--President Ezra Taft Benson, General Conference, Oct. 1988--
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"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it."
--James Bryce--
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"Some have suffered death to make it possible for us to have the scriptures today. At times laws even prohibited the public or private reading of them. What a marvelous blessing we have to not only possess the most complete collection of scripture in history, but also to have the freedom to search and to use them!"
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"People as well as nations perish without scriptures. The scriptures are spiritual food for our spirit, which is just as important as physical food for our body."
--Elder L. Lionel Kendrick--
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Spencer W. Kimball on Scripture Reading
"I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel."
("What I Hope You Will
Teach My
Grandchildren and All Others of the Youth of Zion,"
an address to Seminary and
Institute
personnel at Brigham Young University, 11 July 1966.
See also: The Teachings
of
Spencer W. Kimball, p. 135)
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Harold B. Lee on Daily Scripture Reading:
"If we're not reading the scriptures daily, our testimonies are growing thinner, our spirituality isn't increasing in depth."
(Harold B. Lee, Seminar for Regional Representatives of the Council of the Twelve, Dec. 12, 1970.)
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"Scriptures are Letters from Home. Can you imagine getting a letter from home and not even bothering to open it?"
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"Read scriptures daily. Your exact answer might not be in what you read that day, but the spirit is there--and in the spirit lies all answers."
--RS Supplemental lesson #1, 1989--
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Pres. Benson:
"Often we spend great effort in trying to increase the activity levels in our stakes. We work diligently to raise the percentages of those attending sacrament meetings. We labor to get a higher percentage of our young men on missions. We strive to improve the numbers of those marrying in the temple. All of these are commendable efforts and important to the growth of the kingdom. But when individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently, these other areas of activity will automatically come. Testimonies will increase. Commitment will be strengthened. Families will be fortified. Personal revelation will flow."
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President Benson:
"I...say to you that one of the most important things you can do...is
to
immerse yourselves in the scriptures. Search them
diligently.
Feast upon the words of Christ. Learn the doctrine. Master
the principles that are found therein...Few other efforts...will bring
greater dividends to (you.) Few other ways (will result in)
greater
inspiration...
"You must...see that studying and searching the scriptures is not a
burden
laid upon (us) by the Lord, but a marvelous blessing and opportunity."
President Ezra Taft Benson ("The Power of the Word", Ensign, May 1986)
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"I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity honesty, and basic human decency if not at home. These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but parental teaching is more constant."
Elder James E. Faust
"The Greatest Challenge In The World--Good
Parenting"
General Conference, October 1990
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Speaking about how to interpret the scriptures, Joseph Smith said the following:
"What is the rule of interpretation? Just no interpretation at all. Understand it precisely as it reads. I have a key by which I understand the scriptures. I enquire, what was the question which drew out the answer, or caused Jesus to utter the parable?...To ascertain its meaning, we must dig up the root and ascertain what it was that drew the saying out of Jesus."
"...and he who reads it (scriptures) oftenest will like it best."
(Teachings, p. 56)
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"Scripture study as individuals and as a family is most fundamental to learning the gospel. Daily reading of the scriptures and discussing them together has long been suggested as a powerful tool against ignorance and the temptations of Satan. This practice will produce great happiness and will help family members love the Lord and his goodness......Home is where we become experts and scholars in gospel righteousness."
(Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 129)
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"Just think of the spiritual strength we could gain in our lives and how much more effective we would be as teachers, missionaries, and friends if we studied the scriptures regularly."
(M. Russell Ballard, October 1995 Conference )
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"The scriptures are spiritual food for our spirit, which is just as important as physical food for our body."
Elder L. Lionel Kendrick, Conference Report, April 1993
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"For some Church members the Book of Mormon remains unread. Others use it occasionally as if it were merely a handy book of quotations. Still others accept and read it but do not really explore and ponder it. The book is to be feasted upon, not nibbled (see 2 Nephi 31:20)."
Neal A. Maxwell, "But for a Small Moment", p. 28
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"Someone has said that when we want to talk to the Lord, we pray, and when he wants to talk to us, it is through the scriptures: 'For it is my voice which speaketh them unto you; for they are given by my Spirit unto you, and by my power you can read them one to another' (D&C 18:35)."
Barbara W. Winder
"Enjoy Your Journey"
"BYU Speeches of the Year", 13 March 1990
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President Gordon B. Hinckley:
"I am grateful for emphasis on reading the scriptures. I hope that for you this will become something far more enjoyable than a duty; that, rather, it will become a love affair with the word of God. I promise you that as you read, your minds will be enlightened and your spirits will be lifted. At first it may seem tedious, but that will change into a wondrous experience with thoughts and words of things divine."
("The Light within You," Ensign, May 1995, p. 99)
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President Gordon B. Hinckley:
"Brothers and sisters, without reservation I promise you that if you will prayerfully read the Book of Mormon, regardless of how many times you previously have read it, there will come into your hearts an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord. There will come a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to his commandments, and there will come a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."
("The Power of the Book of Mormon", Ensign, June, 1988, p. 6)
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President Gordon B. Hinckley:
"I know that with the demands of daily living there is little time to read anything. But I promise you that if you will read that which we call scripture, there will come into your heart an understanding and a warmth that will be pleasing to experience."
("He Is Risen As He Said," Ensign, Apr. 1983, p. 7)