2 Kings 22–23

The Power of the Word

In the Book of Mormon, the Lord commanded Nephi to obtain the brass plates and to devote much of his life to writing the First Book of Nephi and the Second Book of Nephi. This illustrates how the Lord feels about the importance of scriptures.

How would your life be different if you had never read the scriptures or known of them? What difference are they making in your daily life now?

In 2 Kings 22 the scriptures are referred to as the “book of the law.” As you read this chapter, consider what the writer was trying to teach us about the importance of the scriptures, and notice what effect the scriptures had on King Josiah and his people.

Understanding the Scriptures

2 Kings 22

Scribe (v. 3)A clerk or secretary to the king, the high priest, or the city (at this time in history)

Sum (v. 4)Gather all

Reckoning (v. 7)Accounting for

Communed (v. 14)Spoke

Quenched (v. 17)Satisfied

2 Kings 23

Sepulchres (vv. 16, 30)Tombs to place the bodies of the dead in

Tribute (v. 33)Tax given to a ruler to keep him from attacking you

2 Kings 22:8—The Book of the Law Found in the Temple

There were no printing presses at the time of 2 Kings 22. Each copy of a book had to be written out by hand. Consequently, there were very few copies; finding the book of the law, or the scriptures, in the temple was a great discovery. In our day, obtaining a copy of the scriptures is much easier. Our challenge is not to find the scriptures but to find out what they say. President Spencer W. Kimball taught about the story of the scriptures being found in the time of Josiah, and then said, “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” (“How Rare a Possession—the Scriptures!” Ensign, Sept. 1976, 4).

Studying the Scriptures

Do activity A as you study 2 Kings 22–23.

1. The Power of the Word

   Do three of the following four activities:

   1. What was King Josiah’s response when he heard the words of the book of the law? (see 2 Kings 22:11, 19; 23:4–14, 21, 24–25).

   2. What was the people’s response when King Josiah read these same words to them? (see 2 Kings 23:1–3).

   3. Write about a time when the scriptures have had an important effect on your life.

   4. Read 2 Timothy 3:15–17; 1 Nephi 15:23–24; 2 Nephi 32:3; Alma 31:5; and Helaman 3:29–30, and make a list from these scriptures of the power the scriptures can have in our lives.