Probably the one commandment that the Latter-day Saints fail to obey more than any other is the commandment to SEARCH the scriptures.  This despite very clear instructions from the LORD himself to do so, not just in a casual manner, but DILIGENTLY.

Search these commandments for they are true and faithful, and the prophecies and promises which are in them shall all be fulfilled.  D&C 1:37

…behold they are written, ye have them before you, therefore search them…  3 Nephi 20:11

And now, behold, I say unto you, that ye ought to search these things.  Yea, a commandment I give unto you that ye search these things diligently; for great are the words of Isaiah.  3 Nephi 23:1

Search the prophets, for many there be that testify of these things.  3 Nephi 23:5

Moroni also pipes in with the same exhortation in Mormon 8:23.  How many more witnesses do we need?

In spite of this clear direction directly from the Savior himself, the church has just announced a new “cornerstone curriculum” to be implemented in church schools and institutes that gets away from the scripture-based courses.  Evidently the curriculum was approved over the objections of many faculty members.

William Hamblin, Professor of History at BYU described it thus:

“Personally, I find this new curriculum appalling.  It will result in the further decay of scriptural literacy–already a significant problem among the saints.  Scripture study in the Church has now become nothing more than completely decontextualized proof-texting.  There is, practically speaking, no further institutional support by the Church for the actual study of scripture–as opposed to Church doctrine, devotion and daily application.”

Wow!  I hope he is able to keep his job after that.  We all know that the hierarchy does not take kindly to criticism.

I find Hosea 4:6 very apropos when he said: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge…”

This blog is dedicated to SEARCHING the scriptures and historical record of the LDS restoration movement to find and discuss the truths that Christ is directing us to find when he commanded us to search diligently.  There is a huge difference between searching and casually reading or studying.  In today’s world it is so easy to use our smartphones, tablets and computers to find and link key passages of scripture through word searches.  This allows us to more easily find and understand the important messages and prophecies that directly relate to us, the modern church and the events of the last days.

Prior to the computer age, one had to spend years and years studying to obtain the knowledge that we can potentially grasp in a much shorter time frame.  I am in awe of Sidney Rigdon, whose calling as a spokesman for Joseph also included the responsibility to “call on the holy prophets to prove his words.”  (D&C 35:23)  We shall see in future posts that he stopped doing so towards the end of Joseph’s life.  He knew the scriptures backwards and forwards.  We should too.  Let us not be destroyed for lack of knowledge.

Keep Searching.

Searcher

Next Up:  The Key to Not Being Deceived