I was traveling to the Salt Lake City airport with my friend Robert Matthews on our way to a “Know Your Religion” lecture. He was in the midst of working on the topical guide, footnotes, and cross references for the new edition of the scriptures. I inquired as to the progress. He mentioned that things were going well and then said, “Last week I had an interesting experience. I was reading all the scriptures concerning prayer. It took several days and at the end of the project I had an overwhelming desire to pray.”
I have thought about that experience over the years. Surely when we truly feast upon the words of Christ by searching the scriptures and listening to our living prophets—I mean truly feast—we will be inspired to action. The word becomes our Liahona (see Alma 37:37–44); tells us all things to do. It is the food for our spirit. Our spirits direct our bodies. If we are not diligent in keeping the commandments, our spiritual strength will wane. We need strength. We need to increase our faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God (see Romans 10:17). Through faith, we, like Father Lehi, will be blessed with the Holy Spirit (see 1 Nephi 10:17). We can claim these blessings of the Lord by obedience, which begins with feasting upon the word. (Ed J. Pinegar)