The following are my suggestions:

Study modern-day revelation. The Pearl of Great Price, the Book of Mormon, the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible, and the Doctrine and Covenants all contain significant passages which enlighten teachings of the Old Testament. (For example, see 2 Ne. 3:5-21 and JST Gen. 50:24-38.)- Follow the counsel given in the Book of Mormon to study specific books, such as Isaiah (3 Ne. 23:1, Morm. 8:23) or the prophets. (3 Ne. 23:5.) Use the Book of Mormon to more fully understand the law of Moses and its fulfillment.

- Cross reference prophecies from the Old Testament with their fulfillment in the New Testament and modern times. Many can be found in the footnotes. Others can be recognized as the Holy Ghost teaches. I compare scriptures in the various standard works. I read something in Isaiah recently that suddenly became plain as day.

- Study examples of individuals who served as "types of Christ." These may include Enoch, Abraham, Moses and Joseph.

- Use the Bible dictionary to learn more about the unfamiliar, such as feasts, dispensations, etc.

- Pray and ponder. When you pray over what you are studying, you receive more insight and catch the meaning of a passage. Recently, I read a passage in Zechariah that was revelation to me. "There's the answer," I thought. - Becky Longmore, Murray, Utah

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What we did:

Buried treasure

The Old Testament is like buried treasure. You have to dig under the surface to find its great hidden worth. Some ways I've found to prayerfully study the Old Testament are the following:

- Use the footnotes and be familiar with the abbreviations in them for translations of words. Use the maps.

- Make special note of the Joseph Smith Translation and mark them in a special color throughout all your scriptures. This will increase your testimony of the beloved Prophet Joseph Smith.

- Read and study with a guide such as the Religion 301 Student Manual to enhance your understanding of God's love for His children.

- Attend the temple and observe the symbolism there that is also used in the Old Testament. This increased my understanding and spiritual appreciation of the Bible the most.

- Teach Old Testament stories in family home evenings. We also love to play Old Testament board games. - Pat Harrison, Gainesville, Fla.

Great literature

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the nature of the task has changed, but that our ability to do has increased." I found this quote by Emerson in a Sunday School manual years ago, and it has especially been true for me as it applies to reading the Old Testament.

I'd had trouble getting past Exodus, but challenged my Sunday School students and myself to read the whole text. It took a long time, but it was extremely satisfying. I gained such a love of these beautiful scriptures. I understood more fully the laws that were mentioned in later scripture, the promises that were given and fulfilled, and I also realized that the Old Testament is a beautiful example of great literature.

I had always loved my Bible Story Book as a child with its detailed art work, but reading Old Testament stories added even more vivid pictures to my mind. Esther's faith and courage were phenomenal, and I shared it and other stories with my children. How exciting to receive a letter from my missionary daughter writing of experiences with sweet ladies at a Jewish retirement center where she volunteered in Toronto, Ontario. They were greatly impressed and happy to meet a Christian girl who knew Old Testament stories so well and loved them as they did.

Whenever I read Psalm 100, it reminds me to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord. . . . be thankful unto him, and bless his name" for giving me these scriptures to read, wonderful stories to share with my family, and even splendid music to participate in and listen to, such as Handel's "Messiah."

Truly, the Old Testament is a testament to the Lord's love for us and His desire that we be reunited with Him eternally. - Eileen Clay de Mars, Tacoma, Wash.

Great help

Some years ago, I took a year of Hebrew at a city college here in Chicago, Ill. Even this basic knowledge of Hebrew is a great help in appreciating the Old Testament.

The ancient Hebrews loved to play with sounds and word relationships. All of this is, of necessity, lost in translation. But, because Hebrew has a reputation for being a difficult language, most people are willing to suffer the loss. In fact, Hebrew is no more difficult than any other language.

When the Saints were in Kirtland, Joseph Smith encouraged the study of Hebrew. Unfortunately, that effort was generally unsuccessful. However, we have better teaching materials available today, and with a little effort, we can learn to appreciate the creation in the words, "Bereshit bara Elohim. . . . " - "In the beginning God created. . . ." - Allan E. Foster, Chicago, Ill.

Prayerfully study

The only way to gain a deeper spiritual appreciation of the Old Testament is to prayerfully study it. We, as Latter-day Saints, believe the Bible to be the word of God. (See Eighth Article of Faith.) There must be a desire to know all that God has revealed to us. Each word He has given us, anciently as well as modern, is pertinent and applicable to our daily lives. (D&C 6:2.) The Old Testament is rich with examples of faith and love.

Heavenly Father teaches us line upon line and precept upon precept. (D&C 128:21.) The Old Testament coupled with the Pearl of Great Price are the beginnings of our faith. The Old Testament clearly shows that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. (See Mal. 3:6.)

Realize that Old Testament people were real. They felt the way we do. They had their faith tried and tested just as Father Lehi. Prayer, reading, meditation and life application will bless you with a deeper spiritual appreciation of the Old Testament. - Melissa Current, Concord, Calif.

Act out stories

My husband, Eric, and I strive to help our children gain an understanding of Old Testament principles and stories. During family home evenings, we sometimes act out stories from the Old Testament, such as the story of David and Goliath.

Stories in the Old Testament can be neglected because of the difficulty of the reading. But by reading the stories, you gain an appreciation of the principles.

Get Old Testament readers to help children begin to gain a testimony and understanding of that sacred book of scripture. - Kjirstin Youngberg, Mapleton, Utah

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How to checklist:

1 Seek spiritual guidance; pray, ponder, attend the temple.

2 Cross reference with other scriptures; use footnotes.

3 Study lives of Old Testament figures; learn from them.

4 Study, discuss Old Testament stories as a family.

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WRITE TO US:

Jan. 17 "How to avoid greed."

Jan. 24 "How to be more resilient in day-to-day life."

Jan. 31 "How to save more, spend less."

Feb. 7 "How to teach children respect for their elders."

Feb. 14 "How to keep a clean home despite a busy schedule."

Feb. 21 "How to teach children to be honest."

- Also interested in letters on these topics: "How to get out of a rut in your career," "How to help yourself or loved one overcome an abusive nature," "How to be prepared to share the gospel and answer questions," "How to build a strong work ethic in children," "How to encourage children and young people to be physically active."

Had any good experiences or practical success in any of the above subjects? Share them with our readers in about 100-150 words. Write the "How-to" editor, Church News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110, send fax to (801) 237-2524 or use internet E-mail: forum@desnews.com. Please include a name and phone number. Contributions may be edited or excerpted and will not be returned. Due to limited space, some contributions may not be used; those used should not be regarded as official Church doctrine or policy. Material must be received at least 12 days before publication date.