17 different women, 36 crazy children, 0 babies in utero
Adventures, Advice and Questions from a group of Mormon women who met in Queens, NY and have now scattered all over the place.
 

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Scripture Study in 2008

I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and ponder about goal setting.

Well, let me rephrase that. I have had a lot of time, I just haven't disciplined myself to do it. Thankfully, our Relief Society President provided us with pen and paper on the first Sunday of 2008 and requested/forced us to write some goals. I was amazed at how much spilled out of my brain in that brief amount of time.

Every year, scriptures makes it on the list. I wish I could tell you that Scripture Study was on it, but it's basically just bare minimum, read it every day type goals. I have never really totally enjoyed the act of scripture reading, but I do believe it benefits my life, especially in the departments of higher tolerance, patience, compassion, love and spirit levels in my day to day life.

The biggest challenges for me both pre and post kids are:
1. My life is noisy. Noisiness makes it difficult to read the scriptures.
2. My head is noisy. I get easily distracted by the voices in my head while I am reading.
3. I get sleepy. When I sit down to read, no matter what it is, I am very likely to get drowsy. This is why I like to read on the train, I do better there, and I have been known to read the B O M on the train, quite a lot actually, but not lately.
4. Time. Kids....all the usual stuff.
5. I pretty much just like reading the Book of Mormon, I don't branch out a lot.

I did pretty well with the Book of Mormon Challenge a few years back. President Hinckley asked us to read it in a certain period of time, and I was able to do that. I just have a hard time finding the time and self motiviation.

All of this being written, I have set a goal in 2008. The goal is to read it every day on my own (except maybe Sunday since I read some at church etc.), if only just a little. I figure if I can get into the habit of reading, then I can make a secondary goal of reading longer or studying more or branching out into the other gospels.

I tried to think of something that I do every day on a regular basis and so the way I have been achieving this goal since setting it a few weeks ago is by reading my scriptures when I poop. It happens everyday (usually), around the same time, I can sit down and it's quiet. I lock the door, and voila! It is my latest multi-task.

Now, I admit. It's not ideal...but I have already gotten into the habit of grabbing my scriptures off my dresser on the way to the bathroom and I find myself thinking about what I read yesterday and what I will get to read today...if just for a few minutes.

So, how are you fitting in your scripture study? And, you can totally use my technique if you'd like.

12 Comments:

  • I think that many of your problems might be overcome if you get the audio versions of whatever you are reading and read along. This helps me so much. Helps the noise, helps the distraction, helps me get it 2 times every time (eyes and ears). Consider it.
    posted by Blogger ESOdhiambo at 1/24/2008 10:07:00 AM  



  • By the way, I totally need to take my own advice! I am with you--I am so bad at regular reading.
    posted by Blogger ESOdhiambo at 1/24/2008 10:09:00 AM  



  • Ditto on the audio versions. I listened to the New Testament on CD last year. I also don't like to branch out from the Book of Mormon much, but I really enjoyed that.
    I downloaded the Book of Mormon and put it on my ipod for this year. I listen to it while I make my kids lunches for school. I get in at least a chapter a day. Love it when technology and the scriptures come together.
    I try to remember that something is always better than nothing.
    posted by Blogger Normal Mom at 1/24/2008 04:36:00 PM  



  • I re-commit every year too, at least this means we want to better ourselves right? I find my most effective reading time is in the morning but that means waking up 15mins early and thats hard to do, I have 2 girls - 3 1/2 & 18 mths, I got a book a while ago called 'The Book of Mormon made easier' by David Ridges, along with the complete text of the Book of Mormon, it includes in-the-verse notes and additional insights and commentary. I still like to read the regular version but this pointed some things out that I never would have thought of, especially during the Isaiah chapters and made me feel that I was studying rather than just reading. I think I too may try the audio version, I usually have conference on a CD and I find it much easier to listen to, than read in the Ensign.
    posted by Blogger Claire Thompson at 1/24/2008 07:34:00 PM  



  • Kage, what a funny, yet clever idea! :) The only reading I ever get done these days with my four little ones is while I'm in the bathtub. But then I'm a little worried that somehow I'll accidentally get my scriptures wet! Life does get busy for all of us, but I think making goals is an excellent way to renew and refocus our lives. I do think the ipod idea is awesome and hope I can figure that out someday.

    I hope that I can get better at my scripture study this year too. Even if I just read a verse a day, it is at least something. My sister's bishop compares scripture study to the tortoise and the hare analogy. If we do a little each day, it is better than procrastinating and then trying to play hours of catch up.

    My favorite way to read the Book of Mormon is out of the big family edition (edited by Thomas Valletta- my old next door neighbor!) that has the pictures and explanations. Even though I'm a grown up, I find it more interesting and much more understandable- especially at this stage of life!
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/24/2008 08:00:00 PM  



  • lj, Tom Valleta, that name rings a bell, but that's it.
    re: scriptures wet, use one of the missionary hand-out copies for bathtub use....that's what I use on the subway...it's lighter and I don't worry about it getting crap on it from the inside of my purse.

    I might be ready to graduate to ipod...maybe I will try that this year, does it still count as reading?
    posted by Blogger Kage at 1/25/2008 04:56:00 AM  



  • When Matt put the B of M on my ipod, that was the BEST! I would love going out grocery shopping (sans kids), and it made it so much more pleasant. Sometimes I still got distracted but it worked pretty well for me.
    posted by Blogger wendysue at 1/25/2008 06:27:00 AM  



  • Someone on one of these blogs recently recommended www.readthescriptures.com

    Whoever it was; thanks! I chose a 90 day reading schedule since I'm a fast reader and I'm more than 20 percent through the Book of Mormon since the beginning of the year.

    It works for me because although my morning time routine is variable and the going to bed routine can be very variable too, I _always_ read my email every day.
    posted by Anonymous Anonymous at 1/25/2008 10:53:00 AM  



  • I love your idea!

    It's the "Tales- Read-the-Book-of-Mormon-while-you-poop Challenge 2008".

    I'm in.
    posted by Blogger This is Carrie at 1/25/2008 02:47:00 PM  



  • Haha. I love the idea. I really want to start reading my scriptures more but haven't committed yet to a specific time of when I'm going to do it. I would love to do while on the toilet, but I poop really fast, seriously! I have never understood why it takes some people so long to poop. I'm done in literally seconds.

    I've actually heard you're not supposed to read while on the toilet. Hemorrhoids.
    posted by Blogger tamrobot at 1/25/2008 05:49:00 PM  



  • An amazing woman in my ward started a scripture study group (before I moved here). They've read the BoM, the New Testament, and right now we're reading the Doc. and Cov. We read 7 sections a week, and then we all meet at her house, bring our kids, bring food if we want, and then discuss. The kids destroy her house, we delve into doctrine, apply it to our lives, ask questions, seek advice, etc. Right now I'm hosting it (she recently had a baby) and it's great!

    The best part is having a reason (other than "I should") to read. Even if I read all 7 sections the night before or morning of, it's better than not reading at all, you know?

    The toilet idea? Awesome!

    tam-
    That's because you're so fit. :)
    posted by Blogger Cheryl at 1/25/2008 06:34:00 PM  



  • I have a friend who takes a blue missionary Book of Mormon and rips a page of it out every day and carries the page around with her and reads it whenever she gets a free minute. This really works for her.
    posted by Blogger Lisa and Doug at 1/26/2008 06:17:00 PM  



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