One of the greatest revelations of the past 100 or so years is the revelation we have today as Doctrine and Covenants 138. Note what President Joseph F. Smith was doing that led to him receiving the revelation. We read,
“On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures; And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world…” (Doctrine and Covenants 138:1-2).
I don’t know about you, but sometimes in my scripture I tend to be a little bit, “go, go, go.” I’m trying to finish a chapter or find a new insight. It’s strange to say it out loud, but for me, sometimes stopping to ponder almost feels wrong…like I should be doing something with the scriptures besides just thinking about them.
One great lesson was can learn from Doctrine and Covenants 138 is that stopping to ponder the scriptures is doing something with them. Taking the time to ponder and reflect is important.
Consider these scriptural passages:
- “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night” (Joshua 1:8)
- “Receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts” (Moroni 10:3)
- “While we meditated upon these things, the Lord touched the eyes of our understandings” (Doctrine and Covenants 76:19).
- “I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts” (Doctrine and Covenants 88:62)
It’s clear that we can benefit spiritually by taking time to ponder. That makes me think of Joseph Smith repeatedly reflecting on James 1:5.
But what if this
Were replaced by this:
Would we have missed the scriptural spark of the Restoration had a teenage boy been distracted by technology? What other spiritual impressions might we miss if we do not, as Elder M. Russell Ballard said, “choose to simply shut things off and be still and know of the things of God”? Sister Michelle D. Craig taught, “If God speaks in a still, small voice, you and I need to draw close to hear Him. Just imagine what would happen if we were as intent on staying connected with heaven as we are on staying connected to Wi-Fi!”
You and I might not receive a revelation that becomes canonized in the Doctrine and Covenants, but as we take the time to ponder the scriptures we read, we will receive the revelation we need.
