Reading, writing and grammar classes are important!

It's interesting that king Benjamin taught his sons all about the language of his fathers - he felt it was important that they learn how to read and understand the language so that they could become men of understanding.  It is a sad thing to watch people struggle to read and many times I have thought how hard it is for a person who can't read to ever succeed and prosper in general nor come to understand deeply the things of God.

King Benjamin understood how important it was to teach his sons to read and understand the language but he also knew it was important to teach them what they should read.  "And he also taught them concerning the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, saying: My sons, I would that ye should remember that were it not for these plates, which contain these records and these commandments, we must have suffered in ignorance, even at this present time, not knowing the mysteries of God."  He goes on for several verses talking about how important the Plates of Brass are to them and then says "And now, my sons, I would that ye should remember to search them diligently, that ye may profit thereby . . . " (Mosiah 1:2-7)

What can we take from these verses?  I think one thing to take away is that knowing how to read and understand what we read is an important skill to learn and to teach our children.  And just as important as learning how to read is learning what to read.  Reading the scriptures regularly is crucial to developing and maintaining a testimony of the Savior and having it grow deep enough to sustain us.  It is often while reading the scriptures that the Spirit speaks to us and gives us the personal revelation we need to see things as they really are and so we won't be deceived. (Jacob 4:13)

". . . whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction." (1 Nephi 15:24)

Oh how I love the scriptures!!!!