Studying the Scriptures

By Susan Knight

I have been watching BYU TV on Sundays at 1:00 p.m. The show has four professors of ancient scripture talk about the scriptures. Right now the lessons are on Revelation. I am enjoying this immensely.

I loved studying the Epistles of Peter. You can see how much he's grown in testimony and spiritually by reading these works. He was a young man, like Jesus, when the Savior walked on the earth. He needed to be taught, instructed, have his attitude tempered.

When Peter's epistles were written, maybe around 60 AD, Peter was an older and much wiser man. In his epistles he talks about priesthood and temples. Those who don't know of these things might wonder what he's talking about.

In Revelation, I loved finding out that animals have spirits, just as humans do. For all those who don't think they'll ever see their beloved pets again, the Book of Revelation would quell that thought.

Also, we know John the Beloved was John the Revelator. He wrote these revelations before he even wrote the gospels or his epistles.

Some people take the "book curse" at the end of Revelation to mean that nobody can add or take away from the whole bible. But the bible is composed of books. It's a bibliography of spiritual works. If John wrote Revelation first, then the gospels on should not have been written. John was telling us we should not change his book of revelation.

When I was involved with my calligraphy guild, I learned a lot about book curses. I'm sure they were mimicking the book curse that John put in his writing about his vision. I have a whole book called "Anathema" that deals solely with book curses of the middle ages. I love that book. We even had a contest in the guild for people to come up with their own book curses.

I also know that many prophets--Adam, Moses, Abraham, Enoch, Nephi, Lehi and others--had the same vision John did. They were told not to write about it, that there would be someone whose task it was to write about it only. So nobody did. John was the one who was supposed to write it. Joseph Smith had the same visions as John in the Book of Revelation. Joseph Smith said it was one of the easiest books to comprehend--yeah, because he had the same vision, so I guess he would be able to decipher what it means.

Also, in the Doctrine and Covenants, more about the Book of Revelation is revealed.

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for all I have. I am a broken record at night and in the morning. Sometimes I apologize to Him. "Sorry for saying the same things every day." Thank you for my house, my safety, my children, my job--in so many words. Then the pleadings to protect us all from predators and harm; and the "pleases" for help and health and happiness.

I am reminded, in my Patriarchal Blessing, that I am to never cease thanking my H.F. in my prayers for all of my blessings. Once I read, and re-read, this particular paragraph, I feel better about that broken record syndrome.

I had a lovely holiday today. Thank you, Lord, for watching over my children--and me. Please continue to grant us Thy tender mercies.