Elder Neal A. Maxwell on learning to trust God's timetable

Elder Neal A. Maxwell (born July 6, 1926, died July 21, 2004 at age 78) served as a Seventy from 1976-1981, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve until his death from cancer in 2004.

This excerpt is from an article that was being prepared for publication when Elder Maxwell passed away.

"God has a timetable for this planet and for each person: 'But all things must come to pass in their time' (D&C 64:32).

"Within all of the drama cited are many individual dramas, making it imperative for you to allow the Lord to tutor you amid your discipleship.

"Enoch rejoiced, and so can you over the grand, consoling reality regarding God: 'And yet thou art there' (Moses 7:30). Privileged Enoch even saw the God of heaven weep! (see Moses 7:29). Yet Enoch was very discouraged by the gross wickedness anciently. He said he would 'refuse to be comforted' (Moses 7:44). The mentoring Lord, however, told Enoch to 'lift up your heart, and be glad; and look' (Moses 7:44). Then revealed to Enoch was Jesus' Atonement in the meridian of time and also the latter-day Restoration. Enoch, who had been so distraught, now rejoiced!

"Do not 'refuse to be comforted.' Let the revelations comfort you. Let the scriptures refresh you!"

- Neal A. Maxwell, "These Are Your Days," Ensign, Oct 2004, pp. 26-31
Click here to read the full article

"God has a timetable"—those words reflect and understanding of eternal purpose and divine control. If we truly believe that, then it truly does become critical to "allow the Lord to tutor you amid your discipleship." With that faith and hope, we can, like Enoch, like Elder Maxwell, learn to lift our hearts in gladness in spite of wickedness around us, or personal trials and challenges.

And a great key to finding comfort amidst those challenges of mortality, according to Elder Maxwell, is to turn to the revelations and the scriptures. That will enable God to speak to us, as He did to Enoch; the reassurance will come.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2022)
August 1, 2016

President Gordon B. Hinckley on a love affair with the scriptures

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was born on June 23, 1910 — 105 years ago today.  He was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961, served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008 at age 97.

"I love our scriptures. I love these wonderful volumes, which set forth the word of the Lord—given personally or through prophets—for the guidance of our Father's sons and daughters. I love to read the scriptures, and I try to do so consistently and repeatedly. I like to quote from them, for they give the voice of authority to that which I say. I do not claim distinction as a scholar of the scriptures. For me, the reading of the scriptures is not the pursuit of scholarship. Rather, it is a love affair with the word of the Lord and that of his prophets. They contain so much for each of us....

"I urge our people everywhere to read the scriptures more—to study all of them together with the help of these tremendous aids for a harmony of understanding in order to bring their precepts into our lives.

"May the Lord bless each of us to feast upon his holy word and to draw from it that strength, that peace, that knowledge 'which passeth all understanding' (Philip. 4:7), as he has promised."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Feasting upon the Scriptures," talk given during the “Using the Scriptures” Churchwide satellite fireside, March 10, 1985; see Ensign, Dec. 1985, pp. 42-45
Click here to read the full talk

In 1985, the Church held a special worldwide broadcast to share encouragement about scripture study. New editions of the Bible and the Triple Combination had been released in the years leading up to this, and the broadcast was an opportunity to encourage church members to understand and take advantage of those new resources. President Hinckley was a counselor in the First Presidency, and spoke along with other leaders. I appreciated these comments:

• "I love to read the scriptures, and I try to do so consistently and repeatedly." He shares his own commitment to the principle of scripture study.
• "I like to quote from them, for they give the voice of authority to that which I say." Scriptural authority adds power to any teaching setting.

He then shared this important perspective; he never claimed to be a "scholar" of the scriptures, but still found great blessing and power in his personal study:

In the years that have followed, many others have given similar urgings to "read the scriptures more... in order to bring their precepts into our lives." That invitation and challenge is just as valid today as it was 36 years ago!

Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021
June 23, 2015

President Gordon B. Hinckley on meditation and choices

President Gordon B. Hinckley (1910-2008) was called to the Quorum of Twelve in 1961. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1981-1995, then as Church President until his death in 2008.

"You need time to meditate and ponder, to think, to wonder at the great plan of happiness that the Lord has outlined for His children. You need to read the scriptures. You need to read good literature. You need to partake of the great culture which is available to all of us.

"I heard President David O. McKay say to the members of the Twelve on one occasion, 'Brethren, we do not spend enough time meditating.'

"I believe that with all my heart. Our lives become extremely busy. We run from one thing to another. We wear ourselves out in thoughtless pursuit of goals which are highly ephemeral. We are entitled to spend some time with ourselves in introspection, in development. I remember my dear father when he was about the age that I am now. He lived in a home where there was a rock wall on the grounds. It was a low wall, and when the weather was warm, he would go and sit on his wall. It seemed to me he sat there for hours, thinking, meditating, pondering things that he would say and write, for he was a very gifted speaker and writer. He read much, even into his very old age. He never ceased growing. Life was for him a great adventure in thinking.

"Your needs and your tastes along these lines will vary with your age. But all of us need some of it. I decry the great waste of time that people put into watching inane television. I am not antisports. I enjoy watching a good football game or a good basketball game. But I see so many men who become absolutely obsessed with sports. I believe their lives would be enriched if, instead of sitting on the sofa and watching a game that will be forgotten tomorrow, they would read and think and ponder."

- Gordon B. Hinckley, "Life's Obligations," Ensign, Feb. 1999, p. 5
Click here to read the full article

We live in a busy, noisy time; President Hinckley is wise to warn us about "run[ning] from one thing to another" and "wear[ing] ourselves out" as we pursue the wrong kinds of goals. He reminds us to slow down, to take time for learning and pondering about the things that matter most.

I love how Pres. Hinckley reminisces about his own father's example of reading and learning, well into his later years. Each of us (especially those of us approaching those later years) should know how much our example matters, whether we realize it or not!

Especially worth considering is the caution about how we spend leisure time, including watching "inane television," and his perspective on sports. He admits to enjoying occasional football or basketball games himself, but cautions about excessive focus on fleeting activities when we could "read and think and ponder." We certainly need divine help and inspiration as we seek the appropriate balance in our personal life between effort, learning, study, focus - and leisure, relaxation, recreation.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2021)
May 14, 2015

President George Albert Smith on the sacred importance of scripture

President George Albert Smith (1870-1951) was the son of John Henry Smith (1848-1911) and grandson of George A. Smith (1817-1875), both of whom served as members of the Twelve. He was called as an apostle in 1903, and then served as the 8th president of the Church from 1945 until his death in 1951.

"I sometimes feel that we do not appreciate the Holy Bible, and what it contains, and these other scriptures, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price that have been referred to by our beloved President [Heber J. Grant] as letters from our Heavenly Father. They may be so received, at least they are His advice and His counsel to all the children of men given to them that they may know how to take advantage of their opportunities, that their lives may not be spent in vain. One of the sorrowful things in life is to see men and women laid away in Mother earth with a realization of the fact that they have refused the greater blessings that our Father offered to them and have continued grasping at the bubble that has itself disappeared. When I think of the millions of God's children in the world, and realize how little they are striving for the things that are really worth while, I feel sad; but when I see this body of people here today—representatives of the great Church that bears the name of the Redeemer—and realize that we who have accepted the Gospel have been chosen, as it were, from among the multitude of our Father's children to understand Him and to know why we are here, my heart is filled with gratitude and praise to Him for His blessings unto us."

- George Albert Smith, "Thanksgiving for Latter-day Saints' Blessings," General Conference, October 6, 1923; see Millennial Star 86:9:129
Click here to read the full talk

President Smith suggests we don't always appreciate the gift of the scriptures as we should. They can be considered "letters from our Heavenly Father" to us. If we were to receive a new "letter," wouldn't we be overwhelmed with eagerness to read it? But yet we take the existing ones for granted, even though they have so much to offer us.

How can we make the most of our life on this earth, to ensure that it is not "spent in vain"? By reading, studying, pondering, and following the counsel in the scriptures.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Spencer W. Kimball on the privilege of scripture study

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"Besides the almost constant encouragement and prompting which we receive from our present-day Church leaders, the prophets of old seem to cry out to us in almost every page of the scriptures, urging us to study the word of the Lord, the holy scriptures, 'which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.' (2 Tim. 3:15.) But we do not always hear, and we might well ask ourselves why.

"Sometimes it seems we take the scriptures too much for granted because we do not fully appreciate how rare a thing it is to possess them, and how blessed we are because we do have them. We seem to have settled so comfortably into our experiences in this world and become so accustomed to hearing the gospel taught among us that it is hard for us to imagine it could ever have been otherwise....

"In addition to our access to these precious works of scripture, we have, to an extent unknown at any other time in the history of the world, the education and the ability to use them, if we will.

"The ancient prophets knew that after the darkness there would come light. We live in that light—but do we fully comprehend it? With the doctrines of salvation easily within our grasp, I fear that some are still overcome with the 'spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear.' (Rom. 11:8.)"

- Spencer W. Kimball, "How Rare a Possession—The Scriptures," Ensign September 1976, pp. 2-5
Click here to read the whole article

This excerpt comes from a "First Presidency Message" prepared by President Kimball, one of his truly classic articles. He shared his vision of the precious and sacred nature of the scriptures, and encouraged us to make better use of them in study and application. With a historical perspective, President Kimball warns us about the tendency to take our scriptural record for granted and thus fail to receive the benefits it offers to us:

In the 43 years since this article was published, it's interesting to note how much more our access to the sacred record has grown and improved. Most of us carry a complete copy in our pocket or purse as part of our digital devices; and we have the ability to search and study in ways that were not even dreamed of in past years. But again—do we take for granted that access and those abilities?? Or are we truly doing all we can to "live in the light"?

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie on the power of studying the scriptures

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (July 29, 1915–April 19, 1985) served as a Seventy from 1946-1972 when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve.  He served in that assignment until his death from cancer at age 69.

"I think that people who study the scriptures get a dimension to their life that nobody else gets and that can’t be gained in any way except by studying the scriptures. There’s an increase in faith and a desire to do what’s right and a feeling of inspiration and understanding that comes to people who study the gospel—meaning particularly the Standard Works—and who ponder the principles, that can’t come in any other way."

- Bruce R. McConkie, "Spare Time’s Rare to Apostle,” Church News, 24 Jan. 1976, 4

Elder Bruce R. McConkie was recognized in his day, and still is today, as being among the great gospel scholars of our dispensation. His writings about the doctrine of the Church, the life of the Savior, and the latter-day restoration were primary reference works, and he played a key role in enhancing the updated version of our printed scriptures. He wrote and spoke powerfully, drawing continually from the scriptures for his doctrine and explanations. Clearly he had dedicated much of his life to careful study of the Lord's written word. These words reflect personal experience:

This is a beautiful promise. As we devote time and effort to coming to know and understand the gospel, and then applying it on our lives, our lives gain richness and depth that come in no other way.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2019)

President Marion G. Romney on pondering the scriptures

President Marion G. Romney (1897-1988) was born in the Mormon Colonies in Mexico. He was ordained an apostle in 1951 and served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1972 to 1985. After the death of President Spencer W. Kimball, President Romney was released and returned to serve in the Quorum of Twelve until his death in 1988.

