If you’ve ever felt like you’re just going through the motions with your scripture study and aren’t really getting anywhere, it’s time to pick up Robert L. Millet and Lloyd D. Newell’s latest daily devotional book, “Draw Near Unto Me”.

“Draw Near Unto Me” is Millet and Newell’s third daily devotional creation, created specifically for studying the Doctrine and Covenants. It follows “Jesus, The Very Thought of Thee” (Deseret Book, Nov. 2002), created for New Testament study, and “When Ye Shall Receive These Things” (Deseret Book, Nov. 2003), created for Book of Mormon study. While these books weren’t developed to take the place of daily scripture study, they can be a very effective aid in digging deeper into the scriptures.

“Draw Near Unto Me” has taken the Doctrine and Covenants and split it into 365 passages, one for each day of the year. Each page has a scripture at the top, and then an insight by the authors following. While some of the author’s insights might seem a little elementary, they can still be useful in pondering why the scriptures were made for our day.

“Draw Near Unto Me” is a great gift book – perfect for the upcoming holiday season. It’s beautiful in form, and the messages are inspiring. I would recommend this book for all ages. It’s not only great for personal scripture study, but it would be awesome for Family Home Evening, Seminary, and those little gospel discussions with your children.

“Draw Near Unto Me” is published by Deseret Book and retails for $13.95.

Author’s note:
Because I often make decisions on what books to buy based on the excerpts I read, I am including this excerpt from “Draw Near Unto Me”. Enjoy!

September 12

“Therefore, renounce war and proclaim peace, and seek diligently to turn the hearts of the children to their fathers, and the hearts of the fathers to the children;…lest I come and smite the whole earth with a curse, and all flesh be consumed before me.”
Doctrine & Covenants 98:16-17

Earth has had few seasons of copmlete peace, particularly since the time of the American Civil War, which marked the beginning of uninterrupted warfare somewhere on the earth (D&C 87). When the Saints are commissioned to “renounce war and proclaim peace,” they are not commissioned to be pacifists, for there are those unfortunate times when we must defend our families or our homes, even unto bloodshed (Alma 43-47: 48:14). We should strive for peace, we should pray for the leaders of nations, and we should do everything possible in our immediate surroundings to create a peaceful atmosphere. Most important, we are called to teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, whcich in the end is the world’s only hope. Only the gospel can bring peace of mind, build and strengthen interpersonal relationships, bind and seal families everlastingly, chase darkness from our midst, and banish pride and arrogance from the hearts of those hungry for power.