The World's Greatest Treasure Does Not Lie in Gold or Diamond Mines

Everyday Elder Shipley and I open up the greatest treasure we have...our scriptures. Our Scriptures let us 'Come Unto Him'. As we read His words we come to know His Ways, what He expects of us, and how to love others. We learn from the past....things to avoid, what to treasure, why civilizations were destroyed, the importance of prophets, the tyranny of men who seek power and riches, the Oneness of God, the protection of the righteous...and the list could go on and on. Elder Shipley and I are reading in Acts together. I am reading in the Book of Mormon by myself, and he is reading the Doctrine and Covenants. All scripture enlightens the mind and brings the peace only God can give.


President Hinckley said "Portions of the Book of Mormon appear like a vision to lighten a burdened heart." I'm sure he would extend that comment to the Bible as well.

These are the reasons he, a Prophet of God, gave for reading the scriptures.

1. We learn of Jesus Christ:

"We need to do more reading in the scriptures and more dwelling on the Lord Jesus Christ. He must become the foundation of all that we know about the gospel. We must grow in our hearts and our minds and in our very souls a knowledge and conviction of the Son of God and of His atoning sacrifice for each of us."

2. They are a source of divine wisdom:

"The truest source of divine wisdom is the word of the Lord in these sacred volumes, the standard works of the Church. Here is found the doctrine to which we must hold fast if this work is to roll forth to its divinely charted destiny."

3. Scriptures help draw us nearer to God:

"As you read of the life and teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, you will draw closer to Him who is the author of our salvation."

4. Scriptures contain eternal truths"

"You may think you are too busy. Ten or fifteen minutes a day with the scriptures, and particularly with the Book of Mormon, can give you marvelous understanding of the great eternal truths which have been preserved by the power of the Almighty of the blessing of His children."

5. We and our children will be blessed.

" We can read scriptures, ponder their meaning and develop familiarity with them for our everlasting blessing. We can do so in our family home evenings, and as we do there will grow within our children a love for the Lord and His holy word."

6. Scriptures will help us in our daily lives.

"The more we read....the more we can establish a pattern by which to guide our own lives. The principles which are set forth in the scriptures become principles which can make for happiness and understanding, lofty ideals by which to guide our lives, and the faith by which to move through the problems which we will inevitably confront as we go forward with our lives.

7. You will learn to love the scriptures.

We truly love the scriptures. I cannot imagine living without them. Their words bring us close to God. All: The Bible, The Book of Mormon, The Doctrine and Covenants, and the Pearl of Great Price are great treasures to us: Treasures worth more than gold or diamonds.