If No One Told You to Read the Scriptures… Would You?

Why the WHY matters

In his talk My Love for My Savior Is My Why, Elder Ricardo P. Giménez explains how knowing why we do certain things can deepen our experience with them.

“When you set a goal to read the scriptures, offer sincere prayers, or prepare an activity for your family or ward, is the real goal simply to accomplish these tasks? Or are these actions the means—the tools at your disposal—to achieve the true goal?
Is the purpose merely to hold an activity because we’ve done it for many years, and then check the box that we’ve completed it? Or, once again, are these the means we use to learn, to feel, and to connect with the Savior?
Please don’t misunderstand my point about having activities and traditions or setting goals and working hard to achieve them; there is nothing wrong with that. However, I invite you to open your hearts and minds to the opportunity and blessing of understanding why we do these things and how we practice our religion.”

I was once given a priesthood blessing that counseled me to read the scriptures because I wanted to—not just because I was told to.
Well, guess what happened? I stopped reading them.

Eventually, I realized that even if I was reading only because someone told me to, it was still better than not reading at all.
Don’t get me wrong—I do like reading the scriptures. But sometimes, it’s easier to read out of guilt or the desire to please someone else than it is to read out of pure desire and devotion.

After reading Elder Giménez’s talk, a question came to mind:
If no one ever told me to read the scriptures, would I still want to?

I think the answer is yes, and it’s because the scriptures contain the words of eternal life.
They help me wrestle with the questions and concerns that weigh on my heart.
But most importantly, they help me build my relationship with my Savior, Jesus Christ. My most prized relationship. The relationship that came at the greatest cost and is the greatest gift in my life.

When I remember why I read the scriptures, I’m not just completing a task.
It feels like I’m being “Taught from on High”. I’ve been thinking about this painting concept for a while. I started it a few times. And while this one is more of a sketch, I hope to make it in oil paint next time with a more finished quality.

I really recommend reading the full talk. You can find it [HERE].

Thank you everyone for coming on this journey with me!

Rachel Buckner Art