This summer, because of youth camps and activities in Utah, my 14-year-old grandson has been living with us. He has been a big help to us. Conversely, we’ve had to do some lifestyle juggling while he’s been here. It’s been fun.
A week ago, his mother came to retrieve him (and his sister) for a family vacation and in anticipation of the start of school. As any good mother would do, she advised Dallin to write us a thank you note, leaving its contents entirely to him. I was particularly pleased with one portion of that note: “Dear Grandma and Grandpa … I had lots of fun at family nights and reading the scriptures and lots of other things. … Love, Dallin.”
I, for one, delight in the scriptures and take immense joy in reading them. As we did with our children, when Dallin came to stay, we read scriptures together daily. But we don’t just read; we study, ponder, discuss and consider how particular verses or chapters apply to our lives and situations.
This is where the scriptures exude enormous power. God’s words in scripture and as shared by prophets today teach timeless, eternal truths. The Savior stated, “What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same” (see Doctrine and Covenants 1:38).
With careful and prayerful attention, scripture study will provide each of us a bedrock foundation against which we can judge the validity of the myriad ideas and proposals circulating in various visual, print and social media circles in the world today.
The scriptures introduce us to God’s eternal truths through lofty thoughts, sermons, parables and stories. They offer examples of righteous men and women worthy of emulation; of those who chose poorly, disobeyed God’s laws and brought sorrow upon themselves and others. They introduce us to conditions inherent in righteous, kind, charitable communities and nations. They allow us to observe the tragedy inherent in selfish, contentious and violent communities.
Armed with the eternal verities embedded in scripture, each of us will be better able to make wise choices and decisions as we move forward in this life and in the next. As Paul truly taught in Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. …”
Once an individual comprehends the extraordinary benefits, the light and understanding that comes through scripture study, rarely a day will go by that they do not hunger and thirst after God’s word.
This simple children’s song — "Scripture Power" by Clive Romney — perfectly encapsulates the promise of scripture study:
Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,
I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.
I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.
Chorus:
Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need
The power that I get each time I read.
(See Friend magazine, October 1987.)
Countless times in my life I have been physically and spiritually protected because of knowledge and understanding given me through scripture study. The quality of my life has been greatly enhanced and I have been empowered by daily study and pondering God’s word.
Thus, my joy with my grandson’s short note. Fourteen-year-olds have lots of things on their minds and lots of things they want to be doing. There is only one reason my grandson would write, “I had lots of fun at family nights and reading the scriptures.” As we studied and talked and applied scripture to various life situations, he recognized the clarity and light they brought and their enormous value to him.
Each of us can trust the promise, because it is true, “Scripture power! Ev’ryday I need, the power that I get each time I read.”
Kristine Frederickson writes on topics that affect members of the LDS Church worldwide in her column “LDS World." She teaches part time at BYU. Her views do not necessarily represent those of BYU.