2
Ne 4:15 The importance of pondering the scriptures
It
is often while pondering that the Spirit speaks to us. Joseph F. Smith was
pondering over the scriptures when he was shown his vision of the spirit world
(DC 138:1). Nephi was pondering as he walked home when he heard a voice telling
him, Blessed art thou, Nephi, for those things which
thou hast done (Hel 10:2-4). Moroni gives us a pattern for pondering. He
suggests we 1) read the scriptures, 2) remember God's mercy and dealings with
the children of men, and 3) ponder it in our hearts. Moroni 10:3 reads, Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these
things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them that ye would remember
how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of
Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it
in you hearts. If we do this, we will have the truth manifested to us by
the power of the Holy Ghost. This promise is not limited to determining the
truthfulness of the Book of Mormon; it applies to all things (Moroni 10:5).
¡°Who
can assess the value of pondering, the impact of a righteous soul meditating
upon the eternal word? Who can measure
the worth of careful and deep reflection upon the things of God? ¡®The things of God are of deep import,¡¯
Joseph Smith wrote from the Liberty Jail, ¡®and time, and experience, and
careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out¡¯ (Teachings,
p. 137). Some of the greatest
revelations of all time have come as a direct result of pondering¡¦.
¡°Pondering
and meditation are forms of sacred devotion, quiet and effective moments of prayer
by which man draws near to the infinite and is made a partaker of the things of
God. In regard to savoring the words of
holy writ, Nephi exulted: ¡®My soul delighteth in the
scriptures, and my heart pondereth them.... Behold, my soul delighteth in the
things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I
have seen and heard.¡¯¡± (2 Nephi 4:15-16.) (McConkie and Millet, Doctrinal
Commentary on the Book of Mormon, vol. 1, p. 75)
There
is a reason why scriptures require more than a casual reading. They are filled
with truths of eternal importance, often packed so closely together, that you
can¡¯t get all the meaning on the first pass. This principle is beautifully
taught in the following passage:
¡°We
might ask why the scriptures have to be pondered to be understood and
appreciated. After all, we don¡¯t need to ponder newspapers or magazines. We
understand them at a first reading. What makes the scriptures different?