15.
Write down what you learn.
Studying the scriptures, when coupled with prayer and (on occasion)
fasting, is a principal way to seek and obtain the guidance and
instruction of the Lord through the Holy Ghost. When you receive
anything through the inspiration of the Spirit it is sacred, and ought
to be treated as such.
"Communication
with our Father in Heaven is not a trivial matter. It is a sacred
privilege." (Richard G. Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and
Inspiration for Your Personal Life," Ensign, May 2012).
One
of the best ways to show your reverence and gratitude for the gift of
inspiration is to record your impressions as you receive them. The
practice of recording the promptings that you receive through the spirit
is one of the best ways to obey the Lord’s council to “treasure up in
your minds continually the words of life”. The Lord promises us that if
we will do this that he will give us the answer and help that we need
in the “very hour” or even “the very moment” that we need it. (See
D&C 84:85, and 24:6).
"Knowledge
carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need. Spiritually
sensitive information should be kept in a sacred place that
communicates to the Lord how you treasure it. That practice enhances the
likelihood of your receiving further light." (Richard G.
Scott,"Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86–88).
"Write thou My words in thy heart, and meditate diligently on them; for
in time of temptation they will be very needful. What thou
understandeth not when thou readest, thou shalt know in the day of
visitation." (Thomas Hammerken, The Imitation of Christ, 87).
It
will take practice and diligence to master this principle, and you
will have to work hard to develop the habit of recording your insights
and questions in writing. This principle was
particularly difficult for me to master, but I found that the rewards
are worth the work. You will find that the things that you have written
will continue to inspire and teach you when you re-read them. Often
you will have forgotten that you wrote some of the things that you
record, and you will be very impressed with yourself. Remember that you
are actually recording the teachings of the Spirit, not your own
brilliance, so don’t get too full of yourself.
I once
heard a Mission President say “inspiration not recorded is inspiration
lost” (He attributed this saying to Richard G. Scott). This is a true
principle because this vital knowledge and inspiration comes only through the
spirit, you will forget it as soon as that spirit leaves you, and if you
didn’t
record it, then that priceless instruction may be lost to you. Also, if
you don’t show the proper care and interest in what the spirit teaches
you by treasuring up his words he will eventually stop teaching you. If you persist in this attitude you will eventually lose even those truths that you have already received until the spirit withdraws entirely and you are left to your own devices.
2 Nephi 33:2 But behold, there are many that harden their hearts
against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they
cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of
naught.
Alma 12:10-11 And therefore, he that
will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the
word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater
portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries
of God until he know them in full. And they that will harden their
hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know
nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the
devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is
meant by the chains of hell.
2 Nephi 26:11
For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when
the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction,
and this grieveth my soul.
"Many...are
in danger because of lack of understanding and because they have not
sought the guidance of the Spirit....It is a commandment from the Lord
that members...be diligent...and study...the fundamental truths of the
gospel....Every baptized person [can] have an abiding testimony..., but
[it] will grow dim and eventually disappear [without] study, obedience,
and diligent seeking to know and understand the truth” (Joseph Fielding
Smith, Improvement Era, Dec. 1963, p. 1062).
Do
not take the guidance and instruction of the spirit for granted. If
you go too long without his aid and inspiration you will lose even those
things that you thought you had already learned. To live without the guidance of the Holy Ghost is to invite confusion, misery, and
ultimately destruction. We depend on the Spirit, so it is essential that we treat him (and the
things that he teaches us) with care and respect. One of the best ways
to demonstrate that respect is by recording the teachings that you
receive through the Spirit. Treating what you learn with care and respect shows your love for the things of the Lord. It shows that you appreciate the sacred importance of the truths that you have been taught enough to preserve them against the waste of forgetfulness.
"Powerful spiritual direction in your life can be overcome or forced into
the background unless you provide a way to retain it. Brigham Young
declared, “If you love the truth you can remember it” (Discourses of
Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co.,
1941], p. 10)." (Richard G. Scott, "Acquiring Spiritual Knowledge," Ensign, Nov. 1993, 86–88).
"When
it is for the Lord’s purposes, He can bring anything to our
remembrance. That should not weaken our determination to record
impressions of the Spirit. Inspiration carefully recorded shows God that
His communications are sacred to us. Recording will also enhance our
ability to recall revelation. Such recording of direction of the Spirit
should be protected from loss or intrusion by others." (Richard G.
Scott, "How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal
Life," Ensign, May 2012).
Carefully recording
what you learn during your time in the scriptures helps to demonstrate
to the Lord your sincere desire to be taught from on high as well as
your willingness to be diligent and to work hard to obtain (and obey)
that instruction and inspiration when it comes. Writing your
impressions in a place and in a way that signifies their great worth and
value to you is also a demonstration of the depth of your faith and
your gratitude for what you have been taught. Treating the things of
the Lord with respect, gratitude, and enthusiasm is a powerful way to
invite the Lord to bless you with even more light and knowledge.
"Writing
down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is
another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost
for continuing instruction." (David A. Bednar, "Because We Have Them
before Our Eyes," Ensign, May 2006).
As
you learn to record the teachings of the spirit that come during study
you will find that spiritual instruction and inspiration comes more
easily and more often than it did when you started, and that you can
more easily recall those things which you have already been taught. You
will also find that your capacity to discern and respond to the voice of
the Spirit will be greatly increased as you become more acquainted with
the Lord's teachings.
“You
will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will
come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your
life. Always, day or night, wherever you are, whatever you are doing,
seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Express
gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will
reinforce your capacity to learn by the Spirit. It will permit the Lord
to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent
in your being.” (Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Knowledge and the
Strength to Use It Wisely,” Ensign, June 2002, 32–34).
Next Tip:
Scripture Master Tip #16: Search For Principles
**There are 22 Scripture Master Tips in total!
You can find them all
HERE.
