Scripture Knowledge from our Heads to our Hearts

Do you ever feel at times that your personal study has become routine? One of the keys in receiving personal revelation and inspiration through personal scripture study is pondering what we study. Pondering is defined as to give careful and often lengthy thought or consideration quietly, soberly, and deeply. This type of effort is what takes the scripture knowledge from our head to our heart. Our hearts begin to open to the Spirit of revelation and inspiration as we act. This is the same process that our investigators experience as they begin the feel the workings of the Spirit in their hearts as they take action to keep commitments.

In Moroni 10:3 we read the following:
“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 your hearts.”

In his recent general conference address entitled “Serve with the Spirit,” President Henry B. Eyring shared with us the importance of pondering:

“Our humility and our faith that invite spiritual gifts are increased by our reading, studying, and pondering the scriptures. We have all heard those words. Yet we may read a few lines or pages of scripture every day and hope that will be enough.

But reading, studying, and pondering are not the same. We read words and we may get ideas. We study and we may discover patterns and connections in scripture. But when we ponder, we invite revelation by the Spirit. Pondering, to me, is the thinking and the praying I do after reading and studying in the scriptures carefully.”

Nephi provides a wonderful example of the importance of pondering:

“For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat pondering in mine heart I was caught away in the Spirit of the Lord…” (1 Nephi 11:1).

The Savior taught the importance of pondering:
“Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand, and prepare your minds for the morrow, and I come unto you again” (3 Nephi 17:3).

Let us take time to ponder and pray about the things that we that we read and study so that we may be greater instruments in the hands of the Lord. As greater disciples of Him, we will be able to truly magnify our calling to bring many souls to a knowledge of the restored gospel by exercising faith in Christ and His Atonement, repenting, being baptized by water and the Spirit and receiving the blessings of all who are His faithful followers.