(April 2005 TG Entry: Scriptures, Study of)

I             President Kimball Reads Bible

The following is from the biography of Spencer W. Kimball, by his sons, Edward L. Kimball and Andrew E. Kimball (copyright, Bookcraft, 1977, page 56 and 57).

About this time, Spencer heard Brigham Young’s daughter, Susa Gates, speak at stake conference.  She asked how many in the congregation of a thousand had ever read the Holy Bible, cover to cover.  Spencer, with everyone else in the hall, craned about to see who had.  Only five or six hands went up.  So Susa Gates urged the people to go home and begin.  The meeting over, Spencer walked the block home, took down the family Bible, climbed the stairs to his attic room, lit the coal-oil lamp with a match, and began at Genesis.  Night after night, by the flickering light of a kerosene lamp in the unfinished attic where he slept, and which his imagination sometimes peopled with ghost and robbers, he plowed through the pages.  At some points Spencer had only half and idea what he was reading, but he had made up his mind.  It did not matter if long stretches were boring; he plodded on.  He was sure it was a worthwhile project.  At least he would have some idea what the Bible contained.  He kept at it for about a year until he could shut the book with great pride, finished.  The experience built his confidence.  He had learned he could count on his own resolution.

II            Immerse Ourselves

I find that when I get casual in my relationships with divinity and when it seems that no divine ear is listening and no divine voice is speaking, that I am far, far away. If I immerse myself in the scriptures the distance narrows and the spirituality returns. I find myself loving more intensely those whom I must love with all my heart and mind and strength, and loving them more, I find it easier to abide their counsel. (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball, “Discovering the Scriptures for Ourselves”)

III           Elder McConkie

There is knowledge and there are spiritual experiences to be gained from reading, pondering, and praying about the scriptures which can be gained in no other way. No matter how devoted and active members of the Church are in administrative matters, they will never gain the great blessings which come from scriptural study unless they pay the price of that study and thus make the written word a part of their lives (Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching, “The Teacher’s Divine Commission”, p. 8)