Words Of Comfort From Scriptures

Deuteronomy 31:8- And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Joshua 1:9- Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Isaiah 41:10- Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

God Will Forgive

When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who committed adultery to Jesus, Jesus told them, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast the stone at her."-John 8:7. When Jesus said this, one by one the accusers began leaving causing the woman to be alone with Jesus. Now think, when Lord revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses, one of them was "Thou shalt not commit adultery."-Exodus 20:14. The sin of committing adultery is so severe and disgusting that there was a law that says, "he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death"-Leviticus 20:10. Prophets since Moses have warned against adultery. So, when Jesus was alone with the woman who committed adultery, he completely understood the severity of the sin. Yet Jesus told that he doesn't condemn her and "go and sin no more." A sin that was so severe, Jesus forgave her immediately.

"Some people are harder on themselves than the Lord is. Of course, we must repent to be eligible for the cleansing and forgiving powers of the Atonement, but once we have repented, there is no such thing as a spotted repenter in God’s kingdom. There is no black mark on our right ankle that says “2008 sin” or brown stain behind our left ear that says “2010 trespass.” The Lord declared the comprehensive cleansing power of the Atonement when He said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow” (Isaiah 1:18). That is the miracle of the Atonement of Jesus Christ." Tad R. Callister, How Do I Know When I Am Forgiven?

We Need the Holy Ghost

"I wish to remind my brethren and sisters … that we are dependent for our information and intelligence upon the Spirit of God, which may be in us, if properly cultivated, a spirit of inspiration, of revelation, to make manifest clearly to our understanding the mind and will of God, teaching our duties and obligations, and what is required at our hands. … We need assistance. We are liable to do that which will lead us into trouble and darkness, and those things which will not tend to our good, but with the assistance of that comforter which the Lord has promised his Saints, if we are careful to listen to its whisperings, and understand the nature of its language, we may avoid much trouble and serious difficulty."-Teachings of Lorenzo Snow pg. 77.

The Holy Ghost does not only testify that God lives, it does much more. It testifies the truthfulness of the gospel, he is a guide and protector. After King Benjamin gave his speech in Mosiah 2-4, the people felt the Spirit of Lord so strong that they said, "we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually."-Mosiah 5:2. The Holy Ghost strengthens the desire to avoid evil but to do good continually.

The Lord says to Moses in Exodus 31:3,  And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship. In this verse, we learn that the Holy Ghost enhances skills and abilities.

Today, we are totally dependent upon the Holy Ghost. We need him to help us avoid trials and temptations or avoid traps which the adversary has laid for us. We need him to recognize those traps. We need him to help us become better servants of God.

Preach My Gospel chapter 4 provides more info. https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service/how-do-i-recognize-and-understand-the-spirit?lang=eng

Meaningful Scripture Study

Scripture study is an integral part of being able to have testimony and committing yourself to God. "Scripture study is important because of the covenants we have made, because of the direction we need in our lives, and because scripture study is a preparation for and prerequisite to receiving personal revelation."-David A. Bednar, Rick's College Devotional, January 6 1998.

When Laman and Lemuel asked Nephi, "What meaneth the rod of iron?" Nephi replied,"And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction."-1 Nephi 15:23-24

Nephi describes how powerful the scriptures can be. The scriptures are the word of God and has power to resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life. Not having scripture study can be devastating. Joseph Smith explained to the early saints,"And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received—"-D&C 84:54 The things that the early saints have taken lightly were the word of God. As a result, "their minds have been darkened because of unbelief."

Preach My Gospel Chapter 2 and Missionary Preparation Student Manual chapter 5-6 both teaches you how to have a meaningful scripture. Even if you haven't serve a mission, is too old to serve a mission, or isn't planning to serve a mission, those chapters will help you a lot on how to have a good meaningful scripture study. I also recommend reading Howard W. Hunter talk on Reading the Scriptures. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/1979/10/reading-the-scriptures?lang=eng

10 Things I Do To Have A Meaningful Scripture Study

1. Before i read the scriptures, i pray to have the spirit with me as i read so i can understand and focus.
 
2. What i personally like to do is put either earplugs or headphones in my ears so that i won't hear any outside noise. That helps me to focus more.

3. What i recently been trying to do is stop reading a certain amount of verses or chapters but read in a certain amount of time. For example, instead of reading a chapter  each morning and night, i decided to read for about 30 mins to 1 hour each morning and night. Sometimes studying one verse can take about 1 hour. I have noticed that reading in a certain amount of time allows me to not rush while reading the scriptures. Howard W. Hunter also mentions doing this in the link i provided above.

4. Before i read each chapter, i first read the chapter heading. Also use footnotes, bible dictionary, maps, topical guide, and Joseph Smith Translation. Those can be really useful.

5. Mark your scriptures. For example, what i do is if the scriptures is talking about the atonement, i color it blue. If it talks about repentance, i color it green. If Jesus is talking i underline the verse red. This allows me to understand the scriptures more.

6. Put your name down in what you read. For example in Moses 1:6, "And i have a work for thee Moses, my son..." In this verse substitute Moses name for your name. If you are a girl write your name and write my daughter instead of my son. You can do the same in 1 Nephi 3:7. I usually write the verses that i can insert my name into, down in my journal.

