We completed the Book of Mormon 30-Day Challenge

I need to write about this before I forget how wonderful it was but Paul and I (and our whole Sugarhouse ward) were challenged to read the Book of Mormon in 30 days during the month of August.  We were given a whole 5th Sunday lesson about it and a wonderful woman in our ward, Brooklyn, testified of the changes it brought in her life.  We were really moved by it and both of us committed to do it.  I even put it out on Facebook and asked friends to participate and my friend Meagan Gilmore and my cousin Jemmy did it along with me and Paul.  We were given an allotted number of pages to read each day and a check-off list which I stuck on our fridge.  I must admit that the list did appeal to my OCD self.  Nothing better than checking stuff off of a list and feeling that sense of accomplishment, especially about something so worthy as the scriptures. 

We read about 18 pages a night and it was just a magical feeling some nights going to sleep feeling the Spirit so strongly as I read Nephi or Alma's testimonies and especially the words of Christ.  It honestly wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.  I usually split up the reading into a morning part and an evening part.  It was nice to see Paul reading it too.  He gave me good moral support and the Spirit in our home was definitely there.  I learned two big things from it.  One was that I gained a great respect for the editor of the book - Mormon.  I had never really fully grapsed that he was the true editor and narrator of his book because I had never read it quickly enough to fully feel his "voice" throughout but I did this time and I just really respect this great man who was called of God at such a young age and who obey so well.  The second thing I understood better was that the Book of Mormon is truly a book of testimony after testimony which I felt so strongly this time.

This is a very short summary of what I learned.  I actually had to give a whole talk about it last week and really felt good about my talk.  I am usually incredibly nervous about talking (even though I really try not to show it) and I usually write out my whole talk and then memorize it.  This time, I wrote my talk as usual but I only glanced down every once in a while to quote scripture and it felt so natural and great and Paul said it was the best talk I ever gave.  I think it's because I was really able to speak from my heart and share what I felt about the Book of Mormon, a true testament of Christ.  I love that book and I know its pages must be sprinkled with fairy dust or something even better because my life always sorts itself out when I read it faithfully.  I have begun reading it again but this time highlighting every time it speaks of Christ.  I'm liking it.  Well, that's all for now!