Understanding the Scriptures

I was studying this morning in Jacob 7 this morning and I came across a scripture which said this:

 Jacob 7

10And I said unto him: Believest thou the scriptures? And he said, Yea.

 11And I said unto him: Then ye do not understand them; for they truly testify of Christ. Behold, I say unto you that none of the ^aprophets have written, nor ^bprophesied save they have spoken concerning this Christ.

This is the Prophet Jacob speaking to Sherem, whom the later was trying to overthrow the church.  It is interesting how many people say they believe the scriptures and really don't (not just when they deny Christ).  Elder D. Todd Christofferson spoke somewhat about this concept:

"In a complete reversal from a century ago, many today would dispute with Alma about the seriousness of immorality. Others would argue that it’s all relative or that God’s love is permissive. If there is a God, they say, He excuses all sins and misdeeds because of His love for us—there is no need for repentance. Or at most, a simple confession will do. They have imagined a Jesus who wants people to work for social justice but who makes no demands upon their personal life and behavior. ² But a God of love does not leave us to learn by sad experience that “wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10; see also Helaman 13:38). His commandments are the voice of reality and our protection against self-inflicted pain. The scriptures are the touchstone for measuring correctness and truth, and they are clear that real happiness lies not in denying the justice of God or trying to circumvent the consequences of sin but in repentance and forgiveness through the atoning grace of the Son of God (see Alma 42).

"Scripture tutors us in principles and moral values essential to maintaining civil society, including integrity, responsibility, selflessness, fidelity, and charity. In scripture, we find vivid portrayals of the blessings that come from honoring true principles, as well as the tragedies that befall when individuals and civilizations discard them. Where scriptural truths are ignored or abandoned, the essential moral core of society disintegrates and decay is close behind. In time, nothing is left to sustain the institutions that sustain society." (The Blessing of Scripture, Elder D. Todd Christofferson, April 2011 GC.)

And along with that for an example.  While I was out here on my mission I was tracting and met a woman.  She told me that my church would not accept her and that she went to another church that did.  On further investigation, I discovered she was lesbian.  She told me in affect, "That Jesus loves everyone regardless of anything that they do or say."  She was a perfect example of what both previous scriptures are conveying.  We are again taught many times to love the sinner and hate the sin; so I told this woman that we wouldn't reject here if she came to our church service.  We all need to remember to continue to study and be sure we understand the commandments from the Lord.