7. Write down verses , meaning of the verses or what you learn in a study journal. Make good use of a study journal.

8.Use dictionary or find the actual meaning of a word. Some verses in the scriptures uses that we don't understand.  In Moroni 10, i saw that Moroni uses the word 'exhort' a lot. At first, i just pass through it without giving it much thought. Then, i decided to look it up. Exhort means strongly recommend. When i found that out, reading Moroni 10 was more meaningful than the first time i read it.

9. Some verses, you will have to install if.... and then.... in the verse. For example, Jacob 3:1- But behold, I, Jacob, would speak unto you that are pure in heart. Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith, and he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead your cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.
Now put if... and then... You will get this. If you look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith then he will console you in your afflictions, and he will plead you cause, and send down justice upon those who seek your destruction.

10. In Missionary Preparation Student Manual pg. 42, i learned this. Ask questions. Who is speaking? To whom the person is peaking? what is the message in this verse or chapter? How does this apply to me right now? When or where did the events described in the scripture occur?

I was surprised by how much i learned by doing these simple things. I've met a lady who visits and helps a lady with a severe smoking problems. So, the lady ask the lady with smoking problems to read only a sentence in the Book of Mormon a day since she wasn't really interested in reading it. A few days later, instead of reading a sentence, she read a chapter and her desire to quit smoking increased. The Book of Mormon has a powerful effect upon its readers. It is very important to read it and understand it. At first, i wasn't very dedicated in reading the Book of Mormon. So, i prayed about it to know whether or not it was true. I know the Book of Mormon to be true because i have prayed about it and i felt the Holy Ghost testifying its truthfulness. When i read it, there is absolutely no way that it could have been written by a man with a 3rd grade education(Joseph smith). It had to be translated by the power of God. I also know the bible to be the word of God.

Importance of Forgiveness

Probably one of the greatest example of forgiveness in history has to be the in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. First, Jesus Christ was betrayed by a member of the 12 apostle, Judas Iscariot, for only 30 pieces of silver. Then, He was mocked, spit upon, and humiliated in front of a large group of people. His hands were tied on a rope above His head, stripped of His clothing, and He was repeatedly flogged with a heavy whip, on His back, shoulders, and leg. Then, they put a crown of thorns on His head and mocked Him and humiliated Him. He was then forced to carry a heavy wooden cross to the location of His death. He was humiliated and mocked by onlookers while He was carrying the cross. When He arrived at Calvary, they laid Him down on the cross, they use a heavy wrought-iron nail and pounded it through His hands and feet. They again mocked and humiliated him as he was being lifted on the cross. To make things more sad, they put Jesus on the cross next to two criminals. Despite all the horrible, ruthless, and disgusting things they did to Him, despite all the mockery and humiliation he received, Jesus, while on the cross, in dying words, He said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."-Luke 23:34

I believe that forgiveness is a requirement, a law, and a commandment. In order to enter God's kingdom, it is required to forgive one another. Forgiveness has to be done in the heart not just verbally. In D&C 64:8-10 Jesus teaches to Joseph for the saints:

 8 My disciples, in days of old, sought occasion against one another and forgave not one another in their hearts; and for this evil they were afflicted and sorely chastened.

 9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.

 10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.

"Note the Lord's comment about inadequate forgiveness on the part of His former-day disciples. Just what their sufferings were not stated, but the penalties and chastisement were sore.

The lesson stands for us today. Many people, when brought to a reconciliation with others, say that they forgive, but they continue to hold malice, continue to suspect the other party, continue to disbelieve the others sincerity. This is sin, for when a reconciliation has been effected and when repentance is claimed, each should forgive and forget, build immediately the fences which have been breached and restore the former compatibility."-The Miracle of Forgiveness by Spencer W. Kimball, pg. 262-263.

To forgive you have to forget. Forgetting does necessarily mean to to not remember. It can also mean that when you forgive the person in your heart and you won't let it that bother you ever again. How many times do we always hear people say i will forgive but i will not forget what you did to me. Willingly to not forget means that you haven't forgiven others. "If we can find forgiveness in our hearts for those who have caused us hurt and injury, we will rise to a higher level of self-esteem and well-being."-James E. Faust, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, April 2007 General conference. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2007/04/the-healing-power-of-forgiveness?lang=eng

Lastly i want to say to say is this. Forgiveness is a demonstration of love. In Mathew 22:39, Jesus teaches that "the second greatest commandment is to love thy neighbor as thyself." To show to God that you love your neighbor, you have to forgive them whether if they willingly or unwillingly offended you.

One of my favorite scripture is Alma 26:11-12:

"11  But Ammon said unto him: I do not boast  in my own strength, nor in my own wisdom; but behold, my  joy is full, yea, my heart is brim with  joy, and I will rejoice in my God.

 12 Yea, I know that I am nothing ; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will  not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever."

To each reader that reads these to verses, they can receive different meanings and interpretation out of it. That's the beauty of it. One of mine interpretation of these two verses is this:

These two verses will help out anyone who has any addiction. It will help them understand that recovery from any addiction is done through God. I know that he will give us strength to resist sins and overcome trials that everyone faces in life. I know that to be true because i have seen it happen. I have seen people overcome trials and addiction by just simply putting their trust in God and i have also experienced. By simply putting my trust in God he has helped me overcome trials and temptations. Everyone that ever lives on planet Earth needs to know this that "as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will  not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things".