"Joy in the Scriptures," Ensign, Aug 2009, 40-43
Many Latter-day Saints have found greater understanding of the gospel in recent years as they have improved their personal study of the scriptures. Feasting on the word of God, many have found invaluable assistance through the study aids added to the standard works in the early 1980s-aids like the Bible dictionary, chapter headings, more complete cross-referencing in notes, and excerpts from the Joseph Smith Translation.
After enhanced new editions of the scriptures were published, Church leaders urged members to obtain their own new copies of the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price so they could enjoy the spiritual benefits of scripture study with added knowledge provided by the new study aids.1 Members who responded found it much easier to hear the voice of the Lord through their daily scripture study.
"Now, what do we hear in the gospel which we have received? A voice of gladness! A voice of mercy from heaven; and a voice of truth out of the earth; ... glad tidings of great joy" (D&C 128:19).
The following art may remind us of the joy we can find in daily scripture study.
"Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."
"And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one."
"And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness."
1. Boyd K. Packer, "Scriptures," Ensign, Nov. 1982, 51.
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