Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Book of Mormon
Our ward and stake challenged us (members 8 and up) to read The Book of Mormon this year. Along the way, we are to mark all references to Christ: His names/titles, words, etc. They distributed paperback copies of the Book of Mormon for this project.
For me, this came in the nick of time. Of course, the new year is a perfect time to start reading the Book of Mormon again, and my girls and I jumped all over this challenge. But just a day or so before this, Adam had started to resist the goal we are working toward of reading the entire Book of Mormon by himself before his baptism. Even after church, he told me, “I don’t have to do that goal, Mom.”
So I decided to change my focus to helping him read every day (and on my own try to make sure he finishes before his baptism). I told him how we are all supposed to read our scriptures every day, and that his scripture reading also counts toward his school homework assignment of daily reading.
My girls requested scripture bookmarks and daily reading charts, so I whipped these up:
That first day of the new reading challenge, something miraculous happened for Adam. I gave him his own scripture marking pencil, and since he has already read 16 chapters in the Book of Mormon after his birthday, he got to color in those 16 squares on the bookmark. Then, as he read chapter 17, he got really excited about finding all of the titles “God” and “Lord,” etc. I think that short-term motivation of finding references to Christ helped move him along.
My big surprise came when he finished chapter 17 (it is long) and he declared that he was going to reach Second Nephi that very day (that’s 5 more chapters). I didn’t deter him, and just watched him go. I suggested we take a break after chapter 18 so he could play his cello in a trio for his Heap grandparents. (I could see him tiring; he needed the break.)
I am so grateful for this timely challenge from our bishopric, and for whatever combination of motivating factors that put some fire under Adam! I’ll just have to keep lots of kindling around.
Having both bookmarks in my own copy of the Book of Mormon has helped me remember to read it each day. My girls have been plowing through their own books as well. I’m hoping that we will keep up with the challenge. I’m sure we will need reminders throughout the year, but am keeping my fingers crossed.
(I posted a new section on my Favorites page with some additional resources I’ve used in the past.)
But I later found him in my room reading his Book of Mormon again. When the other kids and I went downstairs to play Ticket to Ride, I suggested that he come read next to me so I could help him. He did, and I got to watch him meet his goal of completing First Nephi!
He was so excited and even told me, “I can’t believe how excited I am to read the Book of Mormon!”
(We took this picture to text to Jon.)
