Scripture Tracker

Everytime I start the Book of Mormon over I also start a new tracker. I do this for two reasons, 1) I love to fill things in and feel a sense of accomplishment and 2)....pretty much I only have one reason. Shameless I know. Below is my current one.

What is this feeling?

As I mentioned the first time I read through the Book of Mormon it took me about 8 days. Being the perfectionist that I am the second time through should take me no longer. Or so I thought. The reason I was able to read so much in so little time was because I had hours upon hours to read while I was at work. The last two weeks were a bit busier therefor I didn't finish in my "set perfect" deadline. As I read, I began to feel anxious and upset like I was doing something wrong. During a particular difficult and busy night I was so fed up I didn't want to read anymore. I was ready to throw in the towel. Thankfully I remembered to pray and ask for peace and comfort. I heard the quiet whisperings of the Spirit tell me that those are not the feelings I am supposed to feel while reading the Scriptures. That I wasn't reading so I could make some deadline. I was reading so I could learn more about the Nephites and Lamanites. I was reading so I could learn about their pride cycles and how quickly one can turn away from the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I was reading so I could learn how their ups and downs resemble my ups and downs. I needed to slow down and learn. Listen and learn. The feelings I was feelings were of Satan and not of Heavenly Father. I am thankful for this experience for a couple of reasons.

I need to live in the now and to take in the feelings and promptings of the Spirit. I can't do that if I am rushing through trying to meet some deadline I set. I am likely to miss certain lessons and experiences if I am always running and speeding through my life. God has a plan for me it is important that I follow His plan. I believe He wants us to plan for ourselves and to make goals, but I need to focus more on what I am learning and be willing to bend when my way doesn't work. Am I focusing more on the process than the meaning. I became as one of the Jews who lived the Law of Moses to the letter of the law and not the spirit. I made rules that were unnecessary and contrary to the spirit of why I was reading in the first place.

I began today reading the third time focusing on Christ and the Atonement. I only read the first 11 verses of 1st Nephi. I am OK with that. I took it slow, I listened and I learned. Specifically about the Tree of Life. Every time I read about it I learn more and more. I remembered today that there were many who partook of the fruit and were ashamed so they turned away. The world is a scary, shallow, and evil place today. I need the Gospel and the love of Christ more than ever before. I am thankful for the Scriptures who remind me of who I am.

Feasting on the Word

*THIS POSTING IS INCLUDED ON MY OTHER BLOG (EXCEPT THE LAST PARAGRAPH) IN THE FUTURE ALL BOOK OF MORMON POSTINGS WILL ONLY BE ON THIS BLOG.*

I have had the most amazing two weeks. I still have the same crazy people who come into work, I'm still a horrible driver, still crazy tired all the time, and pretty much the same person living the same life day by day...except I started to read the Book of Mormon again. Being a Returned Missionary, and life long member of the Church, I know the power that little blue book carries. I just seem to forget sometimes. I work nights and there are days where I have a lot of downtime. I decided to put that time to good use. I began reading, A LOT. While on my mission one of my companions was told about a cool idea. It is based on 1st Nephi: 22-23

22 Now it came to pass that I, Nephi, did teach my brethren these things; and it came to pass that I did read many things to them, which were engraven upon the plates of brass, (1)that they might know concerning the doings of the Lord in other lands, among people of old.

23 And I did read many things unto them which were written in the books of Moses; but that (2)I might more fully persuade them to believe in the Lord their Redeemer I did read unto them that which was written by the prophet Isaiah; for (3)I did liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.

The first time you read it through take a black ink pen, or pencil and underline all the information that pertains to daily life. For example: money, housing, animals, description of the cities and so on. It's so neat to look at the differences and similarities between then and now. People act the same way today in many cases as they did then. They had a legal system with judges and lawyers. They loved and hated their brothers. They had good and bad people. They had homes and families. There were millions of people who lived. I have always had the hardest time wrapping my mind around "how big" it all was. I always see them as the first few people who left Jerusalem and not the bigger picture. Learning how people lived, what they ate and the number of cities and people puts it into a whole different light that I have not been able see the other times I have read it. I also think reading it like a book from beginning to end in a week has a lot to do with that.

The second time you read it take a blue ink pen or pencil, and underline all the wars and fights. I have also been keeping a record of the pride cycles the people go through. It's amazing how fast one can go from being so evil to a person called of God to preach the Gospel. It's also pretty interesting to see the opposite. Someone who was raised knowing the truth believing in Christ and then actively hunting down and killing people who are members of the Church.

The third time you read it take a red ink pen or pencil, and underline all the times where it mentions Christ and the Atonement. For most of the book the people practice the Law of Moses, It is so neat to see how everything testifies of Christ. Just like then we are waiting for the Savior to come, only we are waiting for Him to come again... We believe He has been here, and that He died for our sins. We like the Nephites have had and continue to have Prophets testify of this. We just as those who came before us have been mocked and persecuted for our beliefs. I am sure that many wonder when and if He will come. The Book of Mormon testifies that He has and just as important that He will again.

I have had the most amazing experience reading the Book of Mormon this way. I believe it is so important to ponder and study the scriptures, but I also think that reading like this is pretty amazing. So far it has taken me a week give or take a day to read it in each specific color. I am almost finished reading it the second time and I honestly can't wait to start it again. Each time I read it I learn new and amazing things that I missed the time before. I know that many don't have hours to spend reading the scriptures like I do, and that a week is not possible for most, but try reading it through in a month. I promise you will be amazed what you will learn and how you will feel about people who lived thousands of years ago. My testimony of the scriptures, and in Christ has grown so much in two weeks. I didn't think it was possible to "grow" like this outside of my mission. I am thankful for this opportunity I have to devour the Book of Mormon. I am blessed, I am loved, I am thankful.

I hope you will follow me in this adventure. Because I am reading so much and so fast, it is a bit difficult to share all of my feelings about what I have read each day. When I finish reading The Book of Mormon for the third time I will begin reading it with a goal to finish in 100 days. I feel that I will be able to spend more time studying and pondering the words I read. I will have quotes and things go underline with each day. I am so looking forward to this next challenge, but am so engrossed with my current one that I can think of little else.