A Living Guide to Life

Hey. This is Ryan. I've bragged before on the group of men and boys with whom I work at church. They are a great bunch of guys and our class time seems better than anything I've been a part of before. After some confusion, though, I realized no one had prepared the lesson so I had to improvise. It turned out to be one of the better ones I've taught, if I do say so myself.

I've been trying to write any thoughts or inspirational epiphanies I've had while at church due to the fact I'm mostly concentrating on calculating the volume of Life cereal my children have ground into the chapel carpet. I figure if I can come out of the three-hour block with just one good spiritual "a ha" moment, then I've succeeded in feeling the Spirit.

Today's lesson was entitled, "Scripture Study," so instead of stumbling through the manual and reading different stories, I came up with the idea to have the men and boys go through their scriptures and find their favorite. Then, when they had found their scripture, they wrote it on the chalkboard. I called on each person to read their scripture aloud and comment why they liked it. I also asked under what circumstances this scripture became their favorite. It went pretty well. Here's what I learned:

1. Men tend to have favorite scriptures that talk about strength or advice on how to be "men." The majority of the scriptures dealt with being examples, understanding their fellow men and making weak things strong if they humble themselves before the Lord.

2. The scriptures are personal. No two boys or men had the same favorite scripture. No one even claimed that the other boy had "stolen" theirs. I supposed that because all of our backgrounds and experiences varied, the lessons learned from the scriptures varied as well. The boys and men truly "liken the scriptures" and derive personal meaning, which is the truest form of scripture study.

3. They all had a scripture by which they felt the Spirit at one point in their lives. I mean, if the Holy Spirit testified that the words could help them in their lives, they had to believe it was true at one point. Isn't the Holy Ghost the testifier of truth? Then, ergo, if that one verse is true, so is the one after it, and the one after that, etc. The scriptures are true words of God and they know it.

4. Finally, not one of the boys were afraid to get up, read and then share their feelings in front of the class. That means the scriptures unify the hearts of men. They are truly brothers in the gospel and their lack of fear proved it.

Just some things to ponder this Sunday afternoon. I want to know your favorite scripture. I'll go first: Ether 12:27 ... "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

I love this scripture because I know Heavenly Father will help us be strong only when we admit and show Him we are ready for Him to make us that way. I was having a hard time on my mission; I was prideful and it impeded my progress. This scripture hit me pretty hard and I prayed to be humble. Oh boy. Never pray to be humbled. Anyway, I feel like my mission shaped my life only because I allowed Heavenly Father to mold me.

So, have you a favorite scripture? What is it, why is it your favorite and what were the circumstances by which it became your favorite? Post here. I'd be interested to know how you liken the scriptures unto yourself.