92 Day Challenge

In June, I posted about the summer challenge given by our bishop to read the Book of Mormon as a family.  We were promised that we would experience a Change of Heart.  Our family came up with a plan to help us accomplish our 92 day consecutive reading goal.  It was tough at first! But after the first month, it became easier.   We did have our days when we would be so busy that we would forget.  That is, until one of the squirrels would remind us late that night!  We would drop everything we were trying to get done & sit down as a family, open our scriptures, and read at least one verse each.  

Many memories were made this summer through diligently sticking to the goal.  We would read our scriptures on the trampoline, on the grass, around the dinner table, even in the car as we traveled back down the mountain from a day at my sister's cabin.  Terry was sent to San Diego from July 1st to the end of August.  We would often read & pray together over the speaker phone.  Because his work schedule was grueling (12-14 hour days was the norm) & the graveyard shift, there were many times when he couldn't even do the speaker phone.  But as long as he read during his lunch hour, we decided to count it as family scripture study.  But if he forgot to do his reading, then we couldn't count it.  He is awesome & we were able to keep our reading streak strong!  

Being a house full of girls (when Terry was in San Diego), there were a few times when the squirrels & I sat in the hallway just outside the bathroom door to read as they rotated through their baths.  We were able to keep on top of our reading even when we were visiting family in Utah a couple of times this summer.  The squirrels were very diligent in reminding us to read.

For us, this 92 day goal was huge!  We've never done such a thing before.  We really wanted to succeed.   We are so glad that we set up short term rewards to help us with this goal!  We enjoyed slurpees, frosty's, dollar store trips, favorite candy bars, a movie night, and the final reward was swimming at an indoor water park.  Of course, I forgot the camera when we went swimming!  We were in Utah as we hit our 92nd day.  Utah kids were in school & we enjoyed the pool, water slide & toys practically by ourselves!  Yes, I got in the pool, too.  It was a lot of fun!!!

As summer was coming to a close, the squirrels expressed their desire to continue daily family scripture reading & prayer.  We have really had many, many learning/teaching experiences that we otherwise would not have been blessed with.  Some of them have been powerful, others just down right silly.  But they are all sweet memories.  I wish I had taken the time to write them down as they happened, because I'm finding it difficult to remember the specifics.  But we have discussed patriarchal blessings & the importance they are throughout our lives.  We spent a lot of time reading & discussing Christ's visit to the Nephites after His crucifixion.  We read of Abinadi, King Noah, and Alma.  If Abinadi had chosen to ignore the Lord & not preached to the people of Noah, Alma would not have been converted. But because Abinadi was strong & faithful, thousands & thousands of people (including Lamanites) would be baptized.  This eventually led to the Anti-Nephi-Lehies & the 2,000 Stripling Warriors.  It was awesome to see the squirrels' understanding of the importance of just one person choosing the right.  We have learned about footnotes, how to use the Index, and also the Pronunciation Guide.  Brynn is the expert on the Pronunciation Guide!  

We just finished reading the book of Ether.  We love discussing the brother of Jared & how the Lord taught him.  We discussed how the Lord answered the brother of Jared's question about the air & light problems for the vessels that he built to come to the promised land.  The Lord answered immediately on the air problem.  But he asked the brother of Jared to come up with his own plan for the light issue, then bring it before Him.  This is what the Lords asks of us.  We are to do all we can to help ourselves, but still have faith in the Lord that He'll make up for what we naturally lack.  It's funny that this is exactly what was discussed just this last Sunday in Ward Council!  I love the scriptures!  

We have decided to challenge ourselves further by reading as a family for 365 consecutive days. We have set up monthly rewards for every month that we succeed.  The Grand Prize will be 1-2 nights spent at the Wolf Lodge.  The girls are soooooo excited!!  This new goal began Sept. 1st. We are doing well & continue to enjoy our time together ingrossed in the Book of Mormon. Daily family scripture reading is no longer a dreaded thing.  It is something we all look forward to, even when we're "too tired".  

Terry & I have learned so much through this "challenge".  As we rely on the Spirit to guide us each night, we have been taught how to "listen" better.  We have been able to liken the scriptures to our family and have been able to work through & talk about individual problems at the time.  We have been guided through many discussions with our girls & have truley felt an increase of His love in our home.   The girls have noticed the difference in how they feel as they consistantly read from the scriptures.  It used to seem like such a huge challenge to read as a family.  Now it is a privilege, a great blessing, an honor to have the Word of God at our finger tips and to have the abundance of blessings by following such a simple commandment.  

Thank you, bishop, for this challenge.  We know that it was inspired & we have been blessed because of it.  May the Lord continue to bless you.