Primary children sing, "Scripture power keeps me safe from sin. / Scripture power is the power to win. / Scripture power! Ev'ryday I need / The power that I get each time I read." The song reminds us what prophets and apostles across the ages have impressed upon members of the church: Know and study the scriptures.

One especially effective way to learn gospel principles is to study the stories we find in the scriptures. Storytelling always has been a productive and powerful way to disseminate moral and cultural values to a society. Scripture stories teach and reinforce theological truths. While doctrinal discourses and pithy maxims offer great insight into gospel doctrine, stories are particularly effective because:

1. They are easily remembered.

2. They offer doctrine in a palatable form.

3. Their often compelling storylines induce readers or listeners to finish the narrative.

4. As aspects of our lives relate to a story they establish for us an instinctive personal connection to the tale.

Robert Darnton, an American historian, wrote on the culture of 18th-century France in his book "The Great Cat Massacre and Other Episodes in French Cultural History." He explained his intention was, "to show not merely what people thought, but how they thought -- how they construed their world, invested it with meaning, and infused it with emotion. ... (how) ordinary people made sense of their world."  

One chapter was "Peasants Tell Tales: The Meaning of Mother Goose." In it Darnton describes a number of what today we read as simple, whimsical "fairy tales" that were, in the 18th-century, stories deeply invested with meaning. They were "told around firesides in peasant cottages during long winter evenings" and although they "did not moralize explicitly ... (they did) convey a particular view of the world" and explained "how the world (wa)s made and how one can cope with it."

A similar claim can be made about Bible stories. They are written to illuminate eternal Christian truths. They educate readers about right and wrong. Read prayerfully they will sharpen an individual's moral compass. A small sampling of Old Testament stories illustrates this verity.

Who has not heard the story of Noah and the ark? People mocked while Noah built a ship, fitted it with supplies, people and animals, and survived a flood when all around him perished. The story presents a man who remained righteous when so many around him chose to be wicked. It teaches that when prophets counsel and give direction they often do so cognizant of the future. The story indicates character traits essential for maintaining righteousness in a wicked world: practice justice, maintain personal integrity, be completely obedient to God and to his commandments, preach the gospel and act in faith.

Another tale, and one that cannot fail to give readers pause, tells of Abraham commanded to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Critical to the narrative is the gospel principle of sacrifice. Individuals recognize from the saga the necessity of being willing to sacrifice all they have for the gospel of Jesus Christ.

A good starting point for the story is when Abraham gathers with others before the great high priest Melchizedek who administers the sacrament to him and accepts his tithes. This act of sacrifice precedes God's command to Abraham to sacrifice his son. Abraham, although heartbroken, obediently submits his will to God's will. He climbs the mountain with his son and places him on an altar. Having passed the test he is stopped just as he is about to slay Isaac. As President Thomas S. Monson explains, "Abraham qualifies as a model of unquestioning obedience."

After the young Joseph was sold into bondage in Egypt he rose to become chief servant in Potiphar's household. When Potiphar's wife tried to seduce him he did not stay and try to reason with her. He ran from the situation! Though falsely accused and imprisoned Joseph preserved his chastity and his virtue. He suffered but remained optimistic and maintained his abiding faith in God. After seven years he was plucked from prison and became Pharaoh's chief adviser, second in command in all of Egypt. He was able to save his family and his people from death when famine struck.

Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin described: "Joseph, the son of Jacob, a model of integrity. ... The Lord expects us to live lives of integrity and ... the rewards of integrity are immeasurable."

Elder L. Tom Perry noted, "We learn a great lesson from Joseph. When he was presented with a temptation, he immediately separated himself from even the appearance of evil. ... When we are confronted with that which is evil and degrading -- whether it be the wrong kind of music, a television program, or the Internet which places us in the wrong environment -- how strengthening it is to remember the story of Joseph: 'And (he) fled, and got him out.'"

Scripture stories are powerful learning and teaching tools. They are deeply invested with meaning, elucidate doctrine and have wide application. They can be profitably read and taught over and over again. However, as valuable as they are, they are of little worth if they are not studied, taught and treasured. It is our implicit duty to know them, teach them and apply the principles in them in our lives.