Give It a Try!
How can you know that the words of prophets and the scriptures are true and meant for you?
Illustration by Emily E. Jones
We receive important guidance from prophets and the scriptures. They bless our lives and help us be our best. It’s important for you to find out for yourself that what they teach is true.
How do you go about doing that?
Alma taught that we can “experiment upon [the] word … and exercise a particle of faith” (Alma 32:27). Experiments are done all the time and provide a way of exploring the world around us. They can also help us find answers to spiritual questions and strengthen our faith.
Here’s a spiritual experiment you can try:
Find the Savior in the Scriptures
Several years ago, President Russell M. Nelson invited the young adults of the Church “to increase their testimony” and “learn all they can about Jesus Christ.” He asked them to spend some time each week “to study everything Jesus said and did as recorded in the standard works” using the scripture citations under the heading Jesus Christ in the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures.
At that time, President Nelson had already “read and underlined every verse cited about Jesus Christ, as listed under the main heading and the 57 subtitles in the Topical Guide.” He studied over 2,200 scriptures! It took him six weeks to complete the task. When President Nelson’s wife Wendy asked him what impact studying all those scriptures had on him, he said, “I am a different man!”
We asked a few youth to take on this same experiment to read as much as they possibly could about the Savior in the scriptures for one week. We then asked them what they learned. Here’s what they said.
What Were the Results?
“I felt the Spirit through the testimonies and teachings shared of Jesus Christ. I especially love the scriptures about Christ as our Shepherd. He looks after us. As I read about Him, I could feel His love surround me. I learned that our Savior felt temptations and physical suffering, just as we do. As we strive to become like Him, it’s OK to feel tempted and tired, because our Savior did too, but that didn’t stop Him from doing His Father’s work. I want to remember this when I feel too exhausted to read my scriptures. I want to follow our Savior’s teachings because I love Him—not just to go through the motions. I want my lifestyle to show that I’m a follower of Christ.”
Eve S., 17, Alberta, Canada
“I learned that we may face big challenges, but with our Savior’s help, we can do all things and be strengthened through our challenges. The Savior can help us prepare for problems we’ll face in the future. Reading the scriptures helped me understand the importance of our Savior and His Atonement in God’s plan. Daily scripture study makes me feel loved and reminds me that I’m important to the Savior. By reading scriptures about Jesus Christ, I received guidance for me to do better and to ‘think celestial.’ I will ask my friends to join me in reading the Book of Mormon so we can share what we’ve learned together.”
Ambher L., 17, Nueva Ecija, Philippines
“As Jesus Christ walked the earth, He was intentional with the people He blessed and healed. As I read and pondered about the Savior, I felt a strong sense of peace. I was able to take a step back from the stresses and anxieties of life and see things from a different perspective. With my new knowledge of the Savior, I’m going to pray to find the people Jesus needs me to help and serve them as He would.”
Josh H., 16, Florida, USA