Scripture Study Suggestions

It will soon be time to watch/listen to General Conference.  Because I let myself get behind with my goal of reading all of last October conference talks, I have had to read two talks a day to catch up before next Saturday.  I have no idea why I let other things get in the way of my scripture study (and I do consider these talks from the Ensign to be current scripture).  Anyway, what a joyful experience to feel the spirit while reading.  I like these suggestions from Jay Jensen as printed in the Church News.  They have made my study more meaningful.

1. Pray.  "Make prayer a part of scripture study.  Pause to ask God for His Sprit to teach you."

2. Pay the right price.  "Whether you study and search the scriptures chronologically, by themes, or topics, or a combination, pay the right price; study search, ponder, liken, feast upon, compare, analyze and synthesize."

3. Look for patterns, themes, connections. "The footnotes and other scripture study aids are to assist you."

4. Create outlines and write scripture insights.  "Going through the scriptures regularly is good, but to have the scriptures go through you and having them change you comes with a price."

5. Mark, annotate and write in your scriptures. "Two purposes...are to (1) capture revelations you receive as you study, and (2) retrieve or recall what you have learned.  In a way, well-marked scriptures are a portable revelatory filing system."

6. Teach what you learn.  "By this you will demonstrate if you have truly mastered a topic.  Until I am able to articulate what I am studying, I confess that I have not  yet mastered it."

In order not to get overwhelmed, someone once told me to consider conference talks to be like a delicious  buffet, to take from it what you need at the time, knowing that there is plenty for all. It has worked for me.

I Love to Blog

There are certainly dangers in using the internet, but I have found a new way to communicate with our adult children. It is not that we don’t have time to talk together, because they all live nearby and we do see each other often. But sometimes in the crunch of quick visits, it is not as easy to catch up on activities and some of the deep thinking going on within the family. Enter BLOGGING!
I now have my very own web page and can update it anytime I want. I became interested through some of our very computer literate children. Alyssa began the process of having a blog (short for web log) quite a while ago. There were attempts to get others to join in. I thought it sounded interesting but intimidating and put the idea on file for another time. I also had some concerns about privacy. Finally "another time" came when Heather gave us access to her chronicle as written on her web page. It was delightful and gave a glimpse into her life that I treasured. Then she offered to help as I set up my own. We began on the evening of October’s Priesthood conference. I drove to her apartment and, as I am a morning person, she began the computer work, asking my opinion every step of the way. I gave the page a name, she found a picture on the internet that was free and appropriate and then she began doing the steps to get it ready for me. Heather made her web page using HTML (which I really don’t understand yet) but did mine following an easy format. We just had to select from the options given. I guess I am good at copying because I chose to set up mine with her ideas as a template. It contains a profile of me, a section for a photo of the week, a list of what I am doing in various areas of my life right now and a thought to ponder. These can be changed at anytime. Then I have a main part on which I can post anything I want. Kimberly showed me how to get photos onto the page. One evening Heather came over to show me how to delete photos and change their position. I am waiting for new lessons from one of them on how to make links to other places of interest on the internet. I’m excited about this! I know the internet can be misused, but it is also another way to share thoughtfully, to bear testimony, to practice writing skills and to love.
For me, having a web page and being able to blog is a good thing!