A Chapter a Day

“Learn of me,” counseled our Lord Jesus Christ; “and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matt. 11:29.)

As a means to build faith and increase our understanding of the Savior and his teachings, all members of the Church are encouraged by the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve to more earnestly study the gospel on a day-to-day basis. Through the Melchizedek Priesthood quorum study course and the Sunday School Gospel Doctrine classes, the New Testament is being taught this entire year. Suggested home reading assignments are provided in connection with those courses, and it is hoped by the General Authorities that these reading assignments are being followed.

In addition to these reading assignments, it is recommended that immediately all families begin reading the scriptural books that detail the life of Christ, both in Palestine and in ancient America. These are the four Gospels of the New Testament and 3 Nephi in the Book of Mormon, especially beginning with chapter 11.

It is suggested by the General Authorities that members read one chapter a day, first from Matthew, then consecutively from Mark, Luke, John, and 3 Nephi.

In the recently completed April general conference, President Gordon B. Hinckley said: “Every Latter-day Saint has the responsibility to know for himself or herself with a certainty beyond doubt that Jesus is the resurrected, living Son of the living God. The Brethren of the Council of the Twelve are advocating that we read a chapter a day of the Gospels—that is, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible; and Third Nephi in the Book of Mormon, particularly beginning with the eleventh chapter of Third Nephi where is found the account of Christ’s visit among the Nephites in this hemisphere.” (Ensign, May 1983, p. 80.)

The plan is simple: read a chapter a day from the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. When we finish the four Gospels, the Brethren encourage us to then read what has been called “the Fifth Gospel,” 3 Nephi. The great latter-day purpose of the Book of Mormon is taken from its anciently inspired title page—it is a book for “the convincing of the Jew and Gentile that Jesus is the Christ, the Eternal God, manifesting himself unto all nations.”

Third Nephi is “another testimony” of the Lord Jesus Christ, another testimony of the teachings associated with his mortal and early resurrected ministry. Reading 3 Nephi as 1983 draws to a close also prepares Latter-day Saint adults for their Church-wide scripture study text of 1984—the Book of Mormon. By focusing on 3 Nephi before studying the entire Book of Mormon, adults gain a clear perspective of the central purpose of the Book of Mormon as another testimony of Jesus Christ.

“Come, follow me” (Luke 18:22), pled our Savior. To do so wisely, each of us must know as much as we can about his life and teachings.

Let’s begin now. Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and 3 Nephi contain a total of 119 chapters. That’s 119 days that could influence our lives forever!