A few years back, President Henry B. Eyring gave a talk about a scripture study method he had used in the past. It was basically to read one verse (or two) a day and ponder it. He said that he gained so many new insights from taking his study very, very slowly. I decided that day that I would try that out.
It has been years now and I decided to pick up where I had been reading in the Book of Mormon with chapters at a time (and inconsistently). I can't say when I started (perhaps three or four years ago), but I began at 2nd Nephi chapter 10 and I am just now at approaching Alma chapter 27. As you can see, it is slow going!
As predicted, there have been many insights and there is one today. I don't know if I will blog about this every day, but perhaps this will contribute to more regular posts. It is from Alma 26:29 (a rather long verse) which talks about two subjects: How to spread the gospel and what reception you can expect to receive.
And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their asynagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been bstoned, and taken and bound with cstrong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.
So, in homes, on the streets, on hills (find me one around here), and in their temples and synagogues are potential places to teach people about the gospel. Lately, it is a lot of Facebook and Twitter. The medium is not that important - it is the spreading of the message.
Now, it goes into what you should expect to receive: stoning, chains (in a modern analogue), prison. It doesn't sound pleasant, but for Aaron and his brethren (who are being spoken of here) it may have been a preparation to enjoy the numerous conversions that came later through his teaching of Lamoni's father, who was a powerful king.
The final statement, the delivery from these trials by the power and wisdom of God, is the reward for persevering in preaching. It isn't that you won't have problems, but that you will endure them and enjoy the joy of watching a soul come closer to God through your efforts. I have had that a few times, but not nearly often enough.
So, the thought for today is to do more in that thing we call missionary work though it might not be pleasant sometimes.
