Q&A:
Questions and Answers

Answers are intended for help and perspective, not as pronouncements of Church doctrine.

The scriptures seem boring to me. I don’t see what’s so great about them. Is there anything I can do to enjoy them more?

New Era

Other people have shared your problem, but you can get past the boredom to the adventure in the scriptures.

The main thing is to prepare spiritually. You don’t have to do anything special to read an ordinary magazine or watch a television show. Those things appeal to your more worldly side and are not usually hard to understand. But you have to make a special effort to get on the wavelength for spiritual things. Here are some ideas to help:

Read as a disciple of Christ. Remind yourself that you are reading the scriptures because that’s what the Master wants you to do. Look for whatever it is that he wants you to know right now.

Read prayerfully. Pray before you read. Ask the Lord to guide you to what you need to know. Then be alert! The Spirit will give you feelings of peace and understanding. But these feelings are easy to miss, and you’ll probably miss them if you’re trying to keep one ear tuned to the radio.

Find yourself in the scriptures. In the story of Zaccheus (Luke 19:2–8), is that little man up there in the sycamore tree really you? Is the Lord trying to get your attention? In the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11–32), are you the “good” brother? And have you come to realize that you are the wayward brother—along with everyone else in the world? We should remember the advice in 1 Nephi 19:23 [1 Ne. 19:23] that we should “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” We should consider ourselves as the ones receiving the instruction.

Ask questions. Look carefully at 3 Nephi 16:4 [3 Ne. 16:4]. If someone had just asked the Lord, “Who are those other sheep?” the history of the world might have been different. But no one asked. A question tugging at the edge of your mind may be a clue from the Spirit to a path that you are called to explore. At the very least, always ask, “Who wrote or said this? Who was he speaking to? Why was he saying it? How does this apply to me?”

Talk with other people about what you are reading. A kind of spiritual fire is lit when reverent people share thoughts and feelings about the scriptures. It may have something to do with Matthew 18:20: “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” [Matt 18:20] Ask your parents what they think of a scripture. You might be pleasantly surprised at what happens.

Read the illustrated scripture stories published by the Church to your younger brothers and sisters. This will help you understand what you are reading, and it will also help your younger brothers and sisters get good feelings about them (and about you).

Read in different ways. You don’t always have to read straight through, verse by verse. Read about one subject by using the Topical Guide and cross-referencing. Or read about a particular person. Look at all the footnotes on some verse—you’ll find that words don’t always mean what you think they mean. Try reading aloud.

Don’t give up! When you’re out hiking and struggling up a steep hill in the hot sun, you may wonder why climbing that mountain is such a good idea. But when you get to the top and look out at the beauty of the valley, then you know it was worth it. Reading the scriptures can be like that.

Readers

I had the same problem until I realised that I was going about studying my scriptures the wrong way. Don’t read as much as you can in ten minutes. Rather read five or six verses at a time and really think about what you have read.

If you haven’t enrolled in seminary yet, do it now! It really helps to make studying the scriptures much easier.

Susan du Toit
Westville, Natal, South Africa

Take one verse at a time. Translate the old language into modern-day English without changing the text. If you keep this going, you will get used to the words and their meanings. If you try, Heavenly Father will see that you are trying, and he will help you if you ask. You will learn to love the scriptures.

Sonia Esslinaer, 14
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

I developed a simple way that made the scriptures seem not at all boring. As I would read, I would picture what was happening in my head.

Amy Hudson, 13,
Whitefish, Montana

In preparing to go on a mission, I have had that question many times. My answer was given to me through my institute teacher. He said that the stories we had read were about us. What? About us? I have found that there is not a single story in the entire Book of Mormon that is not somehow related to my life. It’s like having a giant patriarchal blessing 531 pages long!

Dennis Hanks, 18,
Walnut, California

My seminary teacher taught me a way to make the scriptures fun to read. When the scriptures are talking about Nephi or someone, put your name in the place of theirs. That way it seems like the scriptures were written for you or about you. I learned to enjoy them more that way.

Brenda Larsen, 15,
Riverton, Utah

I discovered that when you read the scriptures every day, it’s like a story. If I couldn’t read one chapter a day, I would at least read one verse so that I could keep up with it. I know that by reading every day, you really start to understand a little more; and the more you understand, the more you want to know and the more interesting it becomes.

Lara Salm, 18,
Greenfield Park, Quebec, Canada

I asked myself what I could do to enjoy the scriptures more. First, I figured I’d better start saying a prayer before I read. In that prayer I could ask for an open heart and mind so I could understand what I read. Second, I found out if I read out loud I could keep my mind on one subject. The last thing I do is think about what I read.

If I still have questions there are plenty of people to ask—one of whom I pray to every night.

Shelly Saling, 15,
Mokane, Missouri

Having a desire to learn more about the scriptures is the first step in understanding them. Ask yourself what the meaning of the scriptures is, and also why does Heavenly Father want us to know about them. Ask questions about scriptures you don’t understand. Someone may have the answer you need.

Jenny Hancey, 19,
Ivins, Utah

We must remember the scriptures are holy. They were translated by holy prophets. One of my favorite prophets is Nephi. In 2 Nephi 33 [2 Ne. 33], Nephi expressed his love for us and devotion to lead us back home. The scriptures have important precepts and principles that are essential for us to make it through the rigors of life.

Aaron Harris, 15,
Fairfield, Maine

While you are reading, you should try to liken the scriptures unto yourself. If you search the scriptures you should be able to find something that relates to your life. I found that once I find something that is very useful to me, I want to know more.

Sometimes you may find the scriptures boring because you don’t understand what is being said While you are reading, let the Spirit come into your heart. The Spirit will show what you need to know.

Wesley Olds, 15,
Tyngsboro, Massachusetts

Through reading the four standard works of the Church, much light was brought into my life, and I commenced to understand the purpose of my life, Never ever will I fail to tell people that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ.

Elder Masiya Mabundu
Zimbabwe Harare Mission

It helps to talk about the scriptures as you go along—talk to your parents, your friends, your seminary class, your Sunday School class.

Laurie Jackson, 14,
Scarsdale, New York

The scriptures are full of interesting people. I believe with all my heart that they are the word of God. A lot of sacrifices have been made for the scriptures. When you read, you’ll find out that the people in them are just like you and me with daily struggles and temptations.

Rosanna Nielson, 15,
Flagstaff, Arizona

Photography by Craig J. Moyer