The Rock of our Foundation

Have you ever wondered why we have scriptures and why they are so valuable to us? Well, the answer is them:

The scriptures are written by inspiration from God, and are his words as if he was speaking. To the Joseph the Prophet he said:

 "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."      

~D&C 1:38

The scriptures consist of the word of God, and are often referred to by that name. In the vision of the Tree of Life, both Lehi and Nephi learned that the only way to make it though the mists of darkness, the river of filthy water and past the jeering crowds to Christ, the Atonement and Eternal Life was by holding steadfastly to the Word of God. Helaman made the same analogy when speaking with to his sons ironically named Lehi and Nephi as well. We all remember the counsel: 

"And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”

 ~Helaman 5:12

The sword that we yield in defense of our lives and truth and righteousness is the Spirit, or the Word of God as Paul teaches us in his epistle to the Ephesians. Thus the scriptures are not only guides for us in our lives, but can help us combat and overcome every obstacle and challenge we may face in our lives. Paul additionally teaches that the scriptures help refine us and make us into better people:

"And all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

"That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

~2 Tim 3:16-17