The more scripture study tools you have in your toolbox, the more power you can get from the scriptures each day. Try using the following tools and quotes from prophets to help you get more power out of the scriptures each day.
Scripture Study Methods and Skills
Name substitution: To help you relate doctrines and principles from the scriptures to your life, substitute your name for a name in the scriptures. Try using this scripture study skill with Peter’s name in Matthew 16:15–17.
Cause and effect: To help you identify gospel principles in the scriptures, look for “if–then” and “because–therefore” relationships. Try using this skill with Matthew 6:14–15.
Scripture lists: The scriptures often contain lists of things such as instructions or warnings. When you find lists, consider numbering each element. Try using this skill with Galatians 5:22–23.
Contrasts: The scriptures often contrast ideas, events, and people. These contrasts emphasize gospel principles. Look for contrasts in single verses, in chapters, and across chapters and books. Try this skill with Matthew 5:14–16.
Visualization: Look for descriptive details that can help you create a mental picture as you read. Imagine being present at certain events. This can strengthen your testimony of the reality of what you read in the scriptures. Try this skill with Matthew 8:23–27.
Symbolism: Words such as like, as, or likened unto can help you identify symbols. Look beyond a symbol by exploring its nature and pondering its attributes. Scripture study aids such as footnotes, the Bible Dictionary, and the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures can help you interpret some symbols. Try using this study skill with Matthew 13:24–30.
Cross-references: Often, one scripture passage can explain or clarify a phrase or concept found in a different passage. Link scripture passages to each other by using the footnotes, the index, or the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures to help unlock the meaning of a scripture passage. Practice this skill by reading John 10:16 and then following the cross-reference in footnote a to 3 Nephi 15:21. How does reading 3 Nephi 15:21 help you better understand the meaning of John 10:16?
Pondering: Pondering includes thinking, meditating, asking questions, and evaluating what you know and what you have learned. Pondering often helps us understand what we need to do to apply gospel principles. Ponder how you might apply the truths in Hebrews 12:9.
Applying: As you identify and understand doctrines and principles found in the scriptures, you can gain deeper knowledge by acting on the truths you have discovered. Jesus Christ said that “if any man will do [Heavenly Father’s] will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself” (John 7:17). Look for opportunities to apply what you learn as you study the scriptures on your own.
ADVICE FROM PROPHETS ABOUT HOW TO GET MORE OUT OF THE SCRIPTURES:
- DIG IN--“One must prospect through and dig into the scriptures like a miner searching for precious metal. Scattered here and there are nuggets, some pure, some alloyed with other doctrines. Occasionally one strikes a rich vein which will yield all that one is willing to earn, for the scriptures do not explain nor interpret themselves.” (Boyd K. Packer, Things of the Soul, p.169)
- PAY THE PRICE--It has been my experience in life that most of my gospel teachers didn’t prepare me quite for the effort that the prize takes…I have tasted sweetness in the scriptures, but it never came easily. I know that the price of getting that sweet taste of the scriptures is tremendous effort. You better teach me that it takes effort.” Henry B. Eyring, “Improving Teaching”, March 1983
- CONCENTRATED STUDY--“Those who delve into the scriptural library … find that to understand requires more than casual reading or perusal—there must be concentrated study. … 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.” Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, Nov. 1979, p. 64.
- READ SCRIPTURES EVERY DAY, AT THE SAME TIME, FOR A SET AMOUNT OF TIME--Those who delve into the scriptural library…find that to understand requires more than casual reading…–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. Not only should we study each day, but there should be a regular time set aside when we can concentrate without interference…. It is better to have a set amount of time to give scriptural study each day than to have a set amount of chapters to read. Sometimes we find that the study of a single verse will occupy the whole time. (Howard W. Hunter, “Reading the Scriptures,” Ensign, Nov. 1979, 64)
- EXTENDED VERSION OF THE SAME QUOTE-- “Those who delve into the scriptural library, however, find 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. Not only should we study each day, but there should be a regular time set aside when we can concentrate without interference…Many find that the best time to study is in the morning after a nights rest has cleared the mind of the many cares that interrupt thought. Others prefer to study in the quiet hours after the work and worries of the day are over and brushed aside, thus ending the day with a peace and tranquility that comes by communion with the scriptures. Perhaps what is more important than the hour of the day is that a regular time be set aside for study. It would be ideal if an hour could be spent each day; but if that much cannot be had, a half hour on a regular basis would result in substantial accomplishment. A quarter of an hour is little time, but it is surprising how much enlightenment and knowledge can be acquired in a subject so meaningful. The important thing is to allow nothing else to ever interfere with our study. We should not be haphazard in our reading but rather develop a systematic plan for study. There are some who read to a schedule of a number of pages or a set number of chapters each day or week. This may be perfectly justifiable and may be enjoyable if one is reading for pleasure, but it does not constitute meaningful study. It is better to have a set amount of time to give scriptural study each day than to have a set amount of chapters to read. Sometimes we find that the study of a single verse will occupy the whole time.” (Howard W. Hunter, Ensign, November 1979, pp. 64-65)
- GREAT EXERTION--Profound spiritual truth cannot simply be poured from one mind and heart to another. It takes faith and diligent effort. Precious truth comes a small piece at a time through faith, with great exertion, and at times wrenching struggles. The Lord intends it be that way so that we can mature and progress. Richard G. Scott, Ensign, November 1993, p.86
- PONDER--“The things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out.” (Joseph Smith, History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 3:295.)
