Magnify podcast guest Maria Eckersley came up with five questions to help her learn as much as possible from the women in scripture. She shared that these questions helped her see “there is so much more in scripture [about women] than I gave it credit for. ... New things opened up; little lightbulbs went off.”
Here are the five questions and how they can enrich personal scripture study.
1. How does her story illuminate the plan of salvation?
Maria shares that the inspiration for this question came from a quote by President Russell M. Nelson. He said, “Women have been at the center of our Heavenly Father’s plan from the beginning. God’s plan of salvation was dependent upon the heroic actions of two valiant women—Eve, ‘the mother of all living,’ and Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Studying women in scripture with this question in mind helps us understand that even if the scope of our earthly mission may not be apparent, we can choose to trust in the Lord to show us how we are part of His great plan.
2. How does her story illuminate the power of covenants?
To understand how a particular woman’s story teaches us more about our covenants, look for covenantal language in the verses. Words and phrases relating to posterity, prosperity, the promised land, and protection point to covenants and covenant belonging.
As we look at how women in scripture teach us about the power of covenants, we can recognize their situations as similar to our own and their examples of faithfulness can serve as guides for our own faith journey.
3. How does her story illuminate surrounding stories?
This idea opens a wider lens on the woman’s story, showing how her piece contributes to a greater whole. Maria shares, “I don't think you have to make their story bigger to make it meaningful. Their part of the story is small, but it is really pivotal.”
Another way to look at this question is to see how one woman’s story shines a light on verses about another woman. “Seeing their stories side by side, women illuminate other women as well,” Maria explains.
Studying this question can help us understand the importance of our unique and specific part in God’s plan.
4. How does her story illuminate the gift of agency?
Or put another way, Given her circumstances, what other choices could she have made? This can help us see how her faith guides her decisions.
Asking these questions can offer new perspectives on the scripture passage. It can also help us better appreciate our own gift of agency as we study wise examples of women in scripture righteously exercising theirs.
5. How does her story illuminate the Savior’s character?
Maria shares, “Every story in scripture that lifts you is because you learn something about the Savior—some facet of His character, His mannerisms, His way—and the women in scripture often do this for me.”
This question aims to help us come closer to the Savior as we study, which will bless our lives in personalized ways.
“The more I dove in and studied, the more it ... kept illuminating things for me, and not just ... [my] understanding of scripture, but in my life,” Maria explains. “I found myself drawn to solutions that were already in scripture and that had been there the whole time, and I just hadn't paid attention to them before.”
Hear more of Maria’s insights about women in scripture such as Hannah, Mary, Abish, and Emma, on the Magnify podcast.
For more gospel study helps and ideas, see the stories below:
▶ Have we misunderstood virtue? 2 realizations I had after Pres. Nelson's talk
▶ A creative way to study the Doctrine and Covenants
▶ 'After all we can do': A crucial thing you might misunderstand about this verse
