Feasting On the Word of Christ

In his final message in the most recent general conference, President Nelson said this: “The future is always uncertain. Weather changes. Economic cycles are unpredictable. Disasters, accidents, and illness can change life quickly. These actions are largely beyond our control. But there are some things we can control, including how we spend our time each day…. we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future. But only now can we do. Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent. Now is the time we can bless others and ‘lift up the hands which hang down.’” Each day for me is a struggle to figure out how to spend my time when I feel there is far more I need and would like to do than I have the time for. President Nelson’s message was that we need to learn to do those things which are of most value, those which “will increase [our] positive spiritual momentum.” Nephi gave us this clue about what should be most important for us when he said this: “Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life” (2 Nephi 31:20). If eternal life is our goal, then no matter what else our day consists of, it should include a feasting upon the words of Christ to focus our thoughts on Him. It is quite rare that we forget to eat in a day, even when we are very busy; so it should be with the study of the scriptures—if our goal is to gain eternal life with Him and the Father, feasting on the words of holy writ every day is paramount. As I prayed this morning and thought about the busy day I had ahead, I thought about this scripture and realized that since this is indeed my long-term goal—to gain eternal life—then my study of the scriptures should come first even if that means other important things may not get done.

               I love the teachings of Elder Scott about the importance of feasting upon the words of Christ each day. He said this: “Don’t yield to Satan’s lie that you don’t have time to study the scriptures. Choose to take time to study them. Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games, or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it!” He also added this promise: “I add my voice with this promise: as you dedicate time every day, personally and with your family, to the study of God’s word, peace will prevail in your life. That peace won’t come from the outside world. It will come from within your home, from within your family, from within your own heart. It will be a gift of the Spirit…. Through daily, consistent scripture study, you will find peace in the turmoil around you and strength to resist temptations.” In this classic talk he also referenced the words of other apostles and prophets in a footnote who gave similar promises about reading the scriptures. One of those was from President Monson who said this: “As we read and ponder the scriptures, we will experience the sweet whisperings of the Spirit to our souls. We can find answers to our questions. We learn of the blessings which come through keeping God’s commandments. We gain a sure testimony of our Heavenly Father and our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of Their love for us. When scripture study is combined with our prayers, we can of a certainty know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. … As we remember prayer and take time to turn to the scriptures, our lives will be infinitely more blessed and our burdens will be made lighter.” Prophets have repeated again and again that we need the blessings of daily feasting on the words of God.

Alma taught his son Corianton this interesting truth: “All is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men” (Alma 40:8). I do not know exactly what that means, but I hope it means that in the next life, if we have been faithful here, there will no longer be a scarcity of time. Then we will have the opportunity to learn those things we did not have time for here and to do things of importance that we could not fit in here. But for now, we are stuck in a world in which there is simply not enough time to do all good things that we might like to do. So given that shortage, we must choose wisely on what is of most important. And as President Nelson invited us, “Now is the time we can learn,” and a feasting of the word of God must never get put aside for lesser things.