I've had occasion lately to talk with people about the scriptures, somewhat more frequently than usual. I try to support my opinions with scripture at all times, which means I'm often saying, "Well in the scriptures it says this..." Sometimes whoever I'm talking with will quickly point out that this is just my own interpretation of the scripture, which is of course correct; this is my opinion only (although we might proceed from there into an interesting discussion of 2 Peter 1:20).
But here's the thing: of course it's my own interpretation. And if you have an interpretation of your own, I'd love to hear it. Let's find out what's really true! But please don't simply parrot back what someone has told you to believe, just because you've always accepted that source as authoritative but never really thought about it.
People gave their lives so you could have the scriptures. Tyndale, Luther, Mormon and Moroni, Jeremiah, Nephi, Isaiah, Jacob, and hundreds of others including of course the Savior, faced capital punishment so the commoners could have the scriptures in a language they could understand. Early British Puritans had to set guards during their worship services, because if they were caught with a copy of the scriptures in English, they could be executed, and if you dared espouse a philosophy that differed from His Majesty (who was, after all, leader of the Church) then may heaven help you, because no one on earth will. After such sacrifice as this, we can do those worthies no greater disservice than to set the scriptures aside, or to consider some other modern publication of greater -- or even remotely equivalent -- importance. No wonder the Lord considers scriptural neglect just cause for condemnation (D&C 84:54-58).
But here's the thing: of course it's my own interpretation. And if you have an interpretation of your own, I'd love to hear it. Let's find out what's really true! But please don't simply parrot back what someone has told you to believe, just because you've always accepted that source as authoritative but never really thought about it.
People gave their lives so you could have the scriptures. Tyndale, Luther, Mormon and Moroni, Jeremiah, Nephi, Isaiah, Jacob, and hundreds of others including of course the Savior, faced capital punishment so the commoners could have the scriptures in a language they could understand. Early British Puritans had to set guards during their worship services, because if they were caught with a copy of the scriptures in English, they could be executed, and if you dared espouse a philosophy that differed from His Majesty (who was, after all, leader of the Church) then may heaven help you, because no one on earth will. After such sacrifice as this, we can do those worthies no greater disservice than to set the scriptures aside, or to consider some other modern publication of greater -- or even remotely equivalent -- importance. No wonder the Lord considers scriptural neglect just cause for condemnation (D&C 84:54-58).