It's not secret that I love to read. All you have to do is walk into my room and see the two rather large bookshelves stuffed to capacity and then some to know of my love of literature. However, I don't really enjoy reading my scriptures. Does that make me a bad Mormon? I love the Gospel and have a testimony of its truth but I don't get all excited to read my scriptures. I'm doing better at reading every night than I used to be but I don't look forward to it and sometimes i have a difficult time getting through more than one chapter. (don't judge. this is a judgment free zone) Having said that...I know that the scriptures are true. I know that by reading them I can and will receive the answers to my prayers. It is interesting how something that a prophet or apostle said thousands of years ago can speak to me and give me the direction and guidance that I need. It always shocks me how well the Lord knows me and He knows exactly how to touch me and guide me.
Alma 26:12
Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Reading
Posted by Kelly at 11:09 AM
Labels: Books, random thoughts
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3 comments:
Kelly, I think most of us share in your problem. Have you heard the old joke that if all the Mormons took their Book of Mormons off the shelf and blew the dust off them at the same time, there'd be a solar eclipse? Yeah, they don't say that because we're all such AWESOME scripture readers. It's hard. And not even because of the unfamiliar language (Shakespeare is unfamiliar, but a lot of us read that). I wonder if it's hard because we know we're supposed to do it and moreover, get something out of it.
I discovered something really interesting once, though. You know when President Hinckley asked us all to read the Book of Mormon by the end of the year? Well, the end of the year was fast approaching, and I hadn't even started. (Judgement-free zone, right?) So I read with fury for a few weeks, and guess what? It was SO. MUCH. MORE. INTERESTING. I was able to follow the story better and understand the people better. It makes sense, though, if you think about it. If you read a novel a few paragraphs at a time, it would be very tedious, and you'd have a hard time picking up on the themes and identifying with the characters. So why wouldn't it be the same with the scriptures? They are, after all, the story of a civilization.
I haven't read them that way since, and I think that there are roughly 200 ways to read the scriptures and gain something from it, but I'm thinking maybe I'll try reading them like a novel again. Because it was a whole different scriptural experience... at least for me.
But don't feel bad. Seriously. They wouldn't talk about scripture study so much in conference if everyone but you was reading them earnestly. You are not alone. At the very least, it's the two of us. :)
Make that three.
I absolutely love you! Can we play?!? I am so close now and I miss you :) Thanks for being an inspiration!
Cheers :)
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