Searching

When Lehi received the brass plates which his sons had sacrificed so much to obtain, “he did search them from the beginning” (1 Nephi 5:10). What was he looking for? He identified the structure and content of the writings. He discovered a genealogy of his ancestors. He generally concluded that “they were desirable; yea, even of great worth unto us” (1 Nephi 5:21). It doesn’t sound like he was looking for something in particular, except to understand why this book was so important.

Jacob tells us that he and his people searched the prophets, which helped them develop faith and hope. (See Jacob 4:6.) King Benjamin urged his sons to search the scriptures diligently in order to “profit thereby” (Mosiah 1:7). Alma instructed the Zoramites to search the scriptures in order to correct a fallacy in their belief. (See Alma 33:2.) And Mormon encouraged his future readers to search the scriptures in order to recognize the fulfillment of specific prophecies. (See 3 Nephi 10:14.)

On the second day of the Savior’s ministry in the Americas, He gave the following admonition as He prepared to share some of Isaiah’s prophecies: “Behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them” (3 Nephi 20:11). After commenting on those prophecies and quoting an entire chapter, He repeated that counsel:

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.

3 Nephi 23:1

And He didn’t limit this admonition to Isaiah. Shortly after, He added, “Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things” (3 Nephi 23:5).

When we use the word “search,” we usually mean that we are looking for something. Many of these passages use the word in a more general sense. We may approach our study of the scriptures by seeking answers to specific questions or challenges, but we may also bring a more general spirit of inquiry, with questions like, “What is this prophet trying to communicate?” or “What message does God have for me today?”

Our searching can take a variety of forms and have a variety of purposes:

• Like Lehi, we may simply want to explore.
• Like Jacob, we may look for passages which bolster our faith.
• Like Alma, we may read carefully to correct misconceptions.
• Like Mormon, we may discover connections, including prophecies fulfilled.

Today, I will search the words of prophets in order to find the treasures of truth embedded in them. I will examine their words conscientiously and carefully and will ask myself what they meant to communicate and what their messages mean for me.