We are studying the Book of Mormon for the first 90 days of this year! If you’d like to join us, just go here and sign up!
In the Come Follow Me book Elder David A. Bednar taught: “We should not expect the Church as an organization to teach or tell us everything we need to know and do to become devoted disciples and endure valiantly to the end. Rather, our personal responsibility is to learn what we should learn, to live as we know we should live, and to become who the Master would have us become. And our homes are the ultimate setting for learning, living, and becoming” (“Prepared to Obtain Every Needful Thing,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2019, 102).
As we read the New Testament this year, seeking personal revelation is so important. Make sure you are looking for good sources when you do have questions.
Seek understanding from God
Act in faith – keep doing those things you know you should to be close to your Heavenly Father and the Holy Ghost.
Keep an eternal perspective.
In April 2018 President Nelson said:
“In like manner, what will your seeking open for you? What wisdom do you lack? What do you feel an urgent need to know or understand? Follow the example of the Prophet Joseph. Find a quiet place where you can regularly go. Humble yourself before God. Pour out your heart to your Heavenly Father. Turn to Him for answers and for comfort. Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.” Does God really want to speak to you? Yes!”
Personal Revelation
President Nelson gives us step by step how to receive personal revelation. In this last general conference he actually mentioned some of these same things.
– As you are preparing to study and read this year – take these steps into account.
– Find a quest place
– Humble yourself before God
– Pour out your heart to HF
– Turn to Him for answers + comfort
– Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about concerns, fears, weaknesses – longings of your heart
– LISTEN!
– Write down thoughts that come to you.
– RECORD feelings
– FOLLOW through!
Other Insights:
Marking – don’t make this harder than it is. Grab one pen. Underline with it. Circle words or phrases with it. Put a rectangle around a word or phrase. Make notes in the margins. It’s okay if it’s messy and imperfect.
Look for the JST’s in the New Testament! These are important changes that have been implemented. It is one of the things that makes our Bible unique. Before reading a chapter just skim over the footnotes, and circle the JST at the bottom and then circle the letter that goes along with it in the verse – then you can remember to glance down and check out what’s changed.
Read first – gain your own insights and revelations. THEN go to other materials.
Other Resources for Studying Scriptures:
There are so many podcasts you can look up to get supplemental material.
The CFM Manual is a great book to have with you as you read, along with the notebook. Jot down things that come to mind. If you like specific things to think about as you go along, use the CFM manual.
I also love the “Walking with the Women of the New Testament” book – there is one for the Book of Mormon and Old Testament as well.
One Minute Scripture Study is a great book for a quick CFM family discussion.
Elder Holland just came out with a book called “Our Day Star Rising” that goes through chapters and gives insights on them.
Finding Yourself in the New Testament is a new book by Al Caraway. It’s beautifully written to help you put yourself and your experiences in those of the New Testament.
*Affiliate links listed above.
Make this time of studying the New Testament and the Book of Mormon a time that you focus on learning about Jesus and who He is in your life and who He can be in your life.
Look and understand how He showed up for the people in these books so you can know better how He can show up in your life.
It’s okay if you aren’t perfect.
These people and their stories are not always beautifully put together without really difficult things in the middle. Some even die when they stand up for Jesus Christ.
