The Snacker and the Feaster- Tips on How to Feast on the Words of Christ

With the holidays coming just around the corner, it has me thinking a lot about food- moist turkeys, steaming casseroles, rolls with melted butter that seems to melt in your mouth as you take a bite. A lot of us look forward to this time of year. We anticipate gathering around a feast with people that we love. To me, Thanksgiving is not just a dinner- it becomes an event.

It’s so easy to think about our physical hunger. When we are truly hungry, we know it. We feel it and we desire to eat.

When I was reading my scriptures not too long ago, I came across a verse that stood out to me. In 2nd Nephi 31:20, the prophet Nephi says, “Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.” He quotes this again in 2nd Nephi 32:3: “Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do.”

I love the phrase “feast on the word of Christ.” I find Nephi’s choice of words quite interesting. When I think of the word “feast,” my mind instantly thinks about a Thanksgiving meal, one that has a lot of options of food to eat. He didn’t say “snack on the word of Christ” or “mindlessly eat because you are bored on the word of Christ.” He specifically says, “feast.”

I asked my husband what the phrase “feasting on the word of Christ” meant to him. After thinking for a minute, he said:

“One who is feasting or feeding himself regularly or storing food regularly is better prepared when the famine comes. Likewise, one who is already feasting on the word of Christ consistently will be well-nourished spiritually vs someone who is malnourished in spiritual things. So, when the “famine,” (or trial) happens, the one who is malnourished is more likely to separate himself from the word of God, whereas the one who is nourished will stay close to God. I think the Lord knows that there will be “times of famine” in our lives and He loves us so much that He invites us to feast on His words now so that we are prepared when those “famines” come.”

When I think of the word “feast,” my mind instantly thinks about a Thanksgiving meal, one that has a lot of options of food to eat. He didn’t say “snack on the word of Christ” or “mindlessly-eat-because-you’re-bored on the word of Christ.” He specifically says, “feast.”

Perhaps, just like a Thanksgiving feast, we should treat our studying of the scriptures like an event to look forward to, a meal of words for our mind to chew on, savoring every word and phrase so that we can get the full effect, rather than just “snacking” on the word every once in a while or whenever it’s convenient for us. Learning to feast on the words of Christ will help us be prepared when trials happen.

When it comes to the scriptures, we want to be “feasters of the word,” rather than “snackers of the word.” Here are some ideas of how we can do that.

HOW TO BE A FEASTER OF THE WORD

SNACKER- READ THE SCRIPTURES JUST TO READ

The Snacker of the word reads just to read. While this is not a bad thing (reading is always better than not reading), when we read just to read, we may not get the fullness of the word. We might just skim the word or just read the story without thinking much of it.

FEASTER- STUDY THE WORD

The Feaster takes the time to study the scriptures. When reading, they take the time to understand the context. If there is a word that doesn’t make sense or maybe they don’t know what it means, they look up the word. They mark things that stand out to them.

SNACKER- READ LAST MINUTE

The Snacker might read last minute.

DISCLAIMER: I am guilty of this. There has been so many times when I wake up late, therefore I rushing to get things rolling, I’m taking care of my baby, I’m going to work, I’m cleaning the house and doing the laundry and making sure everyone’s needs are met, I get the baby ready for bed and I get myself ready for bed and as I am starting to doze off… I suddenly remember that I have forgotten to read my scriptures. Except at this point, I’m already so tired that I just grab my book and read a verse just to say that I did it. I know that when I read my scriptures last minute, I don’t get the richness of the words. I don’t get to fully understand what it is that I have to learn.

FEASTER- SETS TIME ASIDE FOR STUDYING

The Feaster schedules out time in the day to study the scriptures. Sister Michelle Craig, 1st counselor in the General Young Women Presidency, said, “As you use your agency to carve out time every day to draw close to God’s voice… overtime His voice will become clearer and more familiar to you,” (October 2019).

Pick a time that works for you to read every day, and once you pick a time, pick a place where you will read and study the scriptures. For example, I’ve started waking up a little bit earlier in the morning and I go and sit in a specific chair in the living room where my scriptures are already placed so that I am ready to learn.

It’s also ok to realize that sometimes a time that had previously worked for you may not work for you now. Don’t be discouraged if this happens. For example, I used to read at night, but then I realized that if I scheduled my studies in first thing in the morning, I feel more enlightened, happier, and I get it done.

SNACKER- READ WHATEVER WITH NO PURPOSE

The Snacker reads without purpose. Sometimes, (mostly when I put off reading last minute right before I am falling asleep and I am already tired,) I will just grab the scriptures and randomly open them and read just to read. While this is not necessarily bad, I don’t get anything out of it because when I do this, I don’t have a purpose. I’m not looking for answers or inspiration or trying to be enlightened. This is like “mindlessly snacking” the word.

FEASTER- HAS A PURPOSE

In contrast, the Feaster has a purpose in reading. Everyone’s purpose will be different. Maybe your purpose is the read The Book of Mormon from front to cover. Maybe your purpose is to do your personal study for Come Follow Me and you want to be prepared for family discussions. Maybe your purpose is to study a certain topic, such as Faith, or the Atonement, and so you look up different scriptures and conference talks to learn more about that topic.

Having a purpose in studying gives the feaster a destination in our scripture studies.

Whatever the purpose is, Heavenly Father will know and will bless us in our efforts.

SNACKER- DOES NOT APPLY TO THEIR LIVES

The Snacker finds no application from the stories in the scriptures. They read the story, but may not strive to understand the doctrine. They don’t apply the doctrine in their lives.

FEASTER- APPLY THE WORD TO THEIR LIVES

The Feaster, however, does find application of the word in their lives. They look past the story and look for the converting principle and apply it to their lives. They may think about the story they are reading and ask questions. They try to find situations in their lives that may be similar to the situation that they are reading about and ponder what they would do or perhaps what they should do.

SNACKER- FORGETS WHAT IS READ

The Snacker reads, but then forgets. Because they may not try to find application in their lives, they don’t think much about what they read and therefore may not try to make changes in their lives.

FEASTER- TAKES ACTION

The Feaster takes action. Because they are feasting on the words, they apply the converting principle they have read about in their lives. They ask, “How will I change because of what I read?” And then, they strive to do it.

CHRIST IS OUR ULTIMATE EXAMPLE

The greatest example of being a “feaster of the word” was Christ. He was constantly quoting scriptures and teaching from them. He is the word, and because of it, we can know what we need. He asks us to follow him and “feast” on His word so that He can help us through our own struggles.

During the time when I was struggling the most after my parents and brothers passed away, studying the scriptures became my lifeline. It was the thing that got me through the hardest and darkest times. It made me realize that I truly cannot make it without Him.

May we always strive to be spiritually fed.