1 And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things. Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.
2 For surely he spake as touching all things concerning my people which are of the house of Israel; therefore it must needs be that he must speak also to the Gentiles.
3 And all things that he spake have been and shall be, even according to the words which he spake.
When Jesus visited the American continent, He made frequent reference to the scriptures. He quoted from Old Testament prophets, including a full chapter from Isaiah and two full chapters from Malachi. He pointed out an important prophecy from Samuel the Lamanite that had not been recorded properly and commanded that it be written. And, in the passage above, He urged the people to search the scriptures diligently.
David A. Bednar gave the following description of what it means to search the scriptures:
In my judgment, diligently searching to discover connections, patterns, and themes is in part what it means to “feast” upon the words of Christ. This approach can open the floodgates of the spiritual reservoir, enlighten our understanding through His Spirit, and produce a depth of gratitude for the holy scriptures and a degree of spiritual commitment that can be received in no other way. Such searching enables us to build upon the rock of our Redeemer and to withstand the winds of wickedness in these latter days (“A Reservoir of Living Water,” BYU Speeches, Feb 4, 2007).
Today, I will spend a little more time searching the scriptures. I will look for connections, patterns, and themes as Elder Bednar counseled. I will search diligently knowing that the scriptures can bring the Spirit of the Lord into my life and can deepen my conversion to the gospel.
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