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Welcome back to Primarily Scripture! 🎉 After a longer-than-expected break, Cindy Young is thrilled to be back in the studio — and diving into the final chapters of Isaiah (chapters 58–66).

In this episode, we explore one of the most fascinating features of Isaiah's writing: layered prophecy — where a single passage can speak on multiple levels at the same time. We zero in on Isaiah 61, the very verses Jesus Christ Himself stood up and read aloud to announce His ministry (see Luke 4). But here's the twist: those same words can be read as Isaiah's, as the Savior's, and even as yours.

Here's what we cover:

• 📖 Why Isaiah can be confusing — and why that's okay
• 🗝️ How prophecies can apply to the past, the present, and the last days all at once
• 🙌 The multiple layers of Isaiah 61: prophet, Messiah, and YOU
• 💛 Why you don't need to understand every verse to have a meaningful scripture study
• ✨ Encouragement to open your scriptures this week and find your own "nuggets of truth"

Isaiah doesn't have to be intimidating. You don't need to be a scholar — you just need to find something that draws you closer to the Lord. That's it!

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• ✝️ Isaiah 61:1–2
• ✝️ Luke 4:18 (where Jesus quotes Isaiah 61)
• 📝 Free worksheets at primarilyscripture.com

Thanks for being patient while life got crazy, and welcome back. Let's get into the scriptures together! 📖💛

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

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Learn how to transform your scripture study with "mirror questions" — a simple technique that helps you connect ancient stories to your everyday life. Using the story of Esther, Cindy shows you how to ask personalized questions using "I," "me," and "my" to make scripture study meaningful and memorable. Download the free worksheet at primarilyscripture.com!

📖 This week's reading: Esther

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
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 In this episode of Primarily Scripture, Cindy Young explores how to find practical applications when studying scripture – moving beyond doctrines and principles to real, personal action in daily life. Using Elder Bednar’s Venn diagram and insights from For the Strength of Youth, this episode helps you understand that applying gospel truths is deeply personal and always your own responsibility.

📖 This week's reading: 2 Chronicles 14-20; 26; 30

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
Latter Day Saint
Young Women
Young Men
Temple
Aaronic Priesthood
Scripture Study
Study Tips

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This week we're diving into gospel principles — the "WHAT" of the gospel — and how they're rooted in eternal doctrine. Using Elder David A. Bednar's teachings, we break down how to spot gospel principles in scripture, then apply that method to 2 Kings 16–25, focusing on King Josiah's covenant in 2 Kings 23:3–4.

📖 This week's reading: 2 Kings 16–25

Sources:

• Excerpt from Elder Bednar’s book, “Increase in Learning”: https://religion.byu.edu/eternal-family/doctrines-principles-and-applications
• Elder Bednar’s conference talk, “The Principles of My Gospel”: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2021/04/56bednar?lang=eng
• Cindy’s incomplete list of gospel principles: Agency * Accountability * Benevelonce * Charity * Chastity * Consecration * Diligence * Discipleship * Education/Knowledge/Learning * Enduring * Faith * Fasting * Friendship * Forgiveness * Gratitude * Hope * Honesty * Humility * Integrity * Leadership * Love * Ministering * Missionary work * Modesty * Obedience * Patience * Prayer * Progress/Become * Repentance * Reverence * Sabbath Day observance * Sacrifice * Scripture study * Service * Tithing * True (we believe in being) * Unity * Virtuous * Word of Wisdom * Work

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
Latter Day Saint
Young Women
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This week we’re focusing on doctrine. What is it? How can you find it? And why it’s so important.

📖 This week's reading: 2 Kings 2-7

Additional Resources for you:

• Elder Bednar teaches about doctrine: https://religion.byu.edu/eternal-family/doctrines-principles-and-applications
• Seminary manual lists the basic doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/new-testament-seminary-teacher-manual/appendix/basic-doctrines?lang=eng
• Liahona article, “How is Doctrine Established?” https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2013/09/how-is-doctrine-established?lang=eng

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
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Have you ever wondered why we have all these stories in the scriptures? This week, Cindy breaks down three essential things to look for every time you read: 1) learning about Jesus Christ, 2) His doctrines (eternal truths), and 3) principles (things we can do).

Using the story of Elijah and the widow woman from 1 Kings 17, Cindy walks through how to apply this framework to any scripture story — and shows how even one short passage can teach us about the Savior's care, the role of prophets, and the principles of faith and obedience.

📖 This week's reading: 1 Kings 12–13 and 17–22

In this episode:

• Why we read the scriptures in the first place
• The 3 things to look for in every story
• A deep dive into Elijah and the widow woman
• A journaling challenge to make your study more meaningful

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
Latter Day Saint
Young Women
Young Men
Temple
Aaronic Priesthood
Scripture Study
Study Tips

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After several weeks of a break, Cindy Young is back with the third and final segment of her Power of the Pencil series, where she teaches you ways that writing can elevate your scripture study. In this episode she talks specifically about 2 different approaches to journaling - one that you can do as you study, verse by verse, and the other at the end of your study sessions. She encourages you to listen to the Spirit either way, and to prayerfully ask, "what should I be learning today" as you write your thoughts.

Note - the episode number indicates which week of the Come Follow Me curriculum each episode aligns with. Due to planned and unplanned circumstances, episodes of this podcast jump from 15 to 26. This is not a mistake and you are not missing out on the episodes in between - there are none. Thank you for understanding that life gets crazy sometimes. <3

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
Latter Day Saint
Young Women
Young Men
Temple
Aaronic Priesthood
Scripture Study
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In part two of “The Power of the Pencil,” Cindy Young teaches how annotating scriptures—writing short notes, single words, tags, or questions in the margins—can turn passive reading into active study. She explains tagging story sections at the top of pages to quickly find and review specific scripture stories, and highlights this week’s reading in Exodus 14–18, including the Red Sea crossing and manna. Cindy shares simple annotation ideas such as writing “WOW,” naming unnamed principles like faith or courage, using digital tags for quick annotating, and writing questions beside underlined phrases, using Exodus 14:13 (“stand still”) as an example. She encourages starting small, suggests sticky notes, bookmarks, and wide-margin editions, and points viewers to a free worksheet on her website.

Support the show

And if you've found this helpful, then please Subscribe, Follow, Like, Share, and leave a review. =o)

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Don't forget the parable of the snowball: listening to someone else talk about the gospel is like having snowballs thrown at you. Reading the scriptures is like making your own snowball. Taking the time to search, ponder, and pray about what you've read is like rolling the snowball around and around so that it grows and grows. So don't just listen to me - please go read for yourself so your knowledge and testimony can grow and grow!!

Come Follow Me Old Testament
Beginners Guide to Scripture Study
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
The Book of Mormon
Doctrine and Covenants
CFM 2026
Teens, Youth, Kids, Family
Primary
LDS
Latter Day Saint
Young Women
Young Men
Temple
Aaronic Priesthood
Scripture Study
Study Tips