When was the last time a familiar scripture passage suddenly felt brand new to you? Those moments of fresh insight often come when we approach the scriptures not just to find answers, but to ask deeper questions.
I’ve discovered that the difference between routine scripture reading and transformative scripture study often lies in the questions we bring to the text. When we focus solely on finding answers, we can fall into the trap of thinking “I already know what this is about.” But when we approach the scriptures with thoughtful questions, each reading becomes an opportunity for new insight.
Let me share an example using a familiar story – Nephi building the ship. We might typically read it as a straightforward sequence of events: God commanded, Nephi built, his brothers complained, the ship was completed. But watch how the story deepens when we pause to ask questions:
- Why did the Lord ask Nephi to build a ship instead of providing one?
- What skills did Nephi need to develop during this process?
- How did this experience prepare him for future challenges?
- What does this teach me about how the Lord works in my own life?
Notice how these questions don’t necessarily demand specific answers. Instead, they invite us to ponder, reflect, and find personal application – often leading to insights we’ve never considered before.
President Russell M. Nelson has taught that we must “invest time in learning about the Savior.” When we do so thoughtfully and intentionally, we position ourselves to learn more about and become more like Jesus Christ. Questions are the tools that allow us to mine deeper meaning from scripture and apply it to our lives.
To help you get started, here are some questions that can open new perspectives in your scripture study:
- What does this teach me about God’s character?
- How might the people in this story have felt?
- What principles can I apply to my current challenges?
- What patterns do I see that relate to my own spiritual journey?
- What invitation is the Lord extending to me through this passage?
These questions help us move beyond seeing scripture study as something to complete and instead approach it as an ongoing conversation with heaven. They create space for the Spirit to help us “read as if for the first time, seeing something we have never seen before.”
I’ve started keeping a scripture study notebook where I write down questions that arise during my reading. When I return to the same passages later, I add new questions and insights. This practice has helped me discover that the scriptures truly don’t say the same thing to every person every time, or even to the same person every time.
I invite you to experiment with this question-based approach in your next scripture study session. Choose a familiar passage and challenge yourself to ask questions you’ve never considered before. Write them down, ponder them, and be patient with the answers. As Elder David A. Bednar has taught, “Frequently, revelation comes in small increments over time and is granted according to our desire, worthiness, and preparation.”
Remember, the Lord delights in sacred questions asked with real intent – they demonstrate our desire to learn and grow. As we make thoughtful questioning a central part of our scripture study, we transform our relationship with the scriptures from a one-way reading of history into a living, ongoing conversation with heaven.
Elder Linder 