"As I have read the scriptures, I have been challenged by the word ponder, so frequently used in the Book of Mormon. The dictionary says that ponder means 'to weigh mentally, think deeply about, deliberate, meditate.' Moroni thus used the term as he closed his record:

"'Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things … that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men … and ponder it in your hearts.' (Moro. 10:3. Italics added.)

"Jesus said to the Nephites:

"'I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words. …

"'Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand. …' (3 Ne. 17:2–3. Italics added.)

"Pondering is, in my feeling, a form of prayer. It has, at least, been an approach to the Spirit of the Lord on many occasions."

- Marion G. Romney, "Magnifying One’s Calling in the Priesthood," General Conference April 1973
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Romney served as a member of the First Presidency through much of my youth. I remember being impressed at his use of the scriptures in his messages; he was clearly a devoted student of the Lord's written word. In this excerpt, we learn part of the reason why. He understood the meaning of pondering.

Most of us need to spend more time weighing mentally, thinking deeply about, and meditating on the things we read in the scriptures and the words of modern prophets. It will truly bring us closer to the Spirit of the Lord, as President Romney testifies.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Henry B. Eyring on being nourished by the good word of God

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"Just as pondering the scriptures invites the Holy Ghost, so does daily pleading in prayer. If we do not ask in prayer, He will rarely come, and without our petition He is not likely to linger. 'And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach' (D&C 42:14). Heartfelt, constant pleading for the companionship of the Holy Ghost, with the pure intent to nourish our Father’s children, will surely bring blessings to us and to those we love and serve.

"The good word of God with which we must nourish is the simple doctrine of the gospel. We need not fear either simplicity or repetition....

"It takes a childlike heart to feel the promptings of the Spirit, to surrender to those commands, and to obey. That is what it takes to be nourished by the good word of God."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Feed My Lambs," General Conference October 1997
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

This tender talk by President Eyring was addressed to the new converts in the Church, those who are lambs instead of sheep. "The Saints of God have always been under covenant to nourish each other spiritually, especially those tender in the gospel." How do we best care for one another? He suggests that as we sincerely plead for the Lord's spirit, we will be blessed with the Holy Ghost that will aid us in our ministering. And then we can pass that gift on to the tender lambs in our midst:

The phrase "nourished by the good word of God" which President Eyring uses throughout the talk ,was first used by Jacob as he expounded on the parable of the vineyard—see Jacob 6:7. But much later, Moroni used the same words to describe how new believers should be cared for:

"And after they had been received unto baptism, and were wrought upon and cleansed by the power of the Holy Ghost, they were numbered among the people of the church of Christ; and their names were taken, that they might be remembered and nourished by the good word of God, to keep them in the right way, to keep them continually watchful unto prayer, relying alone upon the merits of Christ, who was the author and the finisher of their faith." (Moroni 6:4, emphasis added)

What a beautiful description that is of how we should love and sustain one another! As we learn to focus on "the simple doctrine of the gospel" without concern about repetition or simplicity, we will find continuing blessings for ourselves and for those we strive to serve.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Spencer W. Kimball on the importance of personal scripture study

President Spencer W. Kimball (1895-1985) was ordained an apostle in 1943 and served as President of the Church from 1973 to 1985.

"I ask us all to honestly evaluate our performance in scripture study. It is a common thing to have a few passages of scripture at our disposal, floating in our minds, as it were, and thus to have the illusion that we know a great deal about the gospel. In this sense, having a little knowledge can be a problem indeed. I am convinced that each of us, at some time in our lives, must discover the scriptures for ourselves—and not just discover them once, but rediscover them again and again....

"I feel strongly that we must all of us return to the scriptures... and let them work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord."

- Spencer W. Kimball, "How Rare a Possession—The Scriptures," Ensign September 1976, pp. 2-5
Click here to read the whole article

This was a beautiful message from President Kimball, prepared as a special "First Presidency Message" published in the Ensign magazine. He shared his vision of the precious and sacred nature of the scriptures, and encouraged us to make better use of them in study and application.

