5 steps to more Edifying and Effective Learning : By Daniel Wisnom

In the April 2006 New Era, Elder David A Bednar gives a talk entitled “Because we have them before our eyes”. After explaining why the scriptures are so important today, he enlightens us on how to learn from our scriptures. He promises that as we study with a simple five-step program, our learning will become more edifying and effective. His five-step program includes:
1. Pray for understanding, and invite the help of the Holy Ghost
2. Work
3. Be consistent
4. Ponder
5. Write down impressions, thoughts, and feelings
In preparation for this blog, I followed Elder Bednar’s simple plan since the first day of class and it is because of this that I have gained a greater understanding of the scriptures and an increased testimony that I know will keep growing. I was truly edified and I felt that my scripture was reading, “became scripture feasting”. I would like to share my experiences with you on what I learned as well as why this plan is so effective.

PRINCIPLE ONE-PRAY FOR UNDERSTANDING
The things of the Spirit can be learned only by and through the influence of the Spirit. Each time we begin a session of sincere scripture study, an earnest and humble prayer in which we petition our Heavenly Father in the name of His Son for the assistance of the Holy Ghost will greatly improve our learning, understanding, and recall. It is helpful to pray not only at the beginning, but to plead for understanding as you study. Also, I find it helpful to express gratitude for what I have been taught as I conclude the session.[1]

This principle is so important to me because there have been many times where I just open the book without prayer and without asking Heavenly Father for help to interpret what I am reading. Scripture study without prayer seems kind of pointless. Sometimes I feel like I am reading a foreign language, and after my reading is done, I don’t remember what I have read or what I have just learned. This past month though, when I would get down on my knees and ask the Lord to open my heart and to gain an understanding of the things I was reading, it was like I was reading a picture book. Everything I read became so clear to me and it was amazing how a simple little thing like prayer could change my level of understanding. It is similar to Moroni’s promise in Moroni 10:3-5:
3. …if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them…by the power of the Holy Ghost ye man know the truth of all things.[4]
It was nice to pray after I finished reading too because I was able to thank my Father in Heaven for what I had learned and that I could be taught by His Spirit”.

PRINCIPLE TWO-WORK
Gospel knowledge and understanding come through diligent study of the scriptures and tutoring by the Holy Ghost. The combination that opens the vault door to hidden scriptural treasures includes a great deal of work—simple, old-fashioned, hard work. A farmer cannot expect to harvest a crop in the fall if he does not properly sow in the spring and work hard during the summer to weed, nourish, and cultivate the plants. In like manner, we cannot expect to reap a rich scriptural harvest unless we pay the price of regular and diligent study. The scriptural treasures we seek in our lives cannot be borrowed or loaned or obtained secondhand. We must each learn to open the vault door by applying the principle of work.[1]

What Elder Bednar states here is so true. If we aren’t consistently feasting upon the scriptures, it becomes harder to become edified by these holy books. I remember a time where I hadn’t picked up my scriptures for a long time, and I just wanted to know if they were true or not. So of course, to solve my problem I picked up the Book of Mormon, and read for a few minutes, and then I expected to just instantly know if this book was of God or not. Obviously, I wasn’t putting any effort or work into my plead. I was doing what Moroni warns us against in the seventh verse of chapter 6 if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such[5]. Whereas this week after putting in the work to read each and every night and praying for a surety of these things, it was known unto me that these things are true and that they are sacred and as I learned Mission Prep, scriptures are the most effective tool in conversion. And what a true statement that is. I can honestly say that I have become converted not only to the scriptures but to this 5-step program as well. After constant studying and tutoring this week, I know that if I continue to work and continue this habit that great things will be opened unto me which will increase my knowledge and allow me to be a better missionary.

PRINCIPLE THREE-BE CONSISTENT
Given the hectic pace of our lives, good intentions and simply “hoping” to find the time for meaningful scripture study are not sufficient. My experience suggests that a specific and scheduled time set aside each day and, as much as possible, a particular place for study greatly increase the effectiveness of our searching in and study of the scriptures.[1]

It was so much easier to read when I would read before I went to bed in the chair in the corner of my room. I could focus and I wasn’t worried about going to sleep. This principle is probably the most simple, but it’s just as effective as the others. I learned that when you designate a certain place and time to studying your scriptures, you are not distracted by other activities around you. You get lost instantly in this book and you never want to put it down.

