Value of Memorization

After yesterday’s post on how to memorize, I realized that although I speak of memorization on my dvd, I needed to first make a case for the need of memorization here. Most of us are quite good at paraphrasing classic scriptural references, but not nearly so good at actually using the exact words that were used by the original author. Often, this leads to a more personal feeling when we refer to that passage, however what we gain in feeling is lost in clarity and the ability of the Holy Ghost to testify of truth.
The Book of Mormon was translated by the “gift and power of God” from reformed Egyptian to English, Would we then re-translate it from English to “Mike Zimmerman” common usage? Too often we do not do it by the gift and power that Joseph Smith had when he did it the first time. We discover new things in verses we’ve read thousands of times, which without knowing might be eliminated as we edit out key words not knowing that they were important. Thus quoted scripture will have more power than paraphrased verses will and will always be more accurate.
Therefore we need to memorize common verses so that they can be on the tip of our tongues when needed. We might not have time to get out our scriptures, or look up the verses electronically but our memory can store not only the location of important verses but the whole of the content. As a missionary this is an invaluable part of sharing the Gospel. We never know when we will meet someone on a plane, or in the checkout line, or at work that will have a question best answered by a verse we have heard recently, or one we study often. We must be ready, and that means memorizing!

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