President Kimball warns us of the human tendency to consider our scriptural knowledge to be greater than it is, based on a more superficial acquaintance. A true in-depth understanding comes only through dedicated, faithful, ongoing study over a long period of time. Hence the encouragement for us all to "rediscover" the scriptures repeatedly in our lives:

So the prophetic invitation is for each of us to "return to the scriptures" in order that they can "work mightily within us, impelling us to an unwavering determination to serve the Lord." What a great invitation and challenge!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder David A. Bednar on hearing the voice of God through scriptures

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"The scriptures, in essence, are a written 'recording' of the voice of the Lord—a voice we feel in our hearts more than we hear with our ears. And as we study the content and feel the spirit of the written word of God, we learn to hear His voice in the words we read and to understand the means whereby the words are given to us by the Holy Ghost....

"Understanding and applying five basic principles can help our personal scripture study become more edifying and effective.

"Principle 1: Pray for understanding, and invite the help of the Holy Ghost. The things of the Spirit can be learned only by and through the influence of the Spirit....

"Principle 2: Work. Gospel knowledge and understanding come through diligent study of the scriptures and tutoring by the Holy Ghost....

"Principle 3: Be consistent. Given the hectic pace of our lives, good intentions and simply 'hoping' to find the time for meaningful scripture study are not sufficient....

"Principle 4: Ponder. The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed....

"Principle 5: Write down impressions, thoughts, and feelings."

- David A. Bednar, "Because We Have Them before Our Eyes," New Era, April 2006, pp. 2-7
Click here to read the full article

Elder Bednar helps us recognize the value of the scriptural record as a source of instruction from God—in truth, the voice of God speaking to us through the written word. And as we learn to listen to that record, we learn to hear His voice speaking to us:

What a great insight! It echoes the words of the Lord to Joseph Smith:

And I, Jesus Christ, your Lord and your God, have spoken it.
These words are not of men nor of man, but of me; wherefore, you shall testify they are of me and not of man;
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; and save it were by my power you could not have them;
Wherefore, you can testify that you have heard my voice, and know my words.
D&C 18:33-36

How carefully we should learn to "listen" as we study the word of God! Elder Bednar proceeds to give suggestions on how to do that more effectively. I included the highlights of his five suggestions, but the entire article is worth reviewing.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf on following spiritual landmarks

Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf (born November 6, 1940) served as a Seventy from 1994-2004, when he was called as a member of the Quorum of Twelve.  He served as second counselor in the First Presidency from 2008 to 2018.

"Spiritual landmarks are indispensable for keeping us on the straight and narrow path. They give clear direction as to the way we should travel—but only if we recognize them and walk toward them.

"If we refuse to be guided by these landmarks, they become meaningless, decorative masses that have no purpose but to break up the flatness of the horizon.

"It’s not enough to go solely by our instincts.

"It’s not enough to have the best of intentions.

"It won’t do to rely only on our natural senses.

"Even when we think we are following a straight spiritual path, without true landmarks to guide us—without the guidance of the Spirit—we will tend to wander.

"Let us, therefore, open our eyes and see the landmarks our benevolent God has provided to His children. Let us read, hear, and apply the word of God. Let us pray with real intent and listen to and follow the promptings of the Spirit. Once we have recognized the supernal landmarks offered by our loving Heavenly Father, we should set our course by them. We should also make regular course corrections as we orient ourselves toward spiritual landmarks.

"In this way, we will not wander in circles but walk with confidence and certainty toward that great heavenly blessing that is the birthright of all who walk in the straight and narrow way of Christ’s discipleship."

- Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Walking in Circles," Ensign, June 2013, pp. 4-5
Click here to read or listen to the full article

I love to hike in the mountains, and can appreciate the message Elder Uchtdorf shared about how we navigate in various circumstances. He cited studies that show that people tend to walk in circles when there are no visible landmarks. In order to attain a goal using only visual references, it's critical to use landmarks; being guided by our instincts or good intentions is not sufficient. And the same applies to spiritual "navigation" of the challenges of life; the "landmarks" provided by God for that journey become crucial. Elder Uchtdorf mentioned landmarks of scriptures and counsel from inspired leaders as examples.

