Seek truth, elder says

Young adults need to constantly replenish their supply of "living water," Elder David A. Bednar told Latter-day Saint youths on Sunday.

"You and I need his living water daily and in ample supply to sustain our ongoing spiritual growth and development," said Elder Bednar, an apostle in the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in a Church Education System fireside.

Elder Bednar related the New Testament story of a Samaritan woman whom Jesus offers living water, which is a representation of Jesus Christ and his gospel.

He said the Savior and his doctrines, ordinances and principles are essential for eternal life.

"The scriptures contain the words of Christ and are a reservoir of living water to which we have ready access and from which we can drink deeply and long," Elder Bednar said. "You and I must look to and come unto Christ, who is the fountain of living waters, by reading, studying, searching and feasting upon the words of Christ as contained in the holy scriptures."

Those who do so will receive spiritual direction and protection in this life, he said.

Elder Bednar offered three methods of "obtaining water from a scriptural reser- voir": reading scriptures beginning to end, studying scriptures by topic and searching the scriptures for connections, patterns and themes.

"Each of these can help to satisfy our spiritual thirst if we invite the companionship of the Holy Ghost as we read, study and search," he said.

Reading a book of scripture from beginning to end initiates the flow of living water into the one's life by introducing the reader to important stories, gospel doctrines and timeless principles, Elder Bednar said.

He encouraged the youth to use the updated edition of the scriptures, complete with footnotes, cross references and other study aides as they seek living water.

Studying by topic typically grows out of reading the scriptures from beginning to end, Elder Bednar said, helping the reader to find answers to important doctrinal questions.

"Focusing upon such questions and studying by topic ... allows us to dig in to and explore the depth of the scriptures and obtain a much richer spiritual knowledge," Elder Bednar said. "This approach increases the rate of which living water flows into our lives."

Searching for connections, patterns and themes in the scriptures brings together and expands the first two methods, building upon the breadth and depth of spiritual knowledge gained by applying them, he said.

"In my judgement, diligently searching to discover connections, patterns and themes is in part what it means to feast upon the words of Christ," Elder Bednar said. " This approach can open the floodgates of the spiritual reservoir, enlighten our understanding through his spirit, introduce a depth of gratitude for the holy scriptures and a degree of spiritual commitment that can be received in no other way."

He emphasized that formal education is not necessary to use these methods.

"Any honest seeker of truth, regardless of educational background can successfully employ these simple approaches," Elder Bednar said.

The only things necessary to do so is the companionship of the Holy Ghost, the holy scriptures and an active, inquiring mind, he said.

"If you and I will ask, seek and knock, always keeping ourselves worthy to learn from the spirit, then gates of the spiritual reservoir will open to us and the living water will flow," Elder Bednar said.

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E-mail: asnyder@desnews.com

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