This is a review of the slides we used while This is a review of the slides we used while discussing . . .discussing . . .

ScripturesScripturesAlma 37Alma 37

“ “God uses the power of the word. . . as God uses the power of the word. . . as an instrument to an instrument to change people's liveschange people's lives. . .” . . .” (Ezra Taft Benson, (Ezra Taft Benson, EnsignEnsign, May 1987, 84)., May 1987, 84).

The Power of the WordThe Power of the WordPurpose: Purpose: 2 Tim. 3:13-17; Alma 37:8-92 Tim. 3:13-17; Alma 37:8-9

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““When we have the scriptures in our heart When we have the scriptures in our heart and our mind and our soul, then we have a means of and our mind and our soul, then we have a means of measuring all things; we have a means of judging measuring all things; we have a means of judging everything elseeverything else. If we are soaked in the scriptures, . If we are soaked in the scriptures, we shan’t want to look at bad things on our walls we shan’t want to look at bad things on our walls or listen to bad music, because they won’t fit. or listen to bad music, because they won’t fit. We We shall intuitively reject themshall intuitively reject them, just as we shall , just as we shall embrace what is goodembrace what is good, because we shall have in , because we shall have in minds a firm and sound sense of what is in good minds a firm and sound sense of what is in good taste” (Arthur Henry King, taste” (Arthur Henry King, Abundance of the Abundance of the HeartHeart, p. 129)., p. 129).

The Power of the WordThe Power of the WordProcess. . . Process. . .

The Power of the WordThe Power of the WordProcess. . . Process. . .

It takes a prophet to It takes a prophet to understand a prophet. . .understand a prophet. . .

In the final analysis, there is no way absolutely none In the final analysis, there is no way absolutely none (and this cannot be stated too strongly!)-to understand any (and this cannot be stated too strongly!)-to understand any . . . scripture, except to have the same spirit of prophecy . . . scripture, except to have the same spirit of prophecy that rested upon the one who uttered the truth in its that rested upon the one who uttered the truth in its original form. Scripture comes from God by the power of original form. Scripture comes from God by the power of the Holy Ghost. It does not originate with man. It means the Holy Ghost. It does not originate with man. It means only what the Holy Ghost thinks it means. To interpret it, only what the Holy Ghost thinks it means. To interpret it, we must be enlightened by the power of the Holy Spirit. . . . we must be enlightened by the power of the Holy Spirit. . . . Truly, it takes a prophet to understand a prophetTruly, it takes a prophet to understand a prophet, and every , and every faithful member of the Church should have "the testimony faithful member of the Church should have "the testimony of Jesus" which "is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10.) . . of Jesus" which "is the spirit of prophecy." (Rev. 19:10.) . . . This is the sum and substance of the whole matter and an . This is the sum and substance of the whole matter and an end to all controversy where discovering the mind and will end to all controversy where discovering the mind and will of the Lord is concerned. (Bruce R. McConkie, of the Lord is concerned. (Bruce R. McConkie, The The Promised MessiahPromised Messiah, p.44), p.44)

““Do you read the Scriptures, my brethren and Do you read the Scriptures, my brethren and sisters, as though you were writing them a thousand, two sisters, as though you were writing them a thousand, two thousand, or five thousand years ago? thousand, or five thousand years ago? Do you read them as Do you read them as though you stood in the place of the men who wrote them? though you stood in the place of the men who wrote them? If you do not feel thus, it is your privilege to do so,If you do not feel thus, it is your privilege to do so, that you that you may be as familiar with the spirit and meaning of the may be as familiar with the spirit and meaning of the written word of God as you are with your daily walk and written word of God as you are with your daily walk and conversation, or as you are with your workmen or with conversation, or as you are with your workmen or with your households. You may understand what the Prophets your households. You may understand what the Prophets understood and thought--what they designed and planned understood and thought--what they designed and planned to bring forth to their brethren for their good. to bring forth to their brethren for their good.

When you can thus feel, then you may begin to When you can thus feel, then you may begin to think that you can find out something about God, and think that you can find out something about God, and begin to learn who he is.” (Brigham Young, begin to learn who he is.” (Brigham Young, JDJD 7:333) 7:333)

“ “ImmerseImmerse yourselves in the scripturesyourselves in the scriptures. . SearchSearch them diligently. them diligently. FeastFeast upon the words of Christ. upon the words of Christ. LearnLearn the doctrine. the doctrine. MasterMaster the principles that are the principles that are found therein. There are few other efforts that will found therein. There are few other efforts that will bring greater dividends. . .bring greater dividends. . .There are few other ways to There are few other ways to gain greater inspirationgain greater inspiration. . .”. . .”

(Ezra Taft Benson, (Ezra Taft Benson, The Power of the WordThe Power of the Word, , CR, Ensign, May 1986, p. 82)CR, Ensign, May 1986, p. 82)

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““It is a paradox that men will gladly devote It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or time every day for many years to learn a science or an art, yet will expect to win a knowledge of the an art, yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subjectmore intensively than any school or college subject .” .”

(John A. Widtsoe, (John A. Widtsoe, Improvement EraImprovement Era, p. May , p. May 1943, p. 289)1943, p. 289)

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DoctrinesDoctrines

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As with the doctrine of spiritual submissiveness As with the doctrine of spiritual submissiveness and agency, we may come late in life to an appreciation and agency, we may come late in life to an appreciation of the of the "deep things""deep things" of God (1 Corinthians 2:10). of God (1 Corinthians 2:10).

Deep, yes, but not because they are abstract or Deep, yes, but not because they are abstract or complex. complex. Ironically, their mysteriousness lies in their Ironically, their mysteriousness lies in their simpleness. They are "plain," and we are so surprised simpleness. They are "plain," and we are so surprised upon finally discovering their obviousness that their upon finally discovering their obviousness that their deepness actually reflects their pervasivenessdeepness actually reflects their pervasiveness..

Like ever-present gravity, deep things are so Like ever-present gravity, deep things are so obvious as to go unreflected upon; nevertheless, there obvious as to go unreflected upon; nevertheless, there are constant consequences. We have been looking are constant consequences. We have been looking "beyond the mark""beyond the mark" (Jacob 4:14) all the time, deliberately (Jacob 4:14) all the time, deliberately and strangely seeking instead for things we could not and strangely seeking instead for things we could not understand (Neal A. Maxwell, understand (Neal A. Maxwell, Moving in His Majesty Moving in His Majesty and Power, and Power, p. 81).p. 81).

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The WordThe Word The SpiritThe Spirit

2 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-1192 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-119

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The WordThe Word The SpiritThe Spirit

TellTell ShowShow

2 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-1192 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-119

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Understanding/ConvictionUnderstanding/Conviction

2 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-1192 Nephi 32:1-5 + D&C 76:1-19, 114-119

““The Lord’s periodic whisperings to my The Lord’s periodic whisperings to my mind. Over the years, these whisperings have mind. Over the years, these whisperings have guided me and reassured me. They give me, from guided me and reassured me. They give me, from time to time, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, time to time, in the words of the Prophet Joseph, sudden strokes of ideas and occasionally the pure sudden strokes of ideas and occasionally the pure flow of intelligenceflow of intelligence (Teachings of the Prophet (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151). . . . These are inward Joseph Smith, p. 151). . . . These are inward things, often taking the form of a things, often taking the form of a directing phrasedirecting phrase. . I have found that the Lord gives more I have found that the Lord gives more instructionsinstructions than explanationsthan explanations”” (Neal A Maxwell, (Neal A Maxwell, Becoming a Becoming a DiscipleDisciple, Ensign, June 1996, p. 12-19)., Ensign, June 1996, p. 12-19).

The College Student SectionThe College Student SectionD&C 91D&C 91

““Today the world is full of alluring and Today the world is full of alluring and attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our attractive ideas that can lead even the best of our members into error and deception. members into error and deception. Students at Students at universities are sometimes so filled with the universities are sometimes so filled with the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the world they begin to question the doctrines of the gospeldoctrines of the gospel.. How do you as a priesthood How do you as a priesthood leader help fortify your membership against such leader help fortify your membership against such deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer deceptive teachings? The Savior gave the answer in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives in His great discourse on the Mount of Olives when He promised, when He promised, ‘And whoso treasureth up my ‘And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived’word, shall not be deceived’ [Joseph Smith —[Joseph Smith —Matthew 1:37]” (Matthew 1:37]” (Teachings of Ezra Taft BensonTeachings of Ezra Taft Benson, , p. 302).p. 302).

The End. . .The End. . .