriptures for the sake of reading. I need to be digging in them, turning over the words, finding the meanings, and pulling out God's teachings for me at this particular time in my life. So, this year I decided I'd try something different. I decided I'd read each chapter seeking for the things I might teach, were I to be asked to teach a lesson from it. It has been quite an interesting venture so far.
Every time I've read in order to teach, I've discovered some valuable things about God, His Plan of Happiness and Salvation, and even about myself. I don't remember things if I don't write them down. (In fact, I'm starting to forget even if I DO write them down! LOL!!!) So my "brain" is full of notes and thoughts about what God has taught me through His word....
And those are my pearls.
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