The Holy Bible, an article written by Gene Groner

Having read hundreds of books over my lifetime, and written and edited numerous books and articles, I   have never seen or heard of any book to compare with the Holy Bible. An estimated 5.6 billion copies of the Bible have been purchased worldwide. It has been translated into 698 languages, and sold in over 100 countries. Each year approximately 100 million Bibles are purchased throughout the world. You can now have access to the Bible in braille, in audio version, and in digital formats. The Bible is by far the most widely read and easily accessible book ever written.

I received my first Bible from my grandmother Ada Spohrer. She gave me a set of the three standard books of the church upon my high school graduation from Marshall High School in Marshall, Missouri. I still have them and cherish them in my library today. I never tire of reading them, for in them I have encountered God and Christ through the Holy Spirit many times. Their value to me cannot possibly be measured in material terms. Each time I pick up one of these books, I remember vividly my grandmother and my mother. They faithfully brought me to church twice a week, just one of the many ways they showed their love for me, for our Heavenly Father, and for our church. It was in their home that I first read the Saints Herald, and I’ve been reading it ever since. I learned from mother and grandmother  what it means to value and to love family, friends, church, and most of all God and Jesus Christ.

Today I have a number of different versions of the Holy Bible. I find it useful to compare readings from several of them, as clarity and readability vary from one to another, especially when I am studying and preparing to speak or write about a particular scripture or theme. By reading from various scriptures, I am better prepared, and I find it easier to understand the underlying message. Knowing the scriptures also strengthens my faith and fortitude whenever temptation calls. Jesus, when tempted by Satan in the wilderness, was able to resist temptation by quoting scripture, so I have learned to memorize various passages as a means of gaining the upper hand whenever the need arises. I believe this not only helps me, it pleases my Father in heaven. I recommend the memorization of scripture from an early age and on throughout our life here on earth. After all, Jesus gave us the perfect example, as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11 NIV, when Jesus was tested in the wilderness:

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.

3 The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

5 Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple.

6 “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:

“‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”

7 Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.

9 “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

10 Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

11 Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.