Lessons from the Doctrine and Covenants 2021
Lesson No. Seven

Pondering and Praying About the Scriptures Brings Personal Revelation - D&C 13

Pondering and praying about the scriptures brought the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood – On May 15, 1829 Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery “went into the woods to pray and inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins, that we found mentioned in the translation of the plates.  While we were thus employed, praying and calling upon the Lord, a messenger from heaven descended in a cloud of light, and having laid his hands upon us he ordained us saying…” (Joseph Smith History 1:68).   The resurrected John the Baptist then spoke the words recorded in D&C 13.

Joseph described what happened after they were baptized – “Immediately on our coming up out of the water after we had been baptized, we experienced great and glorious blessings from our Heavenly Father.  No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than the Holy Ghost fell upon him…And again, so soon as I had been baptized by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy…We were filled with the Holy Ghost, and rejoiced in the God of our salvation” (Joseph Smith History 1:73).

Joseph and Oliver were then able to understand the true meaning of the scriptures – “Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of” (Joseph Smith History 1:74).

Our current edition of the Scriptures and Study Helps can make us all gospel scholars – Elder Boyd K. Packer, speaking of the latest edition of the scriptures, prophesied:  “This work…will one day emerge as a signal inspired event of our generation.  Because of it, we shall raise up generations of Latter-day Saints who will know the gospel and know the Lord” (given at funeral of Elder Bruce R. McConkie).  This prophecy given in 1985 is being fulfilled today.  I rejoice that my grandchildren, from almost the time they begin to read, study their personal scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon.  I see how it makes such a wonderful difference in their lives as they begin to serve missions, to marry, and to raise their own family.

We forfeit the blessings of personal revelation if we make scripture study less important – Elder Bruce R. McConkie said it so well:  “Our tendency – it is an almost universal practice among most Church members – is to get so involved with the operation of the institutional Church that we never gain faith like the ancients, simply because we do not involve ourselves in the basic gospel matters that were the center of their lives.  We are so wound up in programs and statistics and trends, in properties, lands, and mammon, and in achieving goals that will highlight the excellence of our work, that we ‘have omitted the weightier maters of the law….However talented men may be in administrative matters; however eloquent they may be in expressing their view; however learned they may be in worldly things – they will be denied the sweet whisperings of the Spirit that might have been theirs unless they pay the price of studying, pondering, and praying about the scriptures” (Holy Writ Published Anew).

I testify that we speak to God through prayer and He answers as we study and ponder the scriptures – Gospel study and gospel knowledge and gospel scholarship are highly personal.Every person must learn the doctrines of salvation for himself and in his own way, and every effective way to study the gospel requires commitment and that we give it a priority in our daily schedule.If we do this we will receive personal revelation, and then we will know that “the law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.More to be desire are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11).