The Bible gets a bad rap sometimes these days, especially on social media. Some say that its message is outdated, with commandments for another era. Others claim that the Bible is only filled with senseless violence and bigotry.
But we believe that when it’s translated correctly, the Bible is the word of God. It does contain an oft times dark history, not unlike today. The messages in the Bible that talk of Christ–His ministry and His teachings, can offer great wisdom for the troubles of our day and can bring comfort and hope to our lives.
We spent most of the early mornings of our high school years in Seminary. It’s a class that focuses on a different book of scripture each year. This was not always an easy thing to do as busy students! We participated because even as teenagers we could feel the strength and peace that come when we study the scriptures.
We’re excited to share some of our favorite Bible verses and passages with you and hope these bless your Sabbath day and your week!
Proverbs 3:5-8
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Several of us chose this verse. It’s difficult to realize how many things about our lives are out of our control. It’s comforting though, that a wise and all-knowing God can see the whole plan. We can find peace as we trust that He wants us to be happy and that all will work out.
Mariah
Isaiah 49:15-16
15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.
16. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.
It is so easy to feel insignificant in the great sea of people. It’s also easy to believe at times in our life that God does not really remember us. But He does! He has a perfect memory and literally knows us better than we know ourselves.
As a parent, to even imagine your child suffering or being killed brings physical pain. For God to allow His Son to go through the most pain anyone would ever experience and THEN die a terrible death, there had to be only the best reason–to save His other children. He loves us all and remembers us even if we feel alone or abandoned.
Madison
Isaiah 53:3-5
3. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
4. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.
5. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Tara
2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith
When my Dad died, we put that verse on his program. It reminds me that even though he was in his own personal hell, he remained faithful and true and valiant. When hard times come, I think of him. If he can be strong and trust in the Lord, then so can I.
MaLee
Acts 26:28
Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) compared the persecution he experienced after his First Vision to the experiences of the Apostle Paul:
“I felt much like Paul, when he made his defense before King Agrippa, and related the account of the vision he had when he saw a light, and heard a voice; but still there were but few who believed him; some said he was dishonest, others said he was mad; and he was ridiculed and reviled. But all this did not destroy the reality of his vision. He had seen a vision, he knew he had, and all the persecution under heaven could not make it otherwise; and though they should persecute him unto death, yet he knew, and would know to his latest breath, that he had both seen a light and heard a voice speaking unto him, and all the world could not make him think or believe otherwise.
“So it was with me. I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true. … I knew it, and I knew that God knew it, and I could not deny it” (Joseph Smith—History 1:24–25).
This was one of the most impactful things we ever read in seminary for me. It was the first time I really loved Paul and it was through the eyes of Joseph Smith. Years later in my BYU new testament class, I gained a whole new respect for Paul and the work that he did in the name of the Lord.
No matter what persecution comes my way, it will never rival what they went through.
Makayla
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
I love all of Romans 8 but especially this verse. And Hebrews 11. All of these talk about having faith instead of fear and the blessings that will come from acting on your faith.
Maegan
Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
The Psalms always give me comfort, courage, and inspire me to be better. The imagery of the Lord’s word being a lamp is beautiful, and I’ve found this to be true as I read the scriptures. I know we can get answers to our questions and have more peace as we study them.
-The Crouch Sisters
*All scriptures are from the King James Version of the Bible. You can read this version of the Bible and related materials at lds.org. For more posts about uplifting topics see our Sunday Moments section!
What are your favorite scriptures? We would love to learn from you in the comments below!