An important point, though, is that the landmarks are useful "only if we recognize them and walk toward them." It requires noticing and responding in order to obtain benefit.

Learning, studying, listening, applying—great tools to help us discover and use the spiritual landmarks that are provided for our mortal journal. But perhaps the spiritual promptings from the Comforter are most important in helping us know what course to follow. All of those things help us make the "regular course corrections" that can keep us moving towards the right goals in life.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

President Ezra Taft Benson on keeping Christ in Christmas

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899-1994) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1943, and served as the 13th President of the Church from 1985 until his death in 1994 at age 94.

"Without Christ there would be no Christmas, and without Christ there can be no fulness of joy....

"And now, my beloved brothers and sisters, what must we do this Christmas season—and always? Why, we must do the same as the Wise Men of old. They sought out the Christ and found Him. And so must we. Those who are wise still seek Him today.

"'I would commend you,' urged Moroni, 'to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written.' (Ether 12:41.) And God has provided the means—the holy scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon—that all who seek may know that Jesus is the Christ....

"What a gift it would be to receive at Christmastime a greater knowledge of the Lord.

What a gift it would be to share that knowledge with others."

- Ezra Taft Benson, "Keeping Christ in Christmas," First Presidency Christmas devotional, 1 December 1985; see Ensign, Dec. 1993, 2, 4-5
Click here to read the full article

We proclaim "Joy to the World!" during the Christmas season, and President Benson reminds us that there is no fulness of joy without Christ at the center of Christmas. And so the key for us, as for wise men of old, is to seek Him, to find Him:

President Benson goes on to teach that the means given to us to "seek Him" is through the scriptures that God has provided for us, "particularly the Book of Mormon." We should seriously consider during the Christmas season how we can better receive a gift of knowledge of Him in our personal lives, by feasting on that source of knowledge. And with the knowledge, how we can then share the gift with others, blessing their lives with the testimony and light of Jesus Christ!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Harold B. Lee on fiction vs. truth in Christmas stories

President Harold B. Lee (1899-1973) was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 1941. He served as a counselor in the First Presidency from 1970-1972, then as Church president from July 1972 until his passing less than 18 months later in December 1973.

"Are you mindful of your dramatizations that you discard, ... fictitious incidents in the lives of sacred characters?  How careful must we be that we do not build in the child's concept of God a sort of a Santa Claus impression of Him.  We must, rather, take the position that the Apostle Paul did to the Hebrews when he said, in essence:  'For we have not an high priest that cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmity. For he was tempted in all points, even as we are, yet he was without sin. Let us, therefore, come boldly into his throne of grace and ask for his mercy and his grace to help us in our time of need.'  (See Hebrews 4:15-16.)

"May I plead with you teachers of children that you do not make fictitious reference to the Lord and Savior of the world.  May you stay with the context of the scripture and reduce it to understandable terms in order that the full reverence for sacred things might be impressed upon you.

"This may be something of almost hearsay to some, but let me ask you, last Christmas did none of you hear the reading of 'The Littlest Angel'?  Well, I would like to plead with you, if you did have it and you have it anywhere in your files, to bury it so deep before next Christmas that you cannot find it for the performance of children next Christmas.  There, again, we are doing something for the enjoyment of the children that subtracts from sacred things."

