Today’s Reading: 3 Nephi 17:1-12
2 I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.
3 Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again.
“Teachings of the Living Prophets.”
The course title nearly jumped off the page of the BYU Catalog. I’d found it! A class that would fulfill my religion requirement without adding to my already heavy reading load as an English major. Despite my motives, that class instilled a love of General Conference that has stuck with me ever since.
As I studied and learned about the role and the lives of our modern-day prophets (the entire First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve), I felt my appreciation for them grow. The Spirit whispered to me that these were indeed men of God who were called to speak for the Savior Himself. And then, as I made my way through the most recent General Conference issue of the Ensign, underlining and taking notes on every single talk, I felt my testimony growing even stronger. I was not just reviewing the words of General Conference; I was actually having a spiritual experience with them! I continue to re-read and annotate Ensign articles ever since and even coaxed a friend to make a “Mom’s Liahona” where I could share my favorite General Conference quotes with my family.
I thought about that class recently as I read 3 Nephi 17 again. In this chapter, we read about one of the greatest General Conferences ever assembled, one in which the people surrounded the temple in ancient Bountiful and listened to exactly one speaker: Jesus Christ himself! And oh what a message He delivered! Yet, at the end of the first day of teaching, the Savior sensed that they weren’t capturing everything He said. He directed them to return to their homes to ponder on what He had taught them, to pray for understanding, and to prepare their minds for future teaching.
Ponder, pray, and prepare. This is a pattern we can all follow to get the most out of our study—not only of General Conference talks but of all the scriptures. We must go beyond casual reading to real prayerful, Spirit-filled studying of His holy words. I love what Elder Marvin J. Ashton taught:
Pondering is a powerful link between the heart and the mind. As we read the scriptures, our hearts and minds are touched. If we use the gift to ponder, we can take these eternal truths and realize how we can incorporate them into our daily actions.[1]
And a more recent reminder from Pres. Henry B. Eyring:
. . . [R]eading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit.[2]
Let us all slow down and take time to ponder the words of our loving Savior.
I am a daughter of God who loves me. I am also a wife, mother, sister, and friend. After moving around the country for the first 32 years of my life, I happily settled in Orem, Utah, where I find myself surrounded by beautiful mountains, amazing friends, and awe-inspiring temples. I love to read, hike, bike, and study and teach the word of God.
OH! I LOVE the Mom’s Liahona!! Very clever. I listen to conference many times over as I clean my home over the following 6 months. I probably should sit down with a hi-liter and pen though….