How to Fall in Love With the Old Testament This Year

by Autumn Dickson

This week is an introduction to the Old Testament rather than any specific group of scripture. With my last post for this scripture block, I testified of the value of studying the Old Testament. With this post, I want to talk about a couple of things we can do to maximize what we take out of it.

The first way is to let go of the need to read everything listed for the week. When I was in seminary in high school, we were encouraged to read the book of scripture that we were studying for that year. I am Type A, and so I read it all in order. There was a whole lot that was unhelpful to me at that period in time, and I walked away from the Old Testament with reinforced ideas that it was difficult.

You don’t have to push yourself to read everything for the week. Scripture study is not about finishing an assignment; it’s about drawing closer to God. Reading each and every line in high school didn’t draw me closer to God; it just gave my intense personality the satisfaction of saying I was able to complete the whole thing.

Instead of reading everything through, consider finding one story to study throughout the week, and then observe that story through multiple resources and angles. Summarize it so you understand what’s going on; you can actually also ask AI for a summary of the chapters from an LDS perspective. Make sure you understand where it is in the timeline as a whole. Ask AI about culturally significant points, Israeli history, and symbols to study. This is helpful because even though AI isn’t perfect, it can give you something to follow along so you’re not completely lost in the thick of it. It’s a game changer.

On top of using AI, utilize other Christian resources. We may not have everything in common, but Christians know their bible. I frequently utilize websites from other churches, including other translations of the bible, to help me understand what is going on in what I’m reading. Even if the King James version of the bible is the closest translation, other translations can help me understand what the King James version is trying to say. None of these translations are perfect, but that doesn’t mean they can’t add layers of understanding.

Another tip. Learn about the characters, and then ask yourself what they might have been feeling. Learn about the world they were born into and ask yourself how you might have been if you were born into the same world. Learn who they are and what makes them like or unlike Christ. Find modern day examples of their choices and learn how Christ might react in our day.

Which is my next practical tip. This one is found in the Come Follow Me manual, but I wanted to share my personal experience with it. Find Christ. Try to find Christ in a way that you haven’t seen before. Find Christ in the people and symbols. Find Christ for them. If they didn’t turn to Christ, ponder how things might have been different if they had chosen Him. Then take a minute to observe your own life and whether you’re rejecting Him in the same ways that they did. Ask yourself the question, “What decisions did Christ make in relation to His people? Why did He make that decision? How does it show His love? What is He trying to teach them?”

Whenever I’ve gotten stuck trying to pull something out of a scripture block, it is helpful to look for Christ. I’ve learned that there is always something there.

My last practical tip is simple. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself is to ignore the words completely and let the Spirit speak.

This is not an example with the scriptures, but it is an example with the word of God.

As I’m working on this, the October General Conference has just been completed. I didn’t have many questions written down. I didn’t try setting up my entire house so that my kids would be distracted and occupied so I could focus (that hasn’t worked in the past). At one point during the conference, I sent a picture of four kids climbing on my lap. I didn’t even know my lap was big enough to have four kids sitting on it, let alone climbing. I sent the caption, “If you ask me what I got out of conference, the answer is nothing.” And honestly, conference ended up being exactly what I thought it would be. I was always putting out small fires like giant bloody noses from my two year old or messes from our new puppy.

My goal for this past conference was low. I just wanted it on in my house, even if it was just background noise. I’ve learned that if I strive for more than that, I usually just end up angry with my kids for being kids. So rather, I wanted it on so it could invite the Spirit and if the Lord really needed to tell me something, then the Spirit would be there.

As I found myself watching my two year old in the bathtub (the bloody nose really was gnarly), I found peace with my computer sitting up on the counter playing conference on YouTube. I learned that even if I couldn’t sit at Christ’s feet like Mary, I could still feel the Spirit when my family needed me to be Martha.

You were not created for the scriptures. The scriptures were created for you. Utilize them for you. You don’t have to beat yourself over the head for imperfection. I testify of scripture study, but I also testify that studying can look like the scriptures playing in the background of whatever fire you’re putting out. It can look like carrying one of the people in your heart while you’re going throughout your day. It can look like completely missing the words of what you’re reading or listening to and simply leaning on Christ when you take a few moments to catch your breath. I testify of studying the scriptures in the exact way that they bring you closer to Christ. Don’t put pressure on yourself to make it look like someone else’s study. Let Christ show you how to draw closer to Him by utilizing the Old Testament this year.

I testify that the Old Testament is worth it, and I testify that it’s possible to get something out of the Old Testament. I testify that we live in a world where scripture study doesn’t have to look traditional; it just has to bring you closer to Christ. I testify that you can read words on a page and have the Spirit tell you something completely different. I always testify that Christ wants to draw closer to you, and I testify that He can do so through the Old Testament if you simply let Him know you’re willing to let it happen.

 

Autumn Dickson was born and raised in a small town in Texas. She served a mission in the Indianapolis Indiana mission. She studied elementary education but has found a particular passion in teaching the gospel. Her desire for her content is to inspire people to feel confident, peaceful, and joyful about their relationship with Jesus Christ and to allow that relationship to touch every aspect of their lives. Autumn was the recipient of FAIR’s 2024 John Taylor Defender of the Faith Award.

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