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Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge & Studying the Scriptures

Lesson Quotes:

 Elder Richard G.  Scott 

“As you repeat that pattern, your faith will become stronger. The Lord knows your needs. When you ask with honesty and real intent, He will prompt you to do that which will increase your ability to act in faith. With consistent practice, faith will become a vibrant, powerful, uplifting, inspiring force in your life. As you walk to the boundary of your understanding into the twilight of uncertainty, exercising faith, you will be led to find solutions you would not obtain otherwise.” (CR April 2003)

Chad Webb
“If the question is “Can you feel close to God while enjoying His creations?” the answer is absolutely yes. But let’s reframe the real question, which is about spirituality and organized religion. What do you know about Heavenly Father’s desire for His children? Is it just to feel close to Him, or is it to become like Him and for each of us to receive eternal life? And what role does attending Church play in whether we receive those ultimate blessings?

“Do you see how reframing the question with an eternal perspective dramatically impacts our conclusion? If the question is “Can we feel close to God in nature?” the answer is yes. If the question is “Should we spend Sundays at the beach or in the mountains rather than attend our Church meetings?” the answer is “Not without missing an opportunity to keep and renew sacred covenants that will allow us access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ in our lives. Not without missing the opportunity to seek forgiveness and healing. Not without missing an opportunity to claim the promised blessing of having His Spirit to be with us. Not without missing the opportunity to learn from priesthood leaders who hold keys to guide and direct us. And not without forfeiting the opportunity to serve in the Lord’s Church and kingdom, restored to this earth in the latter days.” (BYU-H Devotional, March 2016)

Elder Marion C. Romney
“One cannot honestly study the scriptures without learning gospel principles because the scriptures have been written to preserve principles” 
(“The Message of the Old Testament” [address to CES religious educators, Aug. 17, 1979], 3, LDS.org).

Elder Richard G. Scott
“As you seek spiritual knowledge, search for principles. Carefully separate them from the detail used to explain them. … It is worth great effort to organize the truth we gather to simple statements of principle” (“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” 86).

“Principles are concentrated truth, packaged for application to a wide variety of circumstances” 
(“Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge,” Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86).

President Boyd K. Packer
“True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. … That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel” (“Little Children,” Ensign, Nov. 1986, 17).



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