"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."

        "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."

        "Success in righteousness, the power to avoid deception and resist temptation, guidance in our daily lives, healing of the soul—these are but a few of the promises the Lord has given to those who will come to His word.  Does the Lord promise and not fulfill?  Surely if He tells us that these things will come to us if we lay hold upon His word, then the blessings can be ours.  And if we do not, then the blessings may be lost.  However diligent we may be in other areas, certain blessings are to be found
only in the scriptures, only in coming to the word of the Lord and holding fast to it as we make our way through the mists of darkness to the tree of life.
        "And if we ignore what the Lord has given us, we may lose the very power and blessings which we seek. "

 

Lord's Promise To You	What you must do	Reference
1.  Your mind will be enlightened. 2.  Your spirits will be lifted.  3.  Will be a wondrous experience with   thoughts and words of things divine.	Read Scriptures	President Gordon B. Hinckley "The Light Within You" - p. 99 May 1995 Ensign - April Gen. Conf.
There will come into your heart an understanding and a warmth that will be pleasing to experience.	Read Scriptures	President Gordon B. Hinckley "He is Risen As He Said" April 1983 Ensign, p. 7
The Lord will give us direction in life, and tell us what we should do.	Read the scriptures, the "words of Christ."	2 Nephi 32:3-5
"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."	Individual members and families immerse themselves in the scriptures regularly and consistently.	President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
“It (the iron rod) was the word of God; and [note this promise] whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.” (1 Ne. 15:23-24) Not only will the word of God lead us to the fruit which is desirable above all others, but in the word of God and through it we can find the power to resist temptation, the power to thwart the work of Satan and his emissaries.	Hearken unto the word of God, and hold fast unto it.	President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p. 79
1.  Make thee wise unto salvation.” (2 Tim. 3:14-15). 2.  Power of the Spirit to attend you in your callings. 3.  "Leads people to do that which [is] just—yea, it [has] more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which [has] happened unto them.” (Alma 31:5.)	Knowledge of the  Holy Scriptures	President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
This is an answer to the great challenge of our time. The word of God, as found in the scriptures, in the words of living prophets, and in personal revelation, has the power to fortify the Saints and arm them with the Spirit so they can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life.	Read the word of God in the Scriptures.	President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
"...The most powerful weapons the Lord has given us against all that is evil are His own declarations, the plain simple doctrines of salvation as found in the scriptures.”	Read Scriptures	President Harold B. Lee (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 1 Oct. 1970, p. 6.) quoted by President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
Sweet whisperings of the Spirit.	Pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures.	Bruce R. McConkie (In Regional Representatives’ Seminar, 2 Apr. 1982, pp. 1-2.) quoted by President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
"There are few other efforts that will bring greater dividends to your calling. There are few other ways to gain greater inspiration as you serve."	"...one of the most important things you can do as priesthood leaders 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."	President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
"...then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Josh. 1:8) "The Lord was not promising Joshua material wealth and fame, but that his life would prosper in righteousness and that he would have success in that which matters most in life, namely the quest to find true joy."	Read the scriptures, meditate, and observe to do all that is written there.	(Josh. 1:8) quoted by President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79
1.  Heals the wounded soul. 2.  Shall not be deceived.	Learn the pleasing word of God. Treasure His Word.	Jacob 2:8 JS--M 1:37 quoted by President Benson  -  Ensign, May 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, p.79