The Scriptures - The Most Profitable of All Study

One of my favorite scriptures is Helaman 5:12. It says, "Remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall." What it says to me is that life is going to be hard, sometimes really hard, and it is imperative that the Savior is the foundation of our lives. We must place our trust in Him! That is the only way we will make it.

I love the analogy Donald L. Hallstrom used in a CES Devotional on November 2, 2014. He used the building of a temple to help us understand the importance of a foundation. He said, "With the design and construction of every temple, significant work is expended on what cannot easily be seen when the project is finished - the foundation. Unlike building a structure (which by any definition is temporary), in building our everlasting (and hopefully, eternal) lives, we sometimes pay woefully little attention to the engineering and construction of our foundations. Consequently, we are left highly exposed and are easily buffeted by dangerous forces."1

So how is it that we can grasp the importance of building our foundation upon the rock of our Redeemer, Jesus Christ? Elder Hallstrom says, "Simply stated, it needs to get from our minds to our hearts. Our connection with God the Father and His eternal plan, and with Jesus Christ, His Son and our Rock, needs to be so firmly established that it truly becomes the cornerstone of our foundation. The effort of building and maintaining a spiritual foundation is not easy. The construction process is a significant undertaking, and maintenance is a lifetime effort."1

One of the things that will help us build or build upon our foundation is the scriptures. In Chapter 10, Howard W. Hunter said, ""Study the scriptures. This is the most profitable of all study in which we could engage. Where could there be more profitable use of time than reading from the scriptural library the literature that teaches us to know God and understand our relationship to him? Time is always precious to busy people, and we are robbed of its worth when hours are wasted in reading or viewing that which is frivolous and of little value."

That sounds like a warning to us that we may be paying "woefully little attention to the engineering and construction of our foundations!"1 Additionally, President Hunter reminds us that "to understand requires more than casual reading or perusal—there must be concentrated study. It is certain that one who studies the scriptures every day accomplishes far more than one who devotes considerable time one day and then lets days go by before continuing."

The lesson highlights several benefits and blessings that come from studying the scriptures. Here are just a few:

"The Spirit will come into your homes and your lives as you read the revealed word."

"By searching and studying the scriptures and the words of the prophets, we become familiar with what God has revealed to man."

"Reading scriptures is the way we learn to know the will of the Lord, that we might be obedient."

"The revelations of God [are] the standard by which we must live our lives and by which we must measure every decision and every deed. Accordingly, when you have worries and challenges, face them by turning to the scriptures and the prophets."

"Peace and tranquility comes by communion with the scriptures."

"It will expand your knowledge of the way God deals with man and will give you a greater desire to live in harmony with his gospel teachings. It will also provide for you a powerful testimony of Jesus."

Now consider these incredible promises from the scriptures:

"Whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." 1 Nephi 15:24

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life." (2 Nephi 31:20)

"Feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do." (2 Nephi 32:3)

Referring to that last scripture, Wendy Watson Nelson says, "Do you notice that there is no asterisk after the word all indicating exceptions to that promise? There is no asterisk because there are no exceptions! The promise is real: Feast upon the words of Christ, and they will show you what you should do in every situation. Let me share a well-kept secret (for many) about the scriptures: Every question in your life can be answered through the word of the Lord. The scriptures are answer books!"

Is it any wonder why were are told to immerse ourselves in the scriptures. Sheri Dew said that "a casual understanding of the gospel will not sustain you through the days ahead, which is why it is imperative that you immerse yourself in the word of God." 2

President Hunter taught that "as we spend time in thought and contemplation, a great depth of understanding and meaning comes to us." The dedicated devotion we give to the scriptures elevates our understanding. In the lesson, President Hunter shared some profound insights he gained from a very short scriptural account. So too can our understanding be enhanced if we immerse ourselves in the scriptures. I know this to be true! I have experienced it many times in my life. When I have needed answers or help with something very difficult and have asked my Heavenly Father for His help, it is amazing how many times I have found my answers while studying my scriptures. Robert D. Hales said, "When we want to speak to God, we pray. And when we want Him to speak to us, we search the scriptures. He will then teach us as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit." "If you have not heard His voice speaking to you lately, return with new eyes and new ears to the scriptures. They are our spiritual lifeline." 3

A great reminder from Elder Hallstrom is that "No one can build us our spiritual foundation. In this matter we are our own contractor."1 So begin today. Make time. Find a place where you can be uninterrupted, where you can find the joy and peace that comes from feasting on the word of God. I hope we will all heed the challenge of President Hunter to "go forth with a firm resolve to be more prayerful; to seek to live more fully by the Spirit; and to draw closer to our Father in Heaven and his Beloved Son through consistent study of the holy scriptures."