Let's face it, our lives are hectic. We all wake up to new challenges which were not anticipated. No one's life and schedules are exactly alike. We are either great at organizing our time including those last minute things or we are lacking. As I read some of my friends Facebook posts, I get a glimpse into their busy, hectic, and challenging lives. My heart goes out to them with their challenges, but my heart swells when I read how they addressed their issues and rose above them.

My life is hectic too. With my calling as musical missionary and Christmas right around the corner, there comes  even more music than the regular Sunday broadcast music. Our Christmas music is to be completely memorized along with the various languages they will be performed in. Starting a new job around this time, ramping up to the new responsibilities is also challenging. And last, but certainly not least is maintaining time with my eternal companion. So having said all of this, knowing we are all busy and have our daily, hourly, and minutely (if that's a word) challenges. Having said and understanding all of that,:

WHO IS UP TO A CHALLENGE?

Before you dismiss me as a maniac and stop reading this blog, let me tell you what it is. Join with me in reading the Book of Mormon cover to cover during the month of December.  We all know that there are blessings and benefits to reading, but let me reiterate what the apostles say about this sacred scripture from our Semiannual General Conference a mere 2 months ago:

It is not only the words from the Book of Mormon. It is a feeling of assurance of truth that comes whenever I read even a few lines from the Book of Mormon. I cannot promise that it will come to every person infected with doubt about the Prophet Joseph or the Book of Mormon. But I know Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God because I have treasured it. (Pres. Henry B. Eyring - Bind Up Their Wounds)


Years ago, Elder S. Dilworth Young of the Seventy taught me a lesson about reading the scriptures. A stake was struggling with tensions and difficulties among the members, and counsel needed to be given.

I asked President Young, “What should I say?”

He answered simply, “Tell them to read the scriptures.”

I asked, “Which scriptures?”

He said, “It really doesn’t matter. Tell them to open up the Book of Mormon, for instance, and begin to read. Soon the feeling of peace and inspiration will come, and a solution will present itself.”

 (Pres. Boyd K. Packer - The Key to Spiritual Protection)


In the Book of Mormon we read of Ammon and his brethren teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to a people who were “a wild and a hardened and a ferocious people.” Many of the people were converted and chose to leave behind their sinful behavior. So complete was their conversion that they buried their weapons and covenanted with the Lord that they would never use them again. (Elder Richard G. Scott - Personal Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ)


Continually holding fast is part of the doctrine of Christ as taught in the Book of Mormon. We exercise faith in Jesus Christ, repent of our sins, change our hearts, and then follow Him down into the waters of baptism and receive the confirming gift of the Holