Lost and Found

Sometime ago I found myself in the ward library on a regular basis. And during my visits, I observed a number of scriptures left in “Lost and Found.”

Due to curiosity, I found myself sifting through the large pile - checking the names to see if I knew the owners of any of them.

Sadly, as the months went on I noticed that none of the scriptures were claimed. Instead, more scriptures were being added to the “Lost, Not Found” pile.

At first I was shocked to think that there would be members of the Church who would NOT miss their scriptures. After all, if they read their scriptures on a regular, daily basis, wouldn’t they be looking frantically for them?

But as the pile continued to grow, my shock turned to sadness and I began to understand why Nephi shed tears when he wrote, “There are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as naught”(2 Nephi 33:2).

There, in that little ward library, the word of God had literally been left behind. Forgotten. Unread.

Personally, the scriptures have provided me with more inspiration and guidance than from any other source. Personal revelation has come whether I have chosen to study by topic, by lesson or in sequential order. Through my daily study, I have been taught, comforted, chastised, converted, healed, and forgiven.

I am a witness that the daily study of scriptures will define who we are. For the careful study of it will strengthen marriages, build moral character, give understanding to trials, protect us from the power of the destroyer, expound truth and clarify error, increase faith, and humble hearts to repentance.

As I completed reading the Book of Mormon a few weeks ago, these words of absolute certainty written by Moroni served as reminder for me to remain ever diligent in my study of the gospel. Moroni warns: “Behold I speak to you as though I spake from the dead; for I know that ye shall have my words” (Mormon 9:30). “For ye shall see me at the bar of God; and the Lord God will say unto you: Did I not declare my words unto you, which were written by this man? . . . And God shall show unto you, that that which I have written is true” (Moroni 10:27; 29).

I am a witness that the promises the Lord and his prophets have made in regard to daily study of the scriptures – individually and as a family – are true! They have blessed me one hundred fold.

I also know that feasting upon the word of God will prevent our scriptures, and our testimony for that matter, from ending up in a pile marked “Lost and Found.”

I believe we will not be lost as we find ourselves in the scriptures.