March Madness

This year my Dad and Mom invited all of his children to participate in March Madness with them.  But not the basketball kind.  The Book of Mormon kind.

The challenge?  Read the entire Book of Mormon in one month.  It averaged out to 7.7 chapters a day, or 17.1 pages a day. 

When I started, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to keep up the pace.  And there were a few times that I got behind and then had to catch up.  I think what really saved me is listening to it on my phone while I crocheted.  The crocheting was repetitive, so I could concentrate on the scriptures.  I really enjoyed listening to it in big chunks at a time.  I understood the people and the stories so much better because I was getting more of the story at a time.

When I got near the end, I didn’t want to put it down.  I read the last 5 days worth in 2 days.  I was enjoying it, and I was excited to finish it.  I finished 3 days early while I was at the swimming pool for the Princess’ swimming lessons. As I sat there, I closed my eyes and prayed and got a confirmation that it was true. I have really gained a love for it over the last month.

I am so very glad that I did this. I think I want to make it a yearly tradition. I also realized that I do better with scripture reading when I have a schedule and have to stick by it. Then I can't just blow off a day. I have to be accountable for it.

Book of Mormon Stories

My dad requested that my family write some new verses for the “Book of Mormon Stories” song in the Children’s Songbook.  This is what we came up with.

Alma heard the word of God from Abinidi.
In the waters of Mormon many were baptized.
As a father he prayed for his wayward son.
God heard him as he prayed, and salvation won.

Abish had a testimony, knew the church was true.
Served the queen but couldn't share the truths that she knew.
Ammon taught and people fought, she knew just what to do.
The Spirit spoke, the people woke knowing it was true.

Nephi was a prophet in the Book of Mormon times.
He was hunting animals, his bow of steel broke.
His brothers were mad at him, so he went and prayed.
Our Father helped him find food to eat.

Joseph Smith was a prophet and he saw a vision.
He translated the golden plates with the Urim and Thummim.
A mighty work had come forth, it was the Book of Mormon,
With a promise, if we read, we will know the truth.

After Nephi's family had left Jerusalem,
They went back to get the plates and said it would be done.
Laban tried to stop them but his efforts were in vain.
The plates of brass were saved for posterity.

Moroni was a warrior and a man of God,
war had come to the land, the people were in fear.
In memory of our God, our faith, our wives and children, too.
The Title of Liberty, over the land, flew.

Mahonri Moriancumer was faithful to the Lord,
He had to build eight barges to cross the mighty sea.
He went unto the mount to seek help from God above,
God touched the stones and they glowed brightly.

The Ammonites changed their name to Anti-Nephi-Lehites.
They buried all their weapons to make a covenant.
They would rather die than break their promise.
They never took their swords and killed after that.

Enos was a prophet who lived in Nephite times.
When he was down in both spirit and mind.
He went into the forest and prayed both day and night.
Forgiven, just because, he had faith.

Joy

The alarm rings at 5:25, waking me from my slumber. My back aches, as it does every morning. I sit up and pause in the dark while saying my prayers. Finally, I stumble into the bathroom, squinting in the bright light and saying good morning to my sweet husband, who gets up at 5:00.

I go downstairs, and the house is dark and quiet. I turn on lights and music to help wake the children up. I start making lunches while singing “Puppy Love” with Donny Osmond. My youngest two are off track, so I only have 2 lunches to make this morning. And it’s even easier because we have leftovers from supper last night. My teenagers love leftovers. They love cold lunch in general because they get more food and more time to eat than when they have hot lunch. The Doctor makes his own lunch because he likes to make a salad.

Lunches are done, and we have all made our way to the living room. It’s 5:50, time for family prayer. My heart swells with joy as I look around at my family kneeling in a circle. When we are finished, we kiss each other and hug. How I love this time of the morning.

The Doctor leaves, taking The Teenager with him and dropping him off at early morning Seminary, then going on his 50 minute commute to teach high school. How he does it every day is beyond me, but how grateful I am for his willingness.

The rest of the children sit down at the table and we begin reading from the Book of Mormon while I make breakfast. We finished reading it yesterday, so today we begin on 1 Nephi again. “I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” There is something comforting about that verse. This begins the 9^th time of reading through The Book of Mormon since I started keeping track in 2005. It gives me sense of fulfillment knowing that I am teaching my children to read the scriptures. The Princess can now read a verse nearly by herself. Joy fills my heart again.

When scriptures and breakfast are over, The Artist goes to shower while The Chocoholic and The Princess go crawl back into bed. I sit on the couch and do my personal scripture reading. I am in Isaiah and struggling. I want to understand, but why so many metaphors? But I know that by reading, someday I will move on to understanding.

The Artist is back, ready for school. It is sprinkling outside, so I offer to give him a ride, but he declines. He enjoys being alone, always has, and even the rain doesn’t bother him. I send him off, and then I get in the shower. The hot water relaxes my back and I feel ready for the day.

I dress and come downstairs. The house is quiet as I walk around opening the blinds, letting the sunlight fill the dark corners. It is supposed to rain most of the day, but for now the sun is shining and I thank my Heavenly Father for my blessings. Joy fills my heart to overflowing as I thank Him for all that I have been given. It is 8:15 and what a wonderful start to my day.

Get on the Path: The Way to Perfection

Do you ever wonder if you are going to make it?  I mean, after you die, make it into the Celestial Kingdom and be truly happy through all eternity? 
I have struggled on a daily basis as to how I am doing with my life.  My Mom and Dad heard this talk and shared it with us, and I have to say that it gives me such hope!
This is taken from an address by Bruce R. McConkie, "The Probationary Test of Mortality."  Delivered at the University of Utah, January 10, 1982.

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We don't need to get a complex or get a feeling that you have to be perfect to be saved.
You don't.
There's only been one perfect person, and that's the Lord Jesus.  But in order to be saved in the Kingdom of God and in order to pass the test of mortality, what you have to do is get on the straight and narrow path - thus charting a course leading to eternal life - and then, being on that path, pass out of this life in full fellowship.
I'm not saying that you don't have to keep the commandments. 
I'm saying you don't have to be perfect to be saved.
If you did, no one would be saved. 
The way it operates is this: You get on  the path that's named the "straight and narrow."  You do it by entering the gate of repentance and baptism.  The straight and narrow path leads from the gate of repentance and baptism, a very great distance, to a reward that's called eternal life. 
If you're on the path and pressing forward, and you die, you'll never get off the path.  There is no such thing as falling off the straight and narrow path in the life to come, and the reason is that this life is the time that is given to men to prepare for eternity.
Now is the time and the day of your salvation, so if you're working zealously in this life - though you haven't fully overcome the world and you haven't done all you hoped you might do -
YOU'RE STILL GOING TO BE SAVED.
You don't have to do what Jacob said, "Go beyond the mark." You don't have to live a life that's true than true.  You don't have to have an excessive zeal that becomes fanatical and becomes unbalancing. 
What you have to do is stay in the mainstream of the Church and live as upright and decent people live in the Church - keeping the commandments, paying your tithing, serving in the organizations of the Church, loving the Lord, staying on the straight and narrow path. 
If you're on that path when death comes - because this is the time and the day appointed, this is the probationary estate - you'll never fall off from it, and, for all practical purposes, your calling and election is made sure.
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Wow!  It doesn't get much simpler than that!  I love it!  Go read the whole talk.  It is amazing.

The Book of Mormon made simple