I once taught a lesson about scripture study to some youth.
I gave each student a sticky note and asked:
“What is your ‘stumbling block’ when it comes to regular and meaningful scripture study? What makes it tricky?”
We quickly had a board filled with sticky notes covered in thoughts like:
“I’m too tired.”
“I don’t have enough time.”
“It’s really hard focusing on what they mean.”
We looked and talked about the patterns we noticed.
But then I asked them:
“How can we remove each of these stumbling blocks?”
It was so cool to see the empowering look in their eyes as they realized they could quickly come up with ways to solve their problems!
The youth said:
“Read them at a different time of day.”
“Make it a priority before I do homework.”
“Get a study guide.”
An angel told Nephi that “. . . if the Gentiles shall hearken unto the Lamb of God in that day that he shall manifest himself unto them in word, and also in power, in very deed, unto the taking away of their stumbling blocks.” (1 Nephi 14:1)
God wants to help us remove our stumbling blocks.
And I believe that one way He does this is by allowing us to identify them and then seek personal revelation for how to remove them!
So what is your current ‘stumbling block’ for keeping a commandment or doing good?
Try asking God how you can remove or diminish that stumbling block and see what you can come up with together!
Happy Studying!
-Cali Black