- PLAN AND HOLD SCRIPTURE TIME SACRED--I fear that many of us rush about from day to day taking for granted the holy scriptures. We scramble to honor appointments with physicians, lawyers, and businessmen. Yet we think nothing of postponing interviews with Deity - postponing scripture study. Little wonder we develop “anemic souls” and lose our direction in living. How much better it would be if we planned and held sacred fifteen or twenty minutes a day for reading the scriptures. Such interviews with Deity would help us recognize His voice and enable us to receive guidance in all of our affairs. We must look to God through the scriptures. (Carlos E. Asay, Ensign, November 1978, p. 53, 54)
- WALK WITH GREAT PEOPLE--"As we continually study the scriptures, what an opportunity it is not only to walk with great people, even to walk with the Lord Himself, but also to read and savor the majestic language of the prophets of old as that language was translated into words and phrases that are beautiful and powerful and moving" (Gordon B. Hinckley, Four Simple Things to Help Our Families and Our Nations. Ensign, September 1996, pgs. 8).
- GO WITH A QUESTION--Henry B. Eyring, “A Discussion on Scripture Study,” Ensign, July 2005, 22 "Throughout my life, the scriptures have been a way for God to reveal things to me that are personal and helpful. When I was a little boy, I was given a small Bible. If I remember correctly, it was only the New Testament. For some reason, I was drawn to 1 Corinthians 13, which is about charity. Somehow, even in my childhood, I knew that for me that chapter was about the family I would have someday. Years later, before I was married, I received a patriarchal blessing. In that blessing, the patriarch described the feeling that would be in the home I would someday have. He described exactly what I had felt years before when I read 1 Corinthians 13. The scriptures were one of the ways God spoke to me–even when I was a child–about my needs, my situation, and my life. They still are. Since our needs change over a lifetime, God has different things to tell us at different times. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for doctrine. Sometimes I go to the scriptures for instruction. I go with a question, and the question usually is “What would God have me do?” or “What would He have me feel?” Invariably I find new ideas, thoughts I have never had before, and I receive inspiration and instruction and answers to my questions.
- SEEK INSPIRATION THEN WRITE IT DOWN-- “While reading and studying the scriptures, ask for and seek revelation. Then when impressions, insights, and understanding come, all of which is revelation, write it.” (Jay E. Jensen, Treasure Up the Word, p. 122)
- CAN'T BE CASUAL--“There are those who have made a casual, even an insincere effort to test the scriptures and have come away having received nothing, which is precisely what they have earned and what they deserve. If you think it will yield to a casual inquiry, to idle curiosity, or even to well-intentioned but temporary searching, you are mistaken. It likewise will not yield to the overzealous or to the fanatic.” (Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1974 p. 95)
- MAKE A RECORD--“As you read the scriptures, make a note of the ideas, feelings, impressions, and understandings you receive. I always read with a pad of paper or a Dictaphone nearby. When I find a great truth, I either take the time to write it down or I dictate my thoughts and feelings onto a tape. That way I can show the Lord that I esteem his words, and I can be sure not to lose what I have been given.” (Gene R. Cook, Searching the Scriptures, p. 112)
- CAN'T BE CASUAL OR INFREQUENT--“A casual, infrequent exposure to the scriptures will generally not open the door to the whisperings of the Spirit or provide insights into the Savior's life and character.” (Merrill J. Bateman, Ensign, November 1992, p. 27)
- CAN'T BE POURED FROM ONE MIND TO ANOTHER--“Profound spiritual truth cannot simply be poured from one mind and heart to another. It takes faith and diligent effort. Precious truth comes a small piece at a time through faith, with great exertion, and at times wrenching struggles. The Lord intends it be that way so that we can mature and progress.” (Richard G. Scott, Ensign, November 1993, p. 87)
- IT TAKES EFFORT TO OBTAIN THE PRIZE--“It has been my experience in life that most of my gospel teachers didn't prepare me quite for the effort that the prize takes… I have tasted sweetness in the scriptures, but it never came easily. I know that the price of getting that sweet taste of the scriptures is tremendous effort. You better teach me that it takes effort.” (Henry B. Eyring, “Improving Teaching”, March 1983, an address to religious educators)
- SIX SUGGESTIONS FOR MORE EFFECTIVE, POWERFUL SCRIPTURE STUDY - Here are some practical suggestions that I hope will help you derive greater power from your study of the scriptures: 1) If possible, set a consistent time and place to study when you can be alone and undisturbed 2) Always have a marking pencil ready as you study. Make notations in the margins. Write cross-references. Make the scriptures yours by marking them. 3) Commit yourself to study for a set amount of time rather than to just read a chapter or a certain number of pages. 4) Study topically as well as chronologically. Both approaches have merit, but we need to go to the Topical Guide or the index from time to time and read all that the Lord has said on repentance, faith, or some other principle. 5) Take time to ponder, reflect, meditate, and pray about what you read. Ask yourselves questions such as “What can I learn from this passage that will help me come unto Christ and be more like Him?” 6) Let us then go to the Lord in prayer, pleading for help or answers, and those answers will come as we open the scriptures and begin to study them. (M.Russell Ballard, Ensign, July 2004, 8)
- CONVERT TELEVISION HABIT TO SCRIPTURE STUDY - "If you have a twenty-hour-a-week television habit [over 2 1/2 hours a day average], and would repent and convert it into a gospel-study habit, in one year you could read: 1) The Book of Mormon, 2) The Doctrine & Covenants, 3) The Pearl of Great Price, 4) The entire Bible 5) Jesus the Christ, 6) The Articles of Faith, 7) Gospel Principles 8) basic priesthood manual, 9) basic relief society manual, 10)basic children's manual, 11) all 3 volumes of Doctrines of Salvation, 12) The Miracle of Forgiveness, 13) The Promised Messiah, 14) Essentials in Church History, 15) re-read The Book of Mormon, 16) re-read the Doctrine & Covenants, 17) re-read the Pearl of Great Price, 18) re-read the entire Bible, 19) the Ensign magazine each month, 20) the New Era magazine each month, 21) the Friend magazine each month, 22) Church News magazine each week. This is based on your ability to read only ten pages an hour. The average person can read twenty pages or more an hour. If you are "average", this would leave you with ten [more] hours a week to govern yourself in other kingdom building activities, such a keeping a personal journal, genealogy and temple work, improved home teaching, welfare services, civic and patriotic involvement to protect our freedom, and much more." (William R. Bradford, Ensign, November 1979, pp. 37-38)
- QUALITY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN QUANTITY IN SCRIPTURE STUDY - When I say “study”, I mean something more than reading. It is a good thing sometimes to read a book of scripture within a set period of time to get an overall sense of its message, but for conversion, you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time. I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more. Studying in this way, you may not read a lot of chapters or verses in a half hour, but you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you. (D. Todd Christofferson, Ensign, May 2004, 11)
- PONDERING THE SCRIPTURES IS MORE NOURISHING THAN MERELY READING THE SCRIPTURES - The Holy Ghost will guide what we say if we study and ponder the scriptures every day. The words of the scriptures invite the Holy Spirit…. We treasure the word of God not only by reading the words of the scriptures, but by studying them. We may be nourished more by pondering a few words, allowing the Holy Ghost to make them treasures to us, than to pass quickly and superficially over whole chapters of scripture. (Henry B. Eyring, “Feed My Lambs”, Ensign, Nov. 1997, starts on p. 82)
- GAINING SPIRITUAL EDUCATION REQUIRES MUCH TIME AND EFFORT - “Those who make their conclusions entirely according to their own ingenuity, their own brains, could make some very terrible and costly mistakes. Someone said, 'Many people are willing to plod along for 16 to 20 years, from grade one to a Ph.D., to learn medicine or engineering or psychology or mathematics or sociology or biology–to study, research, attend classes, pay tuitions, accept help from teachers and professors– and yet to learn about God, the maker of all, the author of it all, in a few intermittent prayers and some very limited hours of research, they feel they can find the truths about God.' That's why the Lord strictly sent us to the scriptures….” (Spencer W. Kimball, “The Cause Is Just and Worthy,” Ensign, May 1974, 119)
- MORNING SCRIPTURE STUDY MAKES US RECEPTIVE TO THE SPIRIT - “Divine guidance is so crucial…that we need to go out of our way to put ourselves in a situation in which such special help an be given. President David O. McKay spoke of how the morning hours, before we are cluttered with the cares of day, are especially conducive to inspiration. Others have felt that solitude and reading the scriptures can create an atmosphere conducive to the Spirit…. After all, to read the words of Christ already before us is a good thing to do before asking for more.” (Neal A. Maxwell, Wherefore, Ye Must Press Forward [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1977], 121.)
- THE GOSPEL SHOULD BE STUDIED MORE INTENSIVELY THAN COLLEGE SUBJECTS - It is a paradox [“something almost absurd which contradicts or goes against common sense, but yet is true”] that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or art, and yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory [“routine, half-hearted, or superficial”] glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion upon the gospel without having given it intimate and careful study are not lovers of the truth, and their opinions are worthless. (Elder John A. Widstoe, Improvement Era, May 1943, 289)
- INDIVIDUAL SCRIPTURE READING IS IMPORTANT, BUT FAMILY SCRIPTURE READING IS VITAL. Reading the Book of Mormon together as a family will especially bring increased spirituality into your home and will give both parents and children the power to resist temptation and to have the Holy Ghost as their constant companion. I promise you that the Book of Mormon will change the lives of your family. (Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, p.517) Ezra Taft Benson
