I love the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament). I’m basically obsessed with the Book of Mormon in some ways. I need to spend more time in the New Testament and D&C, which I’ve neglected too much for a long time.

In general I find scriptures fascinating food for thought. I also take an interest in Islamic texts, though I don’t assign them nearly the same personal value as the LDS canonical works.
danithew | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 1:09 am | #

You’re crazy
Bret | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 1:12 am | #

I don’t think you’re crazy, I think your right on the money. Although I am almost as comfortable with the Doctrine and Covenants as I am with the Book of Mormon, I would say your description is fairly accurate.

*grin* Thanks for the smile.
Lisa M | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 8:01 am | #

What’s the Pearl of Great Price? Standing naked under a tree after having been abducted by aliens?
Ronan | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 8:01 am | #

Ha! Classic Ronan.

I think you’ve given the New Testament a bit of a bad rap. The four gospels are in the warm blanket category, at least. I’d compare the OT to a 50 mile hike in decent weather with proper hiking equipment and supplies. It’s doable but not particularly fun. The PoGP is like being a kid and finding some buried treasure and wondering if you’re gonna get in big trouble for handling the stuff…
Geoff Johnston | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 11:51 am | #

Dan,
So is the NT your warm blanket, or is it still a labor to get through?

Geoff,
I’m not saying that I don’t study those or I don’t learn from them, it’s just much more difficult to get involved in them than the Book of Mormon for me. That’s all. Just because the cement is cold it doesn’t mean that I don’t want to be there, I’m just not as comfortable being there. Ya know?

I like your analogies though. I like to see different people’s feelings about the different books. I imagine my dad’s warm blanket is the Old Testament.
Rusty | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 11:58 am | #

If I had to classify the scriptures, I’d want to do it around food.

The Book of Mormon: home-made chicken noodle soup — it’s always good, the ultimate comfort food

The Doctrine and Covenants: a cheeseburger and fries — an american meal (heh), a lot of different flavors all together (pickles, tomatoes, cheese, the burger, etc.)

The New Testament: roast beef — some tough bits, a slice for everyone (from rare in the middle to well done on the ends), satisfying but lacking something if eaten without the side dishes

The Old Testament: sushi — an acquired taste, and a bit foreign to most people, but really worth the effort of getting to know it

The Pearl of Great Price: dessert — rich and satisfying, but often a little bit goes a long way.
Pat Eyler | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 1:03 pm | #

Pat,
Brilliant. Love it.
Rusty | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 1:10 pm | #

Rusty,

You’re right, I love the O.T., it is sooooo rich and full. So much more there than meets the first few readings, hidden messages of J.C., the atonement and the gospel.

N.T. and BOM are tied for my second choice, D&C and PofGP 3rd. But I must admit Pat’s is a great description.

I’d probably relate my feeling to chocolates with different centers, all sweet and delicious with the O.T. being filled with nice chewy caramel, N.T. & BOM a soft truffle, and D&C – PofGP a cherry cordial.

YUM, are the scriptures great!
Don | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 1:22 pm | #

The Pearl of Great Price: dessert — rich and satisfying, but often a little bit goes a long way.

I was thinking of it more like Wasabi. When I eat sushi and come to a piece that is not my favorite, a healthy smattering of Wasabi typicaly does the trick.
J. Stapley | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 2:50 pm | #

I love the OT myself, though I like the sushi designation. I think it’s one of our least accessible books, and the efforts I’ve made have increased my appreciation.

The BoM is like coming home after vacation.

The OT (and NT to a lesser extent), will always be for me like a spring day with sunshine and deep-rooted trees, the smell of black earth and water, stone, rythmic drums, and spices. Bright stars in the deseret, and the promise of mysteries and discovery just beyond your reach.

A hill with wildflowers over a blue lake, light wind making waves in the grass.

Memories of my semester in Jerusalem, essentially.
Ben S. | Email | Homepage | 02.24.05 – 2:53 pm | #

J. Stapely:

I understand the view of the PoGP as wasabi (at least Books of Moses and Abraham), but that just didn’t cover all the bases for me. JS-H stands up well alone, like a sundae or a shake that I might eat just for the joy of it — I’m not sure I’m up to snacking on wasabi.
Pat Eyler | Email | Homepage | 02.25.05 – 4:45 pm | #

I don’t really break the scriptures up by OT/NT/etc in my mind. I just think in terms of my favorite writers. Which are, in order:

Isaiah
John
Paul
Alma
Amulek
Susan M | Email | Homepage | 03.09.05 – 11:37 am | #

Everyone has different emotions or words that move them. I think one of the reasons the Lord gave us so many “scriptures” is so that at any given point, for any given person, there is something that touches them, leads them, or comforts them. We all have “favorties” just as we have favorite general authorities. The important thing to avoid (I think) is to focus entirely on one speaker, writer, scripture, and forget to look elsewhere to understand the big picture.

I feel some people do this with Bruce R. McConkie. He’s a great man, but some people quote more from Mormon Doctrine than any other source, and that can be dangerous.
Joe | Email | Homepage | 06.07.05 – 1:38 pm | #

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