It is another great day at primarily scripture. I am your host, Cindy Young, and this is a place where we talk about techniques to take your scripture study to the next level. They're super simple things that even kids can do to help you go from just reading your scriptures to studying them. We do follow come follow me, and this week we are in Doctrine and Covenants, section 88. Joseph Smith referred to this revelation as the "olive leaf," and olive leaves represent peace. So he called it "the Lord's message of peace to us." And it's a really long section. It's 141 verses and it goes through a lot of things, including telling them to build a temple and start a school. But I really want to focus on one word today, just one word. This word is hugely important when you are doing your scripture study. And if you don't use this word every single time you study your scriptures, then you're gonna miss out on a lot of the power that the scriptures have to offer you. So turn with me to section 88, verse 68 in the Doctrine and Covenants. I'll read it to you. It says this, "therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God and the days will come that you shall see him, for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time and in his own way, and according to his own will." What was the very first word of that verse? Do you remember? It was therefore. Therefore is a word with power in it. If you'll use this word, your scripture study will be changed forever, and I'll explain to you how. Therefore is a connecting word. And we've talked about connecting words at other times. This one is one of the most powerful connecting words there is. And guess what? If you don't see this word in the verses, you should add it yourself. And I'll explain that in just a minute, but let's talk about what it means. Therefore helps us to connect what was said before with what is about to be said. So if we back up and look at the verses beforehand in 63, it says, "draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you." That's a promise we see a lot in the scriptures. Verse 66 talks about hearing the voice of the Lord through the spirit and that he will speak to us. Verse 67 talks about if we are focused on God's glory, then our lives will be full of light and truth and help us to understand all things. And then 68 says "therefore..." so we can connect all these things before it, all these blessings that the Lord wants to speak to us, and if we focus on that, he will fill us with truth. Therefore... sanctify yourself. Do you know what it means to sanctify something? It basically means that it becomes pure and dedicated to the Lord. There's bread and water that is just bread and water, but once it is blessed and sanctified, now it is sacrament bread and sacrament water. Can we do the same thing with our own lives? Can you make choices that will sanctify your heart and your mind and your life, and focus on doing the Lord's work? That's what he's asking us to do, and he's giving us the reason that we should do it. And what is the reason? He is reminding us that there are amazing blessings in store for us, if we do our part. If we will put in the work and ask, then he will bless us and we will receive. If we will focus our lives the right way, then he will fill us with light. It's all based on us acting, and then he will give us blessings. Therefore, we should be sanctifying ourselves and putting in the work to become pure and holy. Why? Because he wants us to have these blessings. He wants so badly to bless each and every one of us, and blessings are given because of obedience. So therefore is an invitation word. It is inviting us to act. And in this case, he's telling us what to do next. Therefore, sanctify yourselves. On the first page of the worksheets this week, there's a quote from Elder Dallen h Oaks, and he says this, "it is appropriate to ask ourselves, therefore, what? Are we merely increasing our fund of experiences and knowledge? Or will this have a profound impact on how we live our lives?" Elder Bednar and Elder Holland have both spoken about how President Boyd K Packer would ask the question, therefore, what? President Boyd k Packer isn't with us anymore, but he was a member of the Quorum of the 12 Apostles and a member of the first presidency. When Elder Holland and Elder Bednar talk about Boyd K Packer using this question, they said that he used this question in their apostle meetings. That they would be talking about something and then President Packer would look around and ask the whole group, therefore what. And elder Bednar said this, "I understood his question to mean, 'so what spiritually important difference will this make in the lives of the church members? Will it really bless those whom we serve?" So this, "therefore, what" question has been used with the apostles- that as they talk about different principles and policies, they think, okay, is this going to change the lives of the people? And that's what you need to do in order to unlock the power of the scriptures because until they lead you to action, the scriptures are just words. But if they can help you to change and become more like Jesus Christ, then you'll be unlocking the power of the scriptures. So you will see the word, therefore in the scriptures and it tells you what you should do next, like in verse 68. But what if the word therefore isn't there because therefore is not, in most verses. It is in a lot of them, but not most of them. Then we get to find the invitation ourselves. Then you get to rely on the Holy Ghost to help you figure it out. And that is a fun thing because then you get to receive personal revelation. Because it'll look different for every person. What you need to do, and what I need to do are two different things. So let's look at another verse.

"cease to be idle; cease to be unclean; cease to find fault one with another; cease to sleep longer than is needful; retire to thy bed early, that you may not be weary; arise early, that your bodies and your minds may be invigorated." So that's a nice little list of things that we can do, and if we just move on, then there's no power in these words. Once you realize that the Lord is asking us to do this, and you ask yourself, therefore what? Then you can move into the action and the becoming like Jesus Christ. So you could just simply ask yourself, is there one of these that I need to work on this week? Is there something that I can do to follow this verse better? And if you ask that about every single verse, therefore what? What did I learn from this? And how can I let it change my life? Then you'll find power in the scriptures. If it's helpful to the apostles to ask, therefore what, then of course it's going to be helpful for us. And one more thing, did you know that Jesus even asked this question? In third Nephi chapter 27, he's been teaching the Nephites, his gospel, and then he says this."Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am." Jesus asked the question, therefore what! Now, he expanded on it and said, what kind of people should you be trying to be? But that's exactly what the question, therefore what means? Therefore, how can I change? Therefore, how will this help me become more like Jesus? What can I do? Not every verse has an invitation. Not every verse has a warning in it, but. Every verse is an opportunity for you to ask this exact question. Therefore, what can I do with this information to change my life and help me become like the savior? It is such a powerful thing. Therefore, I hope you'll go open up your scriptures and study and ask yourself, therefore, what with every single verse. When you choose to act on what you find in the scriptures, that's where the power is. So go find that power, okay? Happy studying you guys. See you next week! Thanks for tuning into Primarily Scripture with Cindy Young. Don't forget you can subscribe to the newsletter and download free worksheets on the website, primarily scripture.com. And if you like the channel, be sure to subscribe, like, share, and leave a review. See you next time.