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.