Exercise of Faith...

I have read Elder Scott's talk here  a lot more than once.  I love the title...

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority

That pretty much sums up what I'm after.  Anyhow it seems to me that way from my viewpoint.

I'm a believer in daily scripture study.  I don't have little ones needing attention or older kiddos needing endless taxiing/errands/meals/physical care and watchfulness.  There is nothing in my life, at this point, that puts anyone at peril if I really dig into the scriptures and don't carefully tend to those that are under my roof.  When I did have those necessary pulls on my time, I still loved, on a pretty regular daily basis, getting into the scriptures and General Conference (GC aka Scriptures.  Not the Standard Works but still Scriptures).  

Now my waking time, beyond keeping our cave bat free, is mostly used up watching out for my sweet Hubby.  Another blood test and that means half a day used up with waiting and waiting and waiting (yawn).  Then home for a rest from doing nothing but waiting!! and then it's time to fix something for dinner  (I was raised calling it supper.  when did I change to dinner?  Then- Breakfast/lunch/supper. Mother calling out the back door.  loudly-- Girls!  Suppertime!!  Stop playing and come on in!  Now!   and we'd holler back in our pleading voices-- Just a few more minutes???  Please!!!???  She would say--No!!  I said now!  Supper is ready!! )  Now it's Breakfast/lunch/dinner and you can throw in Brunch or Snack at times also.  Do any Mother's still call, out the door, for their children to stop-- playing/get out of the tree/building the fort/swinging/riding bike/putting on a play? 

I digress.  Maybe I am more of a digressor than a procrastinator?

Anyhow as I was saying.  I absolutely loved Elder Scott's talk and the power of it.  It's a very simple talk but there is such promise to it.  Apostles have the power/authority to pronounce blessings.  They can do it for individuals as in a Priesthood blessing but that somewhat limits who receives the blessing.  Not being rude but sort of like if someone were Catholic and kissed the Pope's ring then they are blessed but the millions that saw that don't get that specific privilege.  during Conference, apostles sometimes will bestow an Apostolic blessing on the Church membership and anyone else that cares to take the challenge given.  I can receive that blessing when I hear it or see it or read it.  I can claim it for my own.  whether I'm there or not.  I can choose that blessing for my life!   Elder Scott gave an Apostolic blessing on those that read the Scriptures daily!!  don't push folks.  don't shove.  We can all receive it.  We just do as he says and what he has said will transpire.

Here is that promise....

  There are many prophetic promises of the blessings of daily studying the scriptures.⁶

I add my voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit. It will radiate out from you to influence others in the world around you. You will be doing something very significant to add to the cumulative peace in the world.

Another amazing strengthening fortifying promise of blessings, for reading daily, is found in that  goldmine of that itty bitty little blue 6 by the word scriptures.    right here---- scriptures.<sup>6    Just hovering up here so innocent and un-pretentious and then you hit it and strike pure gold!!!

You then uncover 8 more Apostles statements with their promises about daily scripture study.  not only for you but for your family!!  My favorite over the years, one that I know to be true is President Kimball's.  We can hold on to what these Apostles have said and know, at some point, we will feel and realize and enjoy these blessings and that will be such a blessing!!!!</sup>

Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority  (love it!!)

Daily Scripture Study for sure!!!!   YES!!!

<sup>He talked about the basic 4...prayer/scripture study/ FHE/ attend Temple 

I have a testimony about each of them and the one that Terry and I are weak in is FHE.  We are going to consciously focus on FHE.</sup>

Daily dose does wonders!!!!

There wasn't time to reach all of the people that I thought of but what a fun day to touch base with some of my former seminary students or those that I was involved in their youthful days in the Church.  I got to thinking and wondering, why I felt a pull to those former Seminary students and then it dawned on me, actually a no-brainer....when you are with someone each morning of each school day, sometimes for years (or even just one year), talking about/learning about the Gospel/Savior--you will definitely have a connection that you don't have with others.

I contacted several today.  A young man that was in the first class I taught, has just been called to team teach early morning Seminary with his wife!  He was a fantastic young man and I know he will be awesome as a teacher.  We had fun sharing a few memories.  He pulled a lot of innocent pranks that were always terrifying me.  Nothing is darker than early hours in Alaska, stepping into a darkened Church and thinking you are alone.  There was more than one time I shrieked from he and his sidekicks shenanigans.  He was spirit filled though and loved learning about the Gospel.

One fellow told me he had recently found an old script from a Roadshow.  We used to go big time on Roadshows and also Scripture chase contests.  We reminisced about those fun times.

I enjoyed hearing from a girl, okay, a woman, but to me she's a girl about our Ward drama pursuits.

And it was fun to get a note from my friend Sam.  I was never his Seminary teacher but we did a melodrama and he was the lead.  he was excellent as the villain!

 Those plays and competitions are a thing of the past.  Our new building doesn't even have a stage.  No one does roadshows.  No one competes for a prize in Scripture chases (we even traveled to Anchorage!  and won!!)  Those days are over.

This is a new era.  a new age.  and there will be memories galore, just a different kind than we made.

One thing though, the constancy of the Gospel, will never change.

Seminary teachers will continue to strive to bring their students into the Scriptures and the Scriptures into their students.  They will do their best to help those fledgling testimonies grow.  They will all hope for students like Mindi, that caught the vision/ the importance, of daily scripture reading. She started that day in class and reads daily to this day!  Amazing!!  she was a Freshman when she started.   She and I have talked and laughed about ...wouldn't it be great to know exactly what was said that day....what the challenge was etc. etc.  I do remember promising her that she wouldn't make bad choices if she read each day.  Was that a quote from President Benson?  A scripture?

Whatever it was...the Spirit taught her and she absorbed it.

There are many reasons to read daily.  for me?  I lose the Spirit without that daily jolt of goodness.

This is one of my favorite quotes about the value of daily scripture reading.....

Elder Dallin H. Oaks of the Quorum of the Twelve explained:

“Scripture reading may … lead to current revelation on whatever [subject] the Lord wishes to communicate to the reader at that time. We do not overstate the point when we say that the scriptures can be a Urim and Thummim to assist each of us to receive personal revelation.

“Because we believe that scripture reading can help us receive revelation, we are encouraged to read the scriptures again and again. By this means, we obtain access to what our Heavenly Father would have us know and do in our personal lives today. That is one reason Latter-day Saints believe in daily scripture study” (“Scripture Reading and Revelation,” Ensign, Jan. 1995, 8).