The Challenge: 15 Minutes’ Daily Reading

Through prayerful and diligent study of the scriptures we may obtain the sure knowledge that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God, and that this is Christ’s true church.

But the scriptures can do even more for us than that. When Christ appeared to the Nephites on the American continent, he taught them that they should become the same manner of man as he was. (See 3 Ne. 27.) How can we become like Jesus Christ without knowing and obeying the same eternal principles that he did? How can we hope to apply them in our daily lives if we do not know what they are?

From a study of the New Testament it is clear that Christ studied the scriptures. He commanded the Nephites to search diligently the words of Isaiah. (See 3 Ne. 23:1.) He has declared in these latter days that “the holy scriptures are given of me for your instruction” (D&C 33:16), “that you may be instructed … in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand … That ye may be prepared in all things.” (D&C 88:78, 80.)

Yes, the scriptures do give us counsel and prepare us in all things. They are pertinent to the situations we find ourselves in daily: how to meet temptation, how to recognize the pitfalls of prosperity, how to handle hurt feelings, maintain family stability, be a good neighbor, and manage one’s finances; the list extends as far as study and human need will take us.

The sons of Mosiah were “men of sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.” (Alma 17:2.)

Let us challenge ourselves to spend at least 15 minutes daily with the scriptures.

Dr. Thomas E. Hays
Assistant Professor of Mathematics
Ohio State University