Seek Ye Out of the Best Books

 To my son, 

               I want to encourage you today to keep improving on one of the talents you have been developing—the ability to read. Did you know that the Lord has commanded us to read? One way of course is in the instruction to read the scriptures. One time the Lord said to the prophet Joseph Smith, “Behold, I say unto you that you shall let your time be devoted to the studying of the scriptures” (Doctrine and Covenants 26:1). He was told to spend time studying his scriptures, and I believe this is an instruction that is meant for all of us—we need to be reading and studying the scriptures as Mom has taught you so well. Many other times in the Savior’s ministry He quoted from the scriptures, saying things like, “Did ye never read in the scriptures…” and “And have ye not read this scripture…” and “Have they not read the scriptures…” (Matt. 21:42, Mark 12:10, 3 Nephi 27:5). He clearly expected the people He ministered among to have read and understood the scriptures. And He wants us today to know the scriptures, and we do that first by reading them. I hope you will keep striving to read a little each day in the scriptures.

               It is not just the scriptures, though, that we should read. The Lord wants us to read lots of good things; He said this to the Prophet Joseph Smith: “Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom, seek learning even by study and also by faith” (Doctrine and Covenants 109:7). He wants us to find the best books and read them to learn everything we can. Some of the most powerful positive experiences in my life have come through reading and pondering inspired literature, from the Chronicles of Narnia to Les Misérables. These “best books” can help us better understand the world, see more clearly what kind of person we want to become, and better know how to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. In addition to understanding the gospel He wants us to learn all sorts of things: “Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:79). Indeed, there is a lot to learn! The Lord wants us to seek to understand the world around us, and we do that in part by reading in good books. I know that you have a curious mind, and there is so much you can discover just by opening up a book. I encourage you to keep spending time each day reading in the best books!

Love, 

Dad