Asking Big Questions
While every page of scripture testifies of Jesus Christ, actually having a Christ-centered study can be hard at times. With so many responsibilities competing for our time, we might just read a few verses without getting much personal meaning out of them and feel satisfied that we’ve checked off “read the scriptures” for our day. Sometimes we may even find ourselves getting so caught up in deeper history or unnecessary questions that we completely miss the mark. Studying can be simple—it should fill us with the Spirit and a desire to become more like our Savior.
Wilford Woodruff Offers Insight
Wilford Woodruff wrote in his journal in 1883,
While studying the word of God we learn truths
which cannot be obtained from any other source.¹
His words are supported by another servant of the Lord, Apostle D. Todd Christofferson, who stated, “The central purpose of all scripture is to fill our souls with faith in God the Father and in His Son, Jesus Christ.”²
So, how do we do that? Here are some study strategies that will help you increase your faith in Jesus Christ and feel His love for you personally.
How to Find Christ in Your Study
- Pray for the Spirit to be with you.
- Search for names, titles, and attributes of Jesus Christ.
- Ask questions.
First, Pray for the presence of the Holy Ghost
The Spirit is the most crucial part of experiencing a Christ-centered study. His role is to testify of Jesus Christ[1] and confirm truths,[2] enlighten our minds,[3] “bring all things to [our] remembrance” (John 14:26), and connect principles we are learning with our individual lives.[4] We can pray before we study that the Spirit will be there to teach us, and we can ask after we study that He will help us know how to act on what we’re learning. The Holy Ghost, throughout our studying, can expand our understanding of what we are reading and help us feel an even stronger connection to Jesus Christ.
Wilford Woodruff advised the following: “We should humble ourselves before the Lord and be in a position to be filled with . . . the Holy Ghost, and with the revelations of Jesus Christ, that we may know the mind and will of God concerning us, and be prepared to magnify our calling and bring to pass righteousness, and be valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ.”[5] There is no better way to humble ourselves and follow President Woodruff’s counsel than through filling our minds with the words of Jesus Christ, and with the Spirit, as we study the scriptures.
Search for names, titles, and attributes of Jesus Christ
Throughout the standard works are hundreds of names or attributes of Jesus Christ. Some are clear and well known, such as “the good shepherd” (John 10:11). Others are less common, such as “the lifter up of mine head” (Psalm 3:3), or “the light which shineth in darkness” (Doctrine and Covenants 6:21). His titles will resonate with us differently according to the circumstances we face in different seasons of our lives. The Spirit will draw us to those names that will be most significant for us.
One way to have a more meaningful, Christ-centered study is to intentionally search for these descriptions of Christ. Having something specific to look for can help our studies feel more focused and purposeful. Elder Jonathan S. Schmitt of the Seventy shared, “Many of Jesus’s names are titles that help us understand His mission, purpose, character, and attributes. As we come to know Jesus’s many names, we will come to better understand His divine mission and His selfless character. Knowing His many names also inspires us to become more like Him—to develop Christlike attributes that bring joy and purpose to our lives.”[8] Becoming more like our Savior is not a complex formula; His attributes and character develop within us as we simply choose to place our focus on Him. This, in part, occurs through spending time in the scriptures seeking to know Him better.
Ask Questions
Several times throughout scripture, Jesus Christ showed the perfect example of asking inspired questions. In one such instance, he addressed Peter with the question, “Whom say ye that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). This type of question causes soul-searching and deeper thought. By asking questions, we can discover the strength of our growing testimony and gain a new perspective to understand doctrines and principles in ways we haven’t before recognized. Some questions include, “Where do I see Jesus Christ’s example in this story?”, “What is the prophet teaching the people here?”, or “How does this apply to my life right now?”
Wilford Woodruff also loved to ask questions. Throughout his documents, we see examples of inspired questions such as “How can we keep oil in our lamps?”[9] At another time, as he pondered his innate desire to keep a record of his life, he wrote, “The question has often rested me, why are these things so? Why has this subject rested upon me more than other men?”[10] From Wilford’s example, we learn that prophets too have many questions! Asking questions is normal, and it even strengthens our faith because it leads us to become seekers of truth. The Lord wants to counsel us, and He will as we ask.
How can we keep oil in our lamps?
The question has often rested me, why are these things so?
Why has this subject rested upon me more than other men?
Centering on Christ: a Principle with a Promise
All that we do as members of Jesus Christ’s restored Church, including studying the scriptures, should be centered on Jesus Christ Himself. It is easy to look at studying the scriptures as an overwhelming task or something to just check off our to-do list, but it doesn’t have to be! It is all about building our one-on-one relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter what point we are starting from, these principles of praying for the Spirit, looking for names and attributes of Jesus Christ, and asking questions are great places to start if you are looking to guide your personal studies. As you apply these principles in your life, the scriptures will become a joy to you, and you will feel Jesus Christ’s presence more abundantly in your life.
Aubrey Barzee is a Public Relations Intern for the Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation. She is from Kansas City, Missouri, and currently studies at Brigham Young University. Aubrey is majoring in Exercise and Wellness and studying in the Seminary and Institute teaching program. She had the opportunity as a missionary to come to know Jesus Christ better and serve the people in the Oregon Portland Mission, which she recently returned from.
She has loved being a part of this project, where she can share her love of the Savior and His restored gospel. She loves learning about the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is inspired by the journals and life of the prophet Wilford Woodruff.
The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and make his records universally accessible in order to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, please explore wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
Endnotes
- [1] Wilford Woodruff’s autobiography notes, p. 21, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/autobiography-notes. Spelling standardized.
- [2] D. Todd Christofferson, “The Blessing of Scripture,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2010, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
- [3] See John 15:26.
- [4] See John 16:13, Jacob 4:13, and Moroni 10:5.
- [5] See Doctrine and Covenants 6:15.
- [6] See 1 Nephi 19:23.
- [7] Epistle to the Saints from Wilford Woodruff, October 26, 1886, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/letter/1886-10-26.
- [8] Jonathan S. Schmitt, “That They Might Know Thee,” Ensign, November 2022, ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
- [9] Discourse by Wilford Woodruff, January 9, 1881, p. 1, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/discourse/1881-01-09.
- [10] Wilford Woodruff’s Journal, January 20, 1872, p. 327, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/journal/1872-01-20. Spelling and punctuation standardized.
The Wilford Woodruff Papers Foundation’s mission is to digitally preserve and publish Wilford Woodruff’s eyewitness account of the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ from 1833 to 1898. It seeks to make Wilford Woodruff’s records universally accessible to inspire all people, especially the rising generation, to study and to increase their faith in Jesus Christ. For more information, visit wilfordwoodruffpapers.org.
