This week - June 24th - we wrote talks.
I have been thinking a lot about how we take personal responsibility for our spiritual learning and growth. I have also been thinking lots about the power of the scriptures as key to our personal accountability and responsibility. Thus, the following assignment:

Conference Talk

Sunday, October 5, 2008 * Morning Session

Topic: The Scriptures in Our Lives

Audience: Your audience is new or young members of the Church.

Goal: Inspire them to study, know, love, mark, and treasure the Scriptures.

Warnings: No TYPICAL MORMON WORDS. No phrases or words without defining them and showing what they really look like in your or other’s lives.

Ideas:

· Life Lessons you have learned from the Scriptures.

· A pattern of discipleship gained from the disciples of the Scriptures.

Quotes:

· “Do we truly know the scriptures and, therefore, the power of God?”

o Joseph B. Wirthlin, “Guided by His Exemplary Life,” Liahona, Feb 1999, 34

· “[The Book of Mormon] is also the best example of the connection between history and doctrine. I’ve come to understand and appreciate the power of scripture and history working together.”

o Marlin K. Jensen, “There Shall Be a Record Kept among You,” Liahona, Dec 2007, 26–31

· Scripture Power

o 1. Because I want to be like the Savior, and I can,
I’m reading His instructions, I’m following His plan.
Because I want the power His word will give to me,
I’m changing how I live, I’m changing what I’ll be.

Chorus

Scripture power keeps me safe from sin.
Scripture power is the power to win.
Scripture power! Ev’ry day I need
The power that I get each time I read

2. I’ll find the sword of truth in each scripture that I learn.
I’ll take the shield of faith from these pages that I turn.
I’ll wear each vital part of the armor of the Lord,
And fight my daily battles, and win a great reward.

o Scripture Power With conviction Words and music by Clive Romney

· “Do we look to the scriptures as a source of great spiritual power?”

o L. Tom Perry, “‘Give Heed unto the Word of the Lord’,” Ensign, Jun 2000, 22

· President Romney recalled; “I remember reading it with one of my lads when he was very young. … I lay in the lower bunk and he in the upper bunk. We were each reading aloud alternate paragraphs of those last three marvelous chapters of Second Nephi. I heard his voice breaking and thought he had a cold. … As we finished he said … , ‘Daddy, do you ever cry when you read the Book of Mormon?’

“‘Yes, Son, … sometimes the Spirit of the Lord so witnesses to my soul that the Book of Mormon is true that I do cry.’

“ ‘Well,’ he said, ‘that is what happened to me tonight.’ ” 8

o Richard G. Scott, “The Powerof a Strong Testimony,” Liahona, Jan 2002, 100–103