It Is Written

When the tempter came to the Savior with the three temptations, Jesus answered every one with this phrase: “It is written” and quoted a different scripture from Deuteronomy each time. With the first temptation to turn stone into bread He was likely quoting this scripture: “That he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live” (Deuteronomy 8:3). With the second temptation to jump off the pinnacle of the temple He turned to this scripture: “Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:16). And to the third temptation He was perhaps quoting this verse: “Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God; him shalt thou serve” (Deuteronomy 10:20). The Savior had these words in His heart, and He could call on them in this time of need to resist the tempter. There is power in the words of the scriptures, and His example shows us the importance of internalizing the word of God from holy writ in our hearts. Another passage from one of these chapters that He quoted says this: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates” (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). We need His words in our minds and in our hearts to continually remind us and protect us from the temptations of the adversary. And we should diligently teach them to our children to help protect them from the relentless pull of the world that seeks to destroy their faith.  

                I love the way that Elder Scott spoke about the power of the scriptures to help us. He said this, “Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high. They can become the key to open the channel to communion with our Father in Heaven and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.” He continued, “Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change…. A memorized scripture becomes an enduring friend that is not weakened with the passage of time.” The Savior had scriptures memorized and they helped Him to overcome temptation in the moment it came to Him. We see the same thing with other prophets such as Abinadi who stood in spiritual power before Noah and his priests in chains and quoted Isaiah and the law of Moses from memory. When Nephi faced opposition from his brothers he was able to pull from the story of Moses and the children of Israel from his memory as he stood against them in power (see 1 Nephi 17). On the Mount of Olives Jesus said this to His apostles: “And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (JSM 1:37). If we are to make it through these last days and not be deceived, we must indeed treasure up His word and trust in the power of the scriptures. We need His words in our hearts and minds which will “divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven” (Helaman 3:29-30).