At the start of my Personal Progress journey I had a lot of questions. I didn't know where to start, or how to go about the process. In the booklet that you get when you start the program its starts by saying that you need to read the Book of Mormon daily. My husband and I do that regularly but I don't think that just reading will give me the most out of it. I wanted to really study it. But how?
How do you study scriptures and get as much out of it as possible?
Honestly, I had no clue. There are a million ways to study the scriptures but which one is the best way? With that I thought my Personal progress was finished before it started.
I was lost. I still read every night with my husband. We have these great scriptures that were gifted to us when we were married. They have definitions and insights and even questions for you to ponder on. I still never thought that was enough. Then one Sunday my father in law was visiting and he asked me to go to a class that our bishop was holding. I said I would go and take notes for him since he would be back in Arizona.
This class was on Personal Scripture Study, and I am so glad I went. I had the most valuable and amazing experience there. He first has us read a list of sayings from past conference talks and had us mark the "hows" and "whys" of studying the scriptures. At first it was a normal lesson until he asked "What is it your looking for when you open your scriptures?"
He talked about ASL
ASK...ask questions that are in your heart
SEARCH...study, "feast" the scriptures
LISTEN
He had us ask one or two questions on our hearts. Then he had us turn to section 7 of D&C and we were reminded that we need to have a desire in order for ASL to work.
Then it was on to section 8:2 " Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart."
This verse taught us the two ways that Heavenly Father teaches us: mind through our thoughts and heart through our minds.
Then we silently read section 8. He had us replace (cross out) Oliver Cowdery's name with our own and man that made a big impact to me. Then he asked us to pick the word, phrase, or verse that stood out to us.
Mine was verse 8 " Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God."
I came into this not thinking it was for me. I was there to take notes for my father in law. I was wrong.
The questions I asked were what I should be doing with my life and how I could be more active. Like I said before I have felt lost. Until I read that.
That night I learned what my gift was; my testimony.
And I plan on using my gift to do marvelous works.
For sometime now I toyed with the idea of graduating from institute and becoming a seminary or institute teacher. Never really thought it was option number one for me but it was a small option. So that's what I am meant to do. I no longer feel lost and I have purpose.
So I ask you ,
What is your gift?
Links:Personal Testimony
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