- Harold B. Lee, "Inspirational Guidance Year Round," Primary June Conference Address, 1948; see also THBL pp. 443-444

There seems to have always been a temptation to fictionalize the Christmas story. Since the scriptural account is somewhat sparse on details and descriptions, many have managed to embellish and expand the story in ways ranging from "The Little Drummer Boy" to "The Littlest Angel." President Lee's concern is mixing the fiction with the actual story of the Savior's birth, in ways that detract from the sacredness of the events, subtly turning God into Santa Claus:

There is enough power in the true story of the Savior's birth and life to satisfy any need, including little children., if taught appropriately. The caution is to not be "doing something for the enjoyment of the children that subtracts from sacred things."

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder Quentin L. Cook on spiritual nourishment and commitment

Elder Quentin L. Cook (b. September 8, 1940) was called as a Seventy in 1996, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in 2007.

"Many who are in a spiritual drought and lack commitment have not necessarily been involved in major sins or transgressions, but they have made unwise choices. Some are casual in their observance of sacred covenants. Others spend most of their time giving first-class devotion to lesser causes. Some allow intense cultural or political views to weaken their allegiance to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have immersed themselves in Internet materials that magnify, exaggerate, and, in some cases, invent shortcomings of early Church leaders. Then they draw incorrect conclusions that can affect testimony. Any who have made these choices can repent and be spiritually renewed.

"Immersion in the scriptures is essential for spiritual nourishment (see John 5:39; Amos 8:11). The word of God inspires commitment and acts as a healing balm for hurt feelings, anger, or disillusionment (see Alma 31:5). When our commitment is diminished for any reason, part of the solution is repentance (see Alma 36:23–26). Commitment and repentance are closely intertwined."

- Quentin L. Cook, "Can Ye Feel So Now?," General Conference, October 2012; see Ensign, November 2012, pp. 6-9
Click here to read or listen to the full article

The concept of "spiritual drought" is an interesting one. In the physical sense, drought is a period of water shortage due to lessened rainfall; spiritually, if we have a lack of inspiration and presence of the spirit, the condition of stunted growth and related challenges is a good analogy. Elder Cook suggests that we can those spiritual droughts on ourselves through sin or unwise choices, but also through "casual observance of sacred covenants" or mis-focused priorities. We can be distracted by material or philosophy that impairs our receptivity to spiritual influence.

The key to overcoming spiritual drought is usually to "repent and be spiritually renewed." Elder Cook suggests another important ingredient:

Particularly in times of "spiritual drought" we should seek renewal from the fount of "living water" (John 4:10). That will aid us in our efforts to strengthen our commitment and draw nearer to the source of strength and forgiveness.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder David A. Bednar on constant replenishing our living water

Elder David A. Bednar (born June 15, 1952) was serving as the president of BYU–Idaho when he was called and sustained as a member of the Quorum of Twelve Apostles in October 2004.

"The scriptures contain the words of Christ and are a reservoir of living water to which we have ready access and from which we can drink deeply and long. You and I must look to and come unto Christ, who is 'the fountain of living waters' (1 Nephi 11:25; compare Ether 8:26, 12:28), by reading (see Mosiah 1:5), studying (see D&C 26:1), searching (see John 5:39; Alma 17:2), and feasting (see 2 Nephi 32:3) upon the words of Christ as contained in the holy scriptures. By so doing, we can receive both spiritual direction and protection during our mortal journey....

"Through normal activity each day, you and I lose a substantial amount of the water that constitutes so much of our physical bodies. Thirst is a demand by the cells of the body for water, and the water in our bodies must be replenished daily. It frankly does not make sense to occasionally 'fill up' with water, with long periods of dehydration in between. The same thing is true spiritually. Spiritual thirst is a need for living water. A constant flow of living water is far superior to sporadic sipping.

"Are you and I daily reading, studying, and searching the scriptures in a way that enables us to hold fast to the rod of iron—or are you and I merely clinging? Are you and I pressing forward toward the fountain of living waters—relying upon the word of God? These are important questions for each of us to ponder prayerfully."

- David A. Bednar, "A Reservoir of Living Water," BYU devotional, Feb. 4, 2007
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

The concept of "living water" is a beautiful one. As much as we depend on physical water for our existence and sustenance, we equally require the spiritual water from the Lord to stay strong in another sense. Elder Bednar points out that the scriptures speak of a reservoir and a fountain to which we have "ready access" if we are willing to seek them out and then "drink deeply and long." It requires our agency, our initiative, to choose to receive the living water God offers to us.

Elder Bednar suggests there are different approaches to replenishing water, but some are more effective than others:

The key for us, in order to have a steady supply of the living water in our lives, is in "daily reading, studying, and searching the scriptures." By doing that, we will be continually "pressing forward toward the fountain of living waters—relying upon the word of God." Truly we should cultivate that habit in our lives!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

Elder Bruce R. McConkie on how scripture study prepares us for revelation

Elder Bruce R. McConkie (July 29, 1915 - April 19, 1985) served as a Seventy from 1946-1972 when he was called to the Quorum of Twelve.  He served in that assignment until his death from cancer at age 69.

"As we all know, revelation comes from the Revelator; he is the Holy Ghost, and he will not dwell in an unclean tabernacle. Hence we strive eternally to keep the commandments so we may be in tune with the Lord and always have his Spirit to be with us. But I sometimes think that one of the best-kept secrets of the kingdom is that the scriptures open the door to the receipt of revelation....

"Some are sustained as prophets, seers, and revelators to the Church. Others will be in due course. But all of us are entitled to the spirit of prophecy and of revelation in our lives, both for our personal affairs and in our ministry. The prayerful study and pondering of the holy scriptures will do as much, or more than any other single thing, to bring that spirit, the spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation, into our lives."

- Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrines of the Restoration (Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1989), p. 243-4

We are promised the opportunity to receive revelation in our life. But revelation can come only to those who are clean and worthy. So we strive to be obedient and faithful in every way, in order to unlock that door and be blessed with divine inspiration. But we can do more; Elder McConkie's comment about the relationship between scripture study and personal revelation struck me as profound:

While only a few have the calling and assignment to function as prophets and revelators to the Church, we all are "entitled to the spirit of prophecy and of revelation in our lives" to help with our ministry and our personal needs. In order to prepare to receive that blessing of revelation, Elder McConkie's message is that prayerfully studying and pondering the scriptures likely does more than any other act we can perform to bring that spirit and blessing to our lives. That should make us eager to "feast on the word" in order to merit the spiritual feast that will follow!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)

President Henry B. Eyring on reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures

President Henry B. Eyring (born May 31, 1933) served in the Presiding Bishopric from 1985-1992, as a Seventy from 1992-1995, then was called to the Quorum of Twelve Apostles. He has served in the First Presidency since 2007.

"As the humble servants of the Savior, we should pray for the manifestations of the Holy Ghost to come to us in our service and to those we serve. Humble prayer to our Heavenly Father, in deep faith in Jesus Christ, is essential to qualify us for the companionship of the Holy Ghost.

"Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough.

"But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully."

- Henry B. Eyring, "Serve with the Spirit," General Conference, October 2010
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

President Eyring's address to the Priesthood session in the October 2010 conference instructed on the importance of serving with the Holy Spirit. He encouraged the brethren to "do whatever is required to qualify for the Holy Ghost as our companion" in order to serve the Lord most effectively. Praying, with humility and "deep faith in Jesus Christ," is the first step to invite the Holy Spirit into our lives.

The spiritual gifts that come from prayer are "increased" as we not only read, but also study and ponder the scriptures. President Eyring helps us understand and differentiate those concepts:

Reading has limited value unless it is enhanced by the activities of studying and pondering. In the studying, we begin to "discover patterns and connections" as we read. And then pondering what we have studied, thinking and praying about the things we have read, "invite[s] revelation by the Spirit."

This is a valuable reminder. It is very easy to fall into the trap of casual reading with minimal pondering, and much reduced benefit!

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2017)