President Marion G. Romney said the following in the April 1980 General Conference: "I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity - the pure love of Christ - will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness."
I have seen the fulfillment of this promise in my life. Reading from the Book of Mormon each day with my family as I grew up had a tremendous impact on me. Later, as I got older, my personal study of the Book of Mormon strengthened my testimony and helped me grow spiritually. Unfortunately, lately I have not been as consistent with my daily Book of Mormon reading, and I can feel the difference it makes in my daily life.
I am reminded of the challenge President Gordon B. Hinckley gave to the church just five years ago in the August 2005 Ensign. He challenged us each to read or reread the Book of Mormon by the end of the year. He also gave a promise to those who would do so:
"Without reservation I promise you that if each of you will observe this simple program, regardless of how many times you previously may have read the Book of Mormon, there will come into your lives and into your homes an added measure of the Spirit of the Lord, a strengthened resolution to walk in obedience to His commandments, and a stronger testimony of the living reality of the Son of God."
I have determined to accept this challenge again five years later, just as I did when it was first given. There are 124 days left in the year. The Book of Mormon has 239 chapters and 531 pages. That means one has to read 2 chapters a day or just more than 4 pages a day to meet the challenge. Regardless of whether you accept this challenge with me, the continued daily study of the Book of Mormon will bring the blessings promised above. And these blessings are great indeed.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Craig shared some pretty powerful quotes about the blessings of reading the Book of Mormon. I would like to hear your testimonies, experieces that you've felt those promises have come to fulfillment in your life and maybe some ways that you incorporate the Book of Mormon into your everyday life.
ReplyDeleteI know the Book of Mormon is true. I love it! And I love you :)
-Maggie
I have a stong testimony as to the power of the Book of Mormon. I remember well that as a young man, raising a family, many of the brethern would encourage us to read the Book of Mormon every day with tremendous blessings promised if we were faithful in this endevor. I have felt the power of those promises in my home for decades and that same power in my own life for even longer. The Lord gave us this powerful book just for the challenges of our day. Don't leave home without it!
ReplyDeleteThis is DAD again. Craigs challenge to read the Book of Mormon this year is a good one. I read in this grat book every day of my life and intend to continue this practice. I Love you all.
ReplyDeleteLove DAD
We have all experienced the blessings of the Book of Mormon first hand. If we want to continue to recieve those blessigs we must continue to make the Book of Mormon a part of our everyday life. I love the Book of Mormon and I know it is true. Let us continue or recommit to read the Book of Mormon each day. By the way I am feeling much better today. Love G Mom
ReplyDeleteI definitly feel a difference in my life when I am consistently reading from the Book of Mormon. I feel like I handle anything that comes my way better. It is always amazing to me how good habits are so hard to come by and so easy to break. I am going to be sure to spend more time in the scriptures this year and hopefully will get a good thing started. Thanks Craig.
ReplyDeleteKaylene
I think growing up I took for granted the blessings that reading The Book of Mormon brought in to our family and individual lives. But there is no doubt that they were there and wonderful they were.
ReplyDeleteA few years back we had Elder Kikuchi of the First Quorum of the Seventy come to the Caldwell Stake. He gave a challenge to all to have our own "Sacred Grove" experience every morning. He asked us to wake up early, get showered and ready for the day and spend time praying to our Heavenly Father and reading The Book Of Mormon. Now you all know what a morning person I am. I regret to say that I didn't follow this advice right away. I felt it was easier to read right before bed (which didn't always happen due to tiredness). However as I have remembered this, I have taken the challenge these last few weeks and I can say that there is a distinct difference in the quality, comprehension, and effect that the Book of Mormon has on me in the early morning hours. There is a feeling of reverence, cleanliness, and sacredness with this time of day because the day has yet to be polluted with they affairs of the day. I feel like I can feel the influence of the Spirit easier and it helps me to carry that with me the rest of the day. What a wonderful blessing the Lord as given us through this wonderful book.
I love you all!
Brenda
Hope everyone's doing well on reading from the Book of Mormon daily. Today was day 8 of the challenge, and Maggie and I just finished reading 1 Nephi chapter 16.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Brenda's point. First thing in the morning is a special time when the Spirit can be extra close. I also am not a morning person, so I've had difficulty making time in the mornings. So far I've been reading with Maggie in the evenings, but I think I'll need to accept Brenda's challenge as well.
Way to go ya'll. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteLove DAD