Finding time in our busy schedules to have meaningful scripture study can be challenging. If you don't think you know how to study the scriptures, or if reading the scriptures is just checking something off your To-Do list, don't worry. This post will share some different ideas that may help you enjoy your study more!
Let me just start by saying that you might not be able to change your habits overnight. For some people, starting a new routine will be easy. For others, you may have a crazy day that ends with you reading one single verse of the Book of Mormon before falling asleep. That's okay too. Tomorrow, aim for two verses! Just keep going and keep trying to get better and you will find that improvement will come and it will be easier with time.
Now onto some tips and tricks for meaningful scripture study:
Find a time that works best for you
I know what you're thinking. "My day is just too busy! I don't have time to sit down and study!" Allow me to offer an alternative way of thinking:
For Busy Parents: If your day consists of driving your children to and from events all day long, listen to a chapter (or even a few verses) on your way to pick them up. Turn this travel time into valuable study time.
For Commuters: If you commute, whether on a bus, train, or car, consider listening to a Conference talk or a few chapters of the Book of Mormon. The Gospel Library app makes it easy to download these materials for offline use.
During Your Lunch Break: Use your lunch break to read a chapter from the Book of Mormon. Consider reading over scrolling through social media; you may find the spiritual uplift from the scriptures to be far more fulfilling.
At the Gym: If you go to the gym, consider listening to scriptures or a Conference talk during your workout. While you might not replace your favorite workout tunes, using a warm-up or cool-down period for spiritual nourishment can enhance your experience.
Buy the right supplies
I have multiple different sets of scriptures, and each of them is used for a different purpose. When I turned eight, my parent bought me my first set of scriptures with my name on it and everything. I don't use that one much anymore, but I used it in seminary in high school, so it has a lot of notes, handouts, journal pages, and stickers all over it. It also has my Personal Progress ribbons! It is very special to me, but it overwhelms me when I am just trying to study the scriptures.
I also have a journal edition of the Book of Mormon that my sister bought for me. I use that one for all of my personal study. It has more room for me to take notes and draw pictures without covering up the verses.
When my husband and I were dating, we decided we wanted to start reading the Book of Mormon together each night. Rather than using our phones or other sets of scriptures that we already had, we ran to Deseret Book and each purchased a Book of Mormon that we could start fresh on. Those ones are so special to be because they remind me of when we were first dating! We still use them as we study together now.
So buy a new Book of Mormon! There are so many options if you want them to be different. Deseret Book has everything from the original navy blue cover to journals and more, LDS Bookstore has colored and personalized scriptures, and there are so many others!
It also may be helpful to you to buy a specific set of pens or pencils to study with. I absolutely love my favorite pens that somehow make my study even better! They're nothing special, but that purple one especially just makes me happier when I get to write with it.
Try out new study techniques
Depending on what your daily schedule looks like, your study may look different. I am grateful to have time in my day to sit down and study the scriptures both by myself and with my husband. For us, we use one specific colored pencil to highlight the things that stick out to us as we are reading together, and when we're finished and we start over, we choose a new color. I created a small key in the back of my scriptures to show what year it was when we were reading and using each color. It is a wonderful way to see the difference in what sticks out to you depending on where you are in life and what journeys you may be on.
Something my husband loves to do is to study one specific topic at a time, and go through the Topics and Questions section of Gospel Library to find associated scriptures, Conference talks, and more. That is an awesome way to find answers to specific things that may be troubling you or that you just want to learn more about.
You can also find more Scripture Study Ideas in the Gospel Library app or on the Church's website.
You can do this! There are so many promised blessings that come from reading the scriptures. Elder Richard G. Scott said, "Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world." (The Power of Scripture)
Keep working hard to find the scripture study habits that work best for you. The blessings that the prophet has promised us if we read the Book of Mormon daily are beautiful.
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