My Soul Delighteth
I started this blog a few years ago as my attempt to record my thoughts about the scriptures and the gospel. I enjoy studying the gospel, and I love writing. I have kept various scripture journals throughout my life, but I think this is my favorite method. I love to be able to link to all the different sources of gospel principles that I am studying - something that is a lot easier to do on a computer than in a notebook.
My greatest goal is to actually live the things that I am studying, and so my daily application of the scriptures is also a big part of this blog. I don't want to just know the scriptures and the gospel - I want to live the gospel.
I have always loved the use of the phrase "my soul delighteth". The Lord used the phrase when He taught Emma Smith about the importance of music. Nephi talks about delighting in covenants, delighting in the scriptures, and in the words of Isaiah. Saying "my soul delighteth" is bigger than just saying "I like this". When my soul delights in something, it is so deep, so spiritual, so much more than just something I "like". My love for the scriptures is so much deeper than just "liking" them or "enjoying" them - studying the scriptures nourishes me, makes me whole, and brings me closer to Christ.
This blog has evolved a little bit, and part of the reason I enjoy writing in this blog is so that I can have a record of the things I write for my children - so they can really know how much I love the scriptures. I hope that this blog will be a legacy to them.
"And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ,
we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ,
and we write according to our prophecies,
that our children may know
to what source they may look for a remission of their sins"
we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ,
and we write according to our prophecies,
that our children may know
to what source they may look for a remission of their sins"
2 Nephi 25:26
I have had some really amazing instructors in my life, and the one who probably did the most to instill a love of the scriptures in me was my institute teacher, Brother H. Wallace Goddard (Uncle Wally to the young single adults - Dr Wally to the counseling world) It has been his words and his instruction that have really touched my life. He has written and edited several books, including a collection of essays titled "My Soul Delighteth in the Scriptures" - which was a big inspiration for the name of this blog.
Another very important part of the purpose of this blog is to answer questions people may have about the doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and to be a place where anyone can come and talk about the scriptures - this is in response to Elder M. Russell Ballard's 2007 BYU-Hawaii commencement address.
"May I ask that you join the conversation by participating on the Internet to share the gospel and to explain in simple and clear terms the message of the Restoration. Most of you already know that if you have access to the Internet you can start a blog in minutes and begin sharing what you know to be true. You can download videos from Church and other appropriate sites...and send them to your friends. You can write to media sites on the Internet that report on the Church and voice your views as to the accuracy of the reports. This, of course, requires that you understand the basic principles of the gospel. It is essential that you are able to offer a clear and correct witness of gospel truths. It is also important that you and the people to whom you testify understand that you do not speak for the Church as a whole. You speak as one member—but you testify of the truths you have come to know."
My soul delighteth in the scriptures!
