Spiritual Perspectives
A Pearl of Great Price

By Roy Howard
Special to The Independent

I travel frequently, staying in motels and hotels all over this and other countries. I rarely turn on the TV, but I always look in the drawers for a Bible. Most often I find one and am grateful to the Gideons, who place scriptures wherever people gather in over 175 countries, including hotels, hospitals, schools, and with members of the Armed Forces. Their prayer is that each reader will "find the individual instruction and blessing he may need." The words of scripture have always had power to change lives for the better.

When the children of Israel returned from captivity, they had many problems and much to learn, as they had been suffering "not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord" (Amos 8:11). Ezra mourned their condition: "I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens" (Ezra 9:6). They addressed the problem by gathering the people together, "all the men and women who could hear with understanding... and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law" (Nehemiah 8: 2-3). As a result of reading the scriptures, there was a great change that came over the people, and they made covenants to abide by the precepts of the scriptures (Nehemiah 9:38).

The historical period when the scriptures were exclusive, and not shared with the people, is referred to as the "Dark Ages." Every book had to be written by hand, and scripture reading was done in Latin, not the languages of the people. "It shall even be as when a hungry man dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, he is faint, and his soul hath appetite" (Isaiah 29:8). In the mid-15th century, Johann Gutenberg invented a mechanical way of making books, and the Dark Ages gave way to an Age of Enlightenment. "And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. The meek also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel" (Isaiah 29:18-19). Since then the scriptures have become available in nearly every language of the earth. "And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people" (Revelation 14:6).

According to economic theorists, we have passed through the Information Age, when those with information had the advantage. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he had, and buyeth that field" (Matthew 13:44). When information ceased being scarce, the Knowledge Economy commenced. The current economic era is defined as the Intangible Economy, in which four factors of production are the key resources from which economic activity and competitive advantage are primarily derived and delivered today knowledge assets (what people know and put into use), collaboration assets (who people interact with to create value), engagement assets (the level of energy and commitment of people), and time quality (how quickly value is created).

"The kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it" (Matthew 13:45-46). May we know and put into use those ancient words that are like a pearl of great price. May we interact with others and make the scriptures valuable. May we dedicate our energy and commitment to principles of lasting value. As we take time to share the scriptures, our friends and families will be blessed now and in the future.

Roy E. Howard is president of the Lupton Branch, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He can be contacted at cantos@cantos.org.

This column is the result of a desire by community members, representing different faith communities, to share their ideas about bringing a spiritual perspective into our daily lives and community issues.

For information about contributing a guest column, contact Elizabeth Hardin-Burrola at the Independent: (505) 863-8611, ext. 218 or lizreligion01@yahoo.com.