my BOM challenge

first, I hate myself for being so bad at blogging lately. I love blogging, and yet I havent done it. Shame on me. 

two, I have become that person that complains about the lack of blogging. ugh I hate being that person. 

So remember way back when in July when I started my BOM challenge. 

Well, July 31st came and went. 

And I am sad to report that I did not finish in 31 days. 

However, it makes me feel better that my dear friend M'Kynzi who also started something similar, did not finish either. 

Im just glad I wasnt the only one. 

I will admit that it is half way through August and I am still reading. I just wont admit where I am in the book. 

The beginning of the July started off really strong, and then as my life continues to be crazy, hectic, a struggle, and completely confusing etc...I faltered at the end of the month.

However, I still feel relatively accomplished and was able to learn/reflect on lots of new things. 

As in the following:

--I did my reading in a brand new book, and therefore learned the importance of reading with a pen/marker. There were lots of times I didnt have and I cursed myself for not being able to highlight a really important scripture or write something down.

--I was blown away with how many times I read the phrase "keep my commandments and ye shall prosper" WOW. like a lot. It was reassuring to know that if I do what the Lord wants of me, he will always bless me..

--I found myself really, really enjoying and looking forward to reading. Which sometimes, when we wait till 11:59 pm to start reading our scrips, doesnt really happen.

--I carried my book with me wherever I went. I loved having it close to me and always available to just pick up and read wherever I was at.

--One of my favorite things about reading was learning so much more of the story of the Book of Mormon. As a history person I have always been more caught up in the timeline of the book: who are these people? where did they go? what was the result of this war? What happened to the priest of Noah? Who discovered the plates of Ether's people?...you get the picture. But I often find myself a bit confused and forgetful of the details. And it frustrates me. However, reading so intently and way more often, the stories came together so much better. I understand the ebb and flow of all of the characters, how the plates were passed along and to whom and where they traveled throughout all the lands. This was something I absolutely loved.

--However, I also did pick up on lots of spiritual lessons as well.
2 Ne 9:46  "Prepare yourselves for that glorious day"
2 Ne 10:24 "reconcile yourselves to the will of God"
2 Ne 21:2 "I will trust, and not be afraid"
Jacob 3:1 "Look unto God with firmness of mind, and pray unto him with exceeding faith and he will console you in your afflictions"
Mosiah 7:33 "Turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him and serve him with all diligence of mind"
Mosiah 26:39 "commanded of God to pray without ceasing and to give thanks in all things"
Alma 7:8 "the Lord God hath power to do all things which are according to his word"

Alright, I promise I did get farther than Alma 7, but you dont need to know every scripture I highlighted.

I am still working towards my goal, and hopefully can finish before August is up. I recommend reading like this. It is powerful and amazing and made me love this gospel even more.

the BOM.

I aint talking about no musical here. talking about the real thing. 

{hopefully} we all read the Book of Mormon often. 

Or at least 1 Nephi often...And usually for me it takes months and months to get through it all. 

As I was finishing it up last time, I kinda wanted to change it up. 

I started reading conference talks, preach my gospel, manuals etc....

but I have also had this idea in the back of my head for awhile

but just havent been able to pull the trigger

made excuses that I had other books to read, that I didnt have the time

and yet it has still nagged at me.

but now I think its a good time. I think I need it right now.  

the Book of Mormon Challenge. 

531 pages in 31 days. 

I know I am not the first one to do this. But this a first in my life. 

I would be lying if I said I was intrigued to do this after getting the idea from the Mormon in Manhattan. 

I would then say I was inspired to do it myself after her experience. 

Kinda interesting that I got the idea from her, its been on my mind for obviously a really long time, and now here I am, exactly one year later, finally doing it for myself. 

It starts July 1st. I hope to experience some of the same things she did and more while reading the Book of Mormon in a much shorter amount of time than ever before. 

So here it goes folks!

Anyone else want to join me??