VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 What are your main reasons for reading the scriptures? I read because I'm supposed to read. I've always hated reading because of my learning disorder but I've enjoyed scripture reading recently. I just feel bad because the main reason I read is because I feel as a Mormon I'm just supposed to.
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 OK that's a lie, I don't really enjoy reading them, I just try and force myself to enjoy the process. It's a Jedi mind trick to play on yourself. Yet there are actually people who love reading them. I just feel obligated to read them because prophets of the past went through so much to produce them that it forces you to want to indulge in them.
Rain Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 For most of my life I read them because when I did I would find answers to my prayers better outside of the scriptures than when I didn't read. The last couple of years I have found answers within the scriptures. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Rain said: For most of my life I read them because when I did I would find answers to my prayers better outside of the scriptures than when I didn't read. The last couple of years I have found answers within the scriptures. I wish that was me. I usually find more confusion and some heartache. One time it got so bad that my very extreme Mormon mom told me not to read the scriptures for a month. Edited February 20, 2016 by VideoGameJunkie
Rain Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Well, it was 45 years before it started happening for me. Before then, reading the scriptures helped me have the Spirit more which helped me find answers elsewhere. Perhaps you could change some things up in your reading. Read the scripture reader as you read the scriptures. Listen to them being read as you read or even just lite to them. Choose an amount of time to read rather than an amount of verses, chapters or pages - that way you won't feel you have to hurry , but can spend time on just a small bit. Read or listen to conference talks occasional. Read through a new copy and underline things that have to do with a topic you choose like faith, love, knowledge etc. Just change something up and see if that works for you. If not then do something different. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 5 minutes ago, Rain said: Well, it was 45 years before it started happening for me. Before then, reading the scriptures helped me have the Spirit more which helped me find answers elsewhere. Perhaps you could change some things up in your reading. Read the scripture reader as you read the scriptures. Listen to them being read as you read or even just lite to them. Choose an amount of time to read rather than an amount of verses, chapters or pages - that way you won't feel you have to hurry , but can spend time on just a small bit. Read or listen to conference talks occasional. Read through a new copy and underline things that have to do with a topic you choose like faith, love, knowledge etc. Just change something up and see if that works for you. If not then do something different. Ya I have to avoid the Old Testament. When I read it there are parts that I feel aren't from God or just stir up anxiety and depression in me. Lots of scriptures through all books bring out anxiety in me. It's the content that affects me negatively not how I read it. Ithe still comes across the same way.
The Nehor Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I read an average of five or more books a week and I still have trouble fitting in scriptures at times. Someone hates when I read them.
Doctrine 612 Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I read them because I love the spirit and I know when I read them it helps me understand my prayers.
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 1 minute ago, Doctrine 612 said: I read them because I love the spirit and I know when I read them it helps me understand my prayers. I feel the spirit more listening to good music or watching a powerful movie scene than I ever got from reading the scriptures.
Doctrine 612 Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 14 minutes ago, VideoGameJunkie said: I feel the spirit more listening to good music or watching a powerful movie scene than I ever got from reading the scriptures. When I say the spirit I really mean the spirit of answers, I love the answers I receive from the lord. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 Is reading the scriptures a commandment? It feels at least like an unofficial one if it isn't a real commandment.
Duncan Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I remember watching this in 1996 and has been with me ever since, hope you enjoy it! 1
Doctrine 612 Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 1 hour ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Is reading the scriptures a commandment? It feels at least like an unofficial one if it isn't a real commandment. And fthese words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 gYou shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. de. 6:4-7
Doctrine 612 Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 20 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.
Garden Girl Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 3 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: I wish that was me. I usually find more confusion and some heartache. One time it got so bad that my very extreme Mormon mom told me not to read the scriptures for a month. Hello VGJ... I read the scriptures for various reasons, depending on circumstances... sometimes for knowledge... sometimes for comfort (that's my favorite... comfort)... sometimes in support of an upcoming lesson etc. Today, I was feeling thankful for some blessings I felt had been given to me and it reminded me of a scripture but I couldn't remember where it was located... So I went to the Topical Guide and looked up a "keyword" I knew was in the scripture.... Promise.... So I looked under "promise" and found the scripture I wanted... D&C 82:10... "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." This "promise" is found throughout the scriptures, and is very comforting to me... I suggest you use the Topical Guide to find scriptures that will give you hope and comfort... in fact, look up "Promise" and read all the scriptures about the Lord's promise to us... try it... GG 2
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 24 minutes ago, Garden Girl said: Hello VGJ... I read the scriptures for various reasons, depending on circumstances... sometimes for knowledge... sometimes for comfort (that's my favorite... comfort)... sometimes in support of an upcoming lesson etc. Today, I was feeling thankful for some blessings I felt had been given to me and it reminded me of a scripture but I couldn't remember where it was located... So I went to the Topical Guide and looked up a "keyword" I knew was in the scripture.... Promise.... So I looked under "promise" and found the scripture I wanted... D&C 82:10... "I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise." This "promise" is found throughout the scriptures, and is very comforting to me... I suggest you use the Topical Guide to find scriptures that will give you hope and comfort... in fact, look up "Promise" and read all the scriptures about the Lord's promise to us... try it... GG Thanks I will. It's not so much the scriptures that give me anxiety. It's that I suffer from bad anxiety at night that doesn't affect me during the day, only at night, and night is when I usually read the scriptures. But anything when I'm like that gives me anxiety, like movies and even video games. If I read scriptures during the day time or afternoon, the verses that bug me don't bother me at all. For my anxiety it's all about the time of day and they usually coincide.
Jim Stiles Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 5 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: What are your main reasons for reading the scriptures? I read because I'm supposed to read. I've always hated reading because of my learning disorder but I've enjoyed scripture reading recently. I just feel bad because the main reason I read is because I feel as a Mormon I'm just supposed to. There are audio editions of the KJV Bible. I am certain there are audio editions for the other LDS scriptures as well. I had the KJV on cassette that I used to listen in my car, but I need to get a CD or MP3 edition for my present auto. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 22 minutes ago, Jim Stiles said: There are audio editions of the KJV Bible. I am certain there are audio editions for the other LDS scriptures as well. I had the KJV on cassette that I used to listen in my car, but I need to get a CD or MP3 edition for my present auto. Then I need to get a CD player. I haven't had one since 2007 haha. 1
deli_llama Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 I read the scriptures to grow closer to Christ, with the added bonus that the Book of Mormon is a great guide and instructions for the Endowment. It always quenches a thirst. 43 minutes ago, Jim Stiles said: There are audio editions of the KJV Bible. I am certain there are audio editions for the other LDS scriptures as well. I had the KJV on cassette that I used to listen in my car, but I need to get a CD or MP3 edition for my present auto. All of the standard works are available in digital audio, MP3 and MB4 I think, on LDS.org. There are links in the scripture section. They also have ebook versions. You can also listen right from the Gospel Library app. 2
Rain Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 8 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Thanks I will. It's not so much the scriptures that give me anxiety. It's that I suffer from bad anxiety at night that doesn't affect me during the day, only at night, and night is when I usually read the scriptures. But anything when I'm like that gives me anxiety, like movies and even video games. If I read scriptures during the day time or afternoon, the verses that bug me don't bother me at all. For my anxiety it's all about the time of day and they usually coincide. Like I mentioned then, change things up. Read them in the morn or mid day or any time that it is not night. You mentioned not having a CD player. Do you have an MP3 player or smart phone? If so then you can listen on them. You could also listen on your computer. Unfortuantely, I am unable to copy and paste the link right now, but if you do a search for "lds audio scriptures" then one of the first few results will take you to the link. To go along with what GG said about promises. You have your agency. You can try to find reasons not to read the scriptures. You can look at all the reasons not to. Or you can look at the blessings promised for doing it. Talk to Heavenly Father about your struggles doing it. Ask him for help in desiring it. Then look for methods that help you. Everyone has different methods. I read in the morning because my day goes better and if I don't then I either forget or am so tired in the evening it won't be much good. My husband reads at night because it eases his anxiety from the day and he has a hard time waking up. What I'm saying is some people look for reasons to stop and make excuses of why they can't. Others actively look for ways that will help them personally till they find what works and sometimes that will take a bit of changing things up to find what works. Take a long look at yourself to find what isn't working and then pray about a change over it. 2
Meadowchik Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 8 hours ago, VideoGameJunkie said: Then I need to get a CD player. I haven't had one since 2007 haha. Do it! Or there may be downloadable one's. I think I've seen audio scriptures in YouTube, even.
Rain Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 (edited) 13 hours ago, Duncan said: I remember watching this in 1996 and has been with me ever since, hope you enjoy it! Excellent source! I am about halfway through it and will have to come back later and listen to the rest, but I already have a lot of ideas from it. I think I will also teach some things from it to my family tomorrow. Love his list of reasons/scriptures to read the scriptures. Going to study those scriptures today: Joshua 1:8 Psalms 119:105 1 Nephi 15:28 2 Nephi 32:3 Jacob 2:8 Alma 31:5 Helaman 3:29-30 Edited February 20, 2016 by Rain 2
Calm Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 Is there someone you could read your scriptures with? So that if you start going into anxiety mode with them, they can help steer the process to positive things? I would make a list and keep it in the front of your scriptures about verses that uplift you and always finish off any study with reading a few of them untill it breaks the cycle if possible. And definitely read them at a time that doesn't cause anxiety. Even if all you are reading is a few verses a day and feeling good about them, that is a workable study plan. The scriptures are made for man, not man for scripture. You find what works for you. I make sure I go and read scriptures posted here in context, sometimes the entire chapter, sometimes just a few ahead and a few below. On some days that is my own scripture study. It helps me to concentrate on them because I am reading them in a context of a discussion and then thinking about how they apply to that and then if I am focusing sufficiently, I will start reading more of those scriptures and think of what the greater context is trying to me. 1
Calm Posted February 20, 2016 Posted February 20, 2016 What do you do when you are anxious? Read the board perhaps? Does that make your anxiety worse or better? We could start a scripture chapter a day (or less for long chapters) in Social Hall for those of us who remember to visit the board, but might not remember to visit our scriptures quite so well. Would that be helpful for you? 2
VideoGameJunkie Posted February 20, 2016 Author Posted February 20, 2016 2 hours ago, Calm said: What do you do when you are anxious? Read the board perhaps? Does that make your anxiety worse or better? We could start a scripture chapter a day (or less for long chapters) in Social Hall for those of us who remember to visit the board, but might not remember to visit our scriptures quite so well. Would that be helpful for you? That might be helpful. When I start to get anxiety I go on YouTube and listen to relaxing music like video game soundtracks or smooth jazz or calming piano music. Good music always helps my moods.
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