PRINCIPLE FOUR-PONDER
The word ponder means to consider, contemplate, reflect upon, or think about. Pondering the scriptures, then, is reverent reflecting on the truths, experiences, and lessons contained in the standard works. The process of pondering takes time and cannot be forced, hurried, or rushed.
President Ezra Taft Benson emphasized an approach to studying and pondering the holy scriptures in general and the Book of Mormon in particular[1]:
“If [the Book of Mormon writers] saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us, is not that how we should study the Book of Mormon? We should constantly ask ourselves, ‘Why did the Lord inspire Mormon (or Moroni or Alma) to include that in his record? What lesson can I learn from that to help me live in this day and age?”.[2]

President Benson’s teaching helps us to follow the counsel of Nephi in 19:23 to “liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning [6]”. Thus, asking questions about and pondering the things we have studied in the scriptures invite inspiration and the assistance of the Holy Ghost. I like what President Benson says here. He says as you are reading, try to figure out what lesson we can learn to help us live in this day and age. Before this class, I would just read and insert my name in scriptures. “I Daniel having been born of goodly parent”….I thought that, that is what likening the scriptures meant. But this week as I would search the book for guidance in today’s world, it was neat, and so simple, to learn and understand the lessons that Nephi, or King Benjamin, or Mormon was trying to teach me. As I applied this step in my scripture study, pondering is what took up most of my day. I would think about the lessons I had learned and the experiences I had had and am going to have. I would be at work and could really only think about the principles and truths I had just learned about. It was an amazing feeling and an amazing change. If I felt this way in only a few weeks I can only imagine what my thoughts and impressions would be after months or years.



PRINCIPLE FIVE-WRITE DOWN IMPRESSIONS
Apostles frequently have emphasized the importance of writing down spiritual impressions and thoughts. Richard G. Scott said,“You will find that as you write down precious impressions, often more will come. Also, the knowledge you gain will be available throughout your life. Always, day or night, wherever you are, whatever you are doing, seek to recognize and respond to the direction of the Spirit. Express gratitude for the help received and obey it. This practice will reinforce your capacity to learn by the Spirit. It will permit the Lord to guide your life and to enrich the use of every other capacity latent in your being.”[3]
Elder Ballard continues by saying, “Writing down what we learn, think, and feel as we study the scriptures is another form of pondering and a powerful invitation to the Holy Ghost for continuing instruction”.[1]


One of the most powerful things I have ever experienced in my short life is reading my testimony as time passes by. I remember after being on a spiritual high after EFY, I wrote down my thoughts and feelings and testimony in my little journal and now if I ever need to be lifted up or strengthened, I turn to that 14 year old testimony. At the time, it seemed really silly to write down my thoughts and my testimony. I never knew how powerful such a little thing could be in my life years later. I think that this principle is sort of the same thing. If we do write down our thoughts and impressions we will be able to turn them for understanding and we will remember how the spirit touched us in a particular way just at the authors of the Book of Mormon did. King Benjamin says it the best in Chapter 1 of Mosiah in verses 5-7. He says “I say unto you, my sons, were it not for these things [the scriptures], which have been kept and preserved by the hand of God, that we might read and understand of his mysteries, and have his commandments always before our eyes, that even our fathers would have dwindled in unbelief. … “O my sons, I would that ye should remember that these sayings are true, and also that these records are true … ; and we can know of their surety because we have them before our eyes. “And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby; and I would that ye should keep the commandments of God, that ye may prosper in the land according to the promises which the Lord made unto our fathers [7]”. I can see how recording our impressions can be so important and I am looking forward to reading my thoughts that I documented these past weeks later on down the road.
These five steps have increased my knowledge and understanding and have allowed me to learn much more than I have in all my time reading the scriptures before this new step in my life. And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning[6]. Let’s all follow this counsel in 1Nephi 19:23; that we will strengthen our belief in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and through him we will profit and learn!

[1] David A. Bednar, “Because We Have Them before Our Eyes,” Liahona, Apr 2006, 16–21
[2] Ezra Taft Benson, “The Keystone of Our Religion,” Ensign, Jan 1992, 2

[3] Richard G. Scott, “To Acquire Knowledge and the Strength to Use It Wisely,” Ensign, Jun 2002, 32
[4]Moroni 10:3-5
[5]Moroni 6:7
[6]1 Nephi 19:23
[7]Mosiah 1:5-7