Growing up my Mom did everything in her power to get us up at 6am to read scriptures. It took us all about 15-20 minutes to work our way out of bed and then down the stairs to the family room. Once everyone was downstairs my Dad would emerge from his room to join us. When I envision these early mornings I see myself with a huge blanket around me, laying on the floor, with one eye open. My older sister Kelsey sometimes doing the same thing, and my younger siblings irritable and grouchy. I could not tell you one thing we read about, and honestly I didn't really care.
I graduated from Seminary which I am really grateful, but honestly I had no interest in attending whatsoever. I either had Seminary for my first period class, which was a great time to get some extra sleep at home, or I had it right after lunch. We were given a 40 minute lunch.... Um that was not long enough. Needless to say I was gone from Seminary more than I was there. When it came down to graduation time, I had 45 days of make-up work to do. It seemed impossible, but my Mom was eager for me to graduate. So after finishing all the work I was eligible to graduate. I attended the graduation and received my "diploma" but deep inside I felt like I was totally not worthy of it.
After graduating high school and moving out to Virginia, I was able to attend Institute every Tuesday. Not only was it a great opportunity to mingle and meet people, I found myself really interested in what the teachers were teaching us. I came to have a better appreciation for what I was being taught, and a better understanding of the scriptures.
I never did personally read the scriptures while in Seminary, because I was too busy with all the other important things in my life. (Which was my mind set) I would start reading the Book of Mormon and end up around 2 Nephi, and I would give up. It wasn't until Preslie died, where I felt like I needed something more than just grieving books. I signed myself up for Institute and slowly started reading sporadically through the scriptures. I loved attending my class, but I still didn't have the time to add scripture reading into my routine 100%.
This past July something really hit me hard, and I knew that what I was doing was getting me no where. I made a goal to myself that I was going to read The Book of Mormon before Arista was born. I decided since Arista could hear sounds I would read to her everyday so that she could hear the scriptures too. I read out loud from 1 Nephi- Mosiah. Once I hit Alma I continued to read silently everyday to try to reach my goal.
It's amazing how time flies and how my daily reading helped me through the anxieties and stresses of this pregnancy. For the first time I understood what I was reading, and found myself wanting to ready them more and more.
Yesterday I finished reading The Book of Mormon. I reached my goal, and I know that the last things I read I was suppose to read at this point in my life. My testimony of The Book of Mormon has strengthened, and I know that everything I read really happened and is true.
A few of my favorite parts/stories are:
* When Christ appears and ministers unto the people
* When the babies were able to speak
* The story of the Brother of Jared, and the seeing Jesus Christ
* Ether Chapter 12, where it talks about Miracles happening after the trial of faith.
I am so grateful for taking the time to read The Book of Mormon, and for the guidance and help it has brought to my life. I am grateful that we are able to have the scriptures to help guide and prepare us for the different stumbling blocks that come along our way. I know that what I have read is true, and that through the atonement of Christ we can all return to our Heavenly Father's presence someday. I know that miracles do happen after our faith is tried, and It has been a constant reminder to me especially these past few days. I know that Preslie is near, and that someday soon we will be with her again. Families are Forever!
6 comments:
Rylie-
You are amazing! I am so proud of you for finishing the BOM and I know we wanted yesterday to be Arista's B-Day so bad that it hurt. She and P are proud of you too for completing the BOM. I love you and thank you for your example.
Love,
Chris
Congratulations, Rylie. I hope you continue to read (and study -- there's a difference!) the scriptures all your life. You will find so much help, strength, comfort, and wisdom, and you will also have those times when the scriptures are actually speaking to you and applying to your specific situation, because the Holy Ghost will lead you to knowledge you need to have.
My VT companion, Katy Spors, is such an inspiration to me because she makes time (usually) for daily scripture study. Then, when we go VT or are just chatting on the phone, she shares her insights from the scriptures or tells me how she feels when she reads them. It's a really uplifting experience for me (and I plan to keep her as my companion for as long as I possibly can!).
There's a lifetime of great scripture reading ahead of you! Dive into the rest of the scriptures, and enjoy the journey.
And safe journey to you and Arista.
Love,
Lisa GK
That's awesome! I have yet to read finish The Book Of Mormon. I'll do really well for a while and then somewhere along the way, I just stop reading. When I start reading again, I feel like I've forgotten what I've read and start all over again. Ugh!
Good job on finishing it! That is one of my goals too and I hope to someday accomplish it!
Good luck on your upcoming delivery! We can't wait for Arista to get here!
I knew the scripture stories by heart, but it wasn't until college that I started reading them more consistently. Now that I am a mom, I know that if I don't make time for this my day suffers, I may not get a thing out of what I read, but my day benefits from when I do read... did that make sense? Also, I realized if I want my Jane to have a love of these things, I'd better have one as well. Way to go on reaching your goal! I love the idea of readin out loud to Arista. We try to read as a family during the little time Jacob is home, and then Jacob and I read around 10 verses together before turning off the lights and praying together at night. I know it strengthens our family when we do it. I have felt it - even if I am not getting anything from the actual words. Woa, that was a long comment.
Can't wait to meet Miss Arista!!!! I think you need to have a talk with Preslie, I bet that they are having so much fun together she's holding her sister up :). Families are forever, and your family is a glowing testimony of that.
Love and Prayers your way,
Erin
That's a big accomplishment! Good for you!!
I'm a stranger who just happened upon your blog. I enjoyed my visit here. Your baby is such a cutie. I really appreciated this post. One of my goals this year is to do my scripture studying every single day and to read all of the Book of Mormon again. I've been doing it so far and I look forward to my reading time too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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