David Leavitt - Scripture Study for Latter-Day Saint Families: The Book of Mormon

Preface: The Power of the Word

Preface: The Power of the Word

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities, p. 9.) This classic statement in many ways captures the spirit of the latter days. We suppose that never have young Latter-day Saints been so strong and vibrant. They stand for truth. They pray consistently, and they read their scriptures like no other generation before them.

Simultaneously, however, the world is filled with awful sin. President Ezra Taft Benson said it this way: Never has the Church had a more choice group of young people than at present, and Satan is well aware of who they are. He is doing everything in his power to thwart them in their destiny. He knows that they have been sent to earth in this crucial period of the worlds history to build the Kingdom of God and establish Zion in preparation for the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, our youth have an awesome challenge. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, pp. 56263.)

Similarly, Elder Boyd K. Packer declared, It is a great challenge to raise a family in the darkening mists of our moral environment. (Our Moral Environment, Ensign, May 1992, p. 68.) With all these negative and wicked influences, where do we turn for peace and safety to help keep our children protected and pure?

Despite the challenges that face Latter-day Saint parents, and irrespective of all the worldly interventions designed to save our young people, the solution for saving our youth lies in prevention, not redemption. And what better way to insulate or shield or protect our youth from Satans fiery darts than by studying the word of God. Remember Almas declaration: As the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was justyea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else. (Alma 31:5.)

Lack of Scripture Use

Unfortunately, too many families do not take advantage of the blessings promised to those who rely on the scriptures. President Harold B. Lee explained, We need to teach our people to find their answers in the scriptures.... But the unfortunate thing is that so many of us are not reading the scriptures. We do not know what is in them, and therefore we speculate about the things that we ought to have found in the scriptures themselves. I think that therein is one of our biggest dangers of today. (Find the Answers in the Scriptures, Ensign, December 1972, p. 3.)

In Dyer and Kunzs study of effective Mormon families (Effective Mormon Families), they found that only 28 percent of effective Mormon families read their scriptures regularly. Elder Gene R. Cook has estimated from traveling as a General Authority that only 10 to 15 percent of Church members read the scriptures together as families. (See Raising Up a Family to the Lord, p. 110.)

If parents fail to use the scriptures in their families, then their children will certainly be denied some of the great blessings that come from regular and consistent scripture use. In fact, if youth do not see their parents model scripture use, they will be less likely to use the scriptures when they become parents. Such trends have tragic consequences.

The Blessings of Scripture Use

On the other hand, those who immerse themselves in the scriptures, and who subsequently learn and apply the saving truths, reap blessings not only for this life but also for all eternity. They come to understand that the word of God leads us to Christ, and they can testify of that truth. (See Alma 31:5; Helaman 3:29.)

Those who use the scriptures regularly know the truth of Elder Boyd K. Packers statement: True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than the study of behavior will improve behavior. (Conference Report, October 1986, p. 20.)

Those who study the scriptures learn to hear the voice of the Lord. Elder Gene R. Cook has written, One of the most important things learned in reading the scriptures is how to hear the voice of the Lord to us. Instruction comes not only from reading the words; when we prayerfully ponder them, the Lord can speak between the lines to us. In other words, he can speak to us about our current problems while we are reading the content of the scriptures. In fact, the very act of reading them (it almost doesnt matter where) seems to open the door to direction from the Lord if we approach our reading humbly. The scriptures are one of the greatest tools we have for communicating with the Lord. (Raising Up a Family to the Lord, p. 109; emphasis added.)

Those who study the scriptures will receive power in their lives. This power is real. You can feel it; you can sense it. Those who study the scriptures will be blessed to have their prayers answered. Elder Boyd K. Packer promised, There is no questionpersonal or social or political or occupationalthat need go unanswered. Therein is contained the fullness of the everlasting gospel. Therein we find principles of truth that will resolve every confusion and every problem and every dilemma that will face the human family or any individual in it. (Teach the Scriptures, Address to Religious Educators, 14 October 1977, p. 5.)

The Responsibilities of Parents

We know that blessings come with gospel study. However, the question still remains, Who will teach our children? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland taught, A recent study conducted by the Church has forcefully confirmed statistically what we have been told again and again. That is, if loving, inspired instruction and example are not provided at home, then our related efforts for success in and around Church programs are severely limited. It is increasingly clear that we must teach the gospel to our families personally, live those teachings in our homes, or run the risk of discovering too late that a Primary teacher or priesthood adviser or seminary instructor could not do for our children what we would not do for them. (Within the Clasp of Your Arms, Ensign, May 1983, p. 36.)

Too often, we substitute the time we should devote to teaching our children with other pursuits. In fact, we may well spend more hours each week preparing lessons for other children in the ward than we do for our own. As it turns out, too many of us as parents are preparing a banquet for strangers while leaving the crumbs for those whom we will be with eternally, our own children!

Remember, when Alma the Younger was in the darkest abyss of sin, it wasnt the words of his seminary teacher that came to his mind but the teachings of his father. And when Enoss soul hungered, it wasnt the teachings from a Young Mens president that came to his mind; instead, it was the spiritual teachings of his father. And although the stripling warriors did not doubt, it was not because of what they learned from a Primary teacher; it was the words of their mothers that strengthened their faith.