Closer to Our Father and Closer to Christ

I was recently called as a Relief Society teacher in my YSA ward, and today was my first assigned lesson. I don’t consider myself a skilled teacher by any stretch of the imagination, but if nothing else this calling pushes me to spend more time really digging in to the lessons. I didn’t think I would be grateful for that, but then the spirit taught me so much in my preparation for today.

The core topic was scripture study, and as I prepared the lesson my mind kept returning to the opening quote: “May each of us…draw closer to our Father in Heaven and his Beloved Son through consistent study of the holy scriptures.”

Throughout the message there were many reasons given as to why we should study the scriptures and how we should study the scriptures, but in the end they all pointed back to that opening phrase – to draw closer. That’s the point of scripture study, and isn’t that really the point of this life too? So many thoughts flooded my mind as I sat pondering all that the words of the lesson were trying to convey, and I tried to write them down as quickly as I could so that I wouldn’t miss out on anything that the spirit was saying.

This is what came to me:

When you read a story, you start to invest in the characters and they become part of you. It’s the same way with the scriptures – they teach of our Heavenly Father and of our Savior Jesus Christ. So as we spend time reading the scriptures we will become more invested in them, and they will become more significant parts of our lives and who we are. Once we open our hearts to that, our lives will begin to change. We will become more faithful and obedient, we will trust God more fully, and our burdens will become bearable. The scriptures may not always be the answer to our problems, but the scriptures will absolutely bring the answers. I know that from my own life. In January I decided to make scripture reading a priority in my life again for probably the first time since high school, and I was changed. My problems didn’t go away. In fact, they probably increased at first…but I was reminded where I could turn for guidance and solace. The answers we seek may not come quickly. The answers I needed didn’t come until at least late March or early April – and I am continually seeking for more direction and support. But through our efforts and the added influence of the scriptures, the power of God can work in us to change our lives.

In General Conference of October 2014 Richard G. Scott said, “Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important that sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it.”