On the Work of Scripture Study (or, What Is the Meaning of Translation?)

The Core Issues

A few years ago I started on a deep study of the Book of Mormon. I have always had a hard time with getting my minutes in (like we were taught in seminary). I always found that sort of thing complicated and exhausting in practice. It’s probably my significant ADHD that has contributed to making that difficult, nonetheless I wanted to make a meaningful change. I spend a lot of my time generally talking about the gospel, pondering different principles, sometimes even lengthy amounts of time in some other parts of the Lord’s canon. Then, I would with great haste, try to read at least a verse of the Book of Mormon to keep my score for the day. This behavior didn’t seem very genuine or meaningful, and I never really was able to follow the stories all that well, even when I would try to time myself to get in the full 30 minutes. To the opposite extreme, some days I would feel exhausted and for some reason, would hesitate to read at all, especially in the aspects of the gospel I had been pondering because I hadn’t gotten in that BoM time yet.

What are my goals?

This brings me to the heart of scripture study. What are the real goals of scripture study? *Is it to clock in and out? * A paint by number craft that uses days of scripture study to fill in? Be able to stand up on the rameumptum and tell my town how I have never missed a day of 30 minute scripture study in 5 years?

or

To understand the principles and ordinances of the gospel of Jesus Christ? To understand the application of the atonement in the lives of others across time? To liken the scriptures to ourselves? To write the word on the flesh tablets of our heart?

At a point it was clear that while a lot of those assignments and patterns that were intended to try to get people into the habit of scripture study often seemed, at least for me, to not check off the most important boxes.

Another way to say that might be: They just didn’t translate

A few years ago I decided that maybe that was the answer.

Find something that does translate into more meaningful study.

Find something that will translate…

Something that translates to me…

A translation for me — by me!

So that’s what I started to do.

Every. Single. Verse. Sometimes it is one verse. Sometimes it’s five, ten, etc. Sometimes I miss a day, or two, or a few weeks. That’s not to say I don’t get some reading in most days, but depending on life and what is going on, sometimes I study something else. Sometimes all I have the energy to get to is Come Follow Me. Sometimes I drop the ball entirely. But, whatever consistent means to you, this is something that I have been able to consistently do, and it consistently provides depth, meaning, and understanding that I have never been able to get from the historical narrative style of the Book of Mormon until now. The same is true for the Old Testament. I have always been much more enthralled by the more principled and administrative style of the New Testament and the Doctrine and Covenants. But now I am finding joy, enlightenment, understanding, faith, and even a kinship that I haven’t ever felt from the narative-driven books of scripture.

To that end, much of what I intend to share on this site is going to be heavily influenced and inspired by that work. I am currently working on Alma 13. As I continue in this endeavor, expect to see small excerpts of that work, along with highlights of some AI assisted explorations inspired by those efforts.

Looking forward to sharing with you soon.

B.