If you're just joining us for Gospel Lessons, here's the first in this five-part series.

Today's reading: John 8:1-11

"He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." – John 8:7

This week's Bible passage depicts one of the many times when the scribes and Pharisees tried to discredit Jesus, but the outcome paints a beautiful portrait of God's grace and mercy.

One morning, as Jesus was teaching in the temple, the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman who was caught in adultery, a sin punishable by death under the Law of Moses. The scribes and Pharisees weren't trying to hold this woman accountable to the law as much as they were trying to trap Jesus in His teachings.

I'm definitely a geek, and my scripture study sheet is probably one of the nerdiest things about me.

When I was in my late teens early 20s, I'd already read through the Bible and the Book of Mormon, and I was ready to kick things up a notch. I wanted to stop reading and start studying.

But I didn't know how.

What are Gospel Lessons? Read the first one here!

Today's reading: 1 Samuel 17

"And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:40)

Today's lesson really isn't so much about metaphor itself as it is an examination of what the rock in this story stands for. Some of us have heard the story of David and Goliath since we were young. David has recently (and secretly) been anointed King of Israel. Still tending his family's flocks, his father sends him to deliver food to his three older brothers who are soldiers in Israel's army, which is in battle against the Philistines.

Today is our first Gospel Lesson! Your teacher is Brother Ben Hemmings, and his topic rocks! Wait, his topic actually is rocks...

Today's reading: 1 Peter 2:5-9

Every day we walk over them. They are pieces of earth that we don't always consider. They can comprise the footpaths we walk on or the area where we park our cars. They are still used as weapons and still stacked to build the walls and foundations of our houses.

PLEASE NOTE: We are trying something different with this article. It presents an interpretation of a portion of scripture that is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the view of The Church of Jesus Christ. It is intended to promote thought and perhaps discussion on this topic. Please consider this before leaving any comments. – Gospel Blog Ministry Review Team

I've always loved the Bible and Book of Mormon but have felt uncomfortable when reading scripture that says, "...after they had dwindled in unbelief they became a dark, and loathsome, and a filthy people, full of idleness and all manner of abominations." (See 1 Nephi 12:22-23; see also Alma 3:6, 2 Nephi 5:21-22, Jacob 3:8, 3 Nephi 2:15-16, among many others.)

Did you ever wonder why Jesus sits at the right hand of God?

The writer to the Hebrews refers to the Day of Atonement when he spoke of "a remembrance again made of sins every year" (Hebrews 10:3). That was the greatest day in the year to a godly Hebrew. It was a time to mourn sin and put it away — for the whole nation of Israel.

But God did not want the sacrifices and offerings of a people whose hearts were far from Him. They had sinned and had "come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). A spotless Lamb was required to be the perfect and only sacrifice.

"Help! I want to read the scriptures more, but there are so many books and chapters, and I'm not sure where to start!"

Drawing closer to the Lord through the word of God is so applicable to our lives, but sometimes we struggle to fully dig into the word because — let's face it — there's so much in there! Here are a few suggestions to develop our studying habits:

A few Sundays ago, our minister preached about the Apostle Peter. Have you ever given Peter much thought? A lot of people have. He's one of the more popular apostles to study because he's so likeable. Brash, rash, quick to act, slow to think, Peter reminds us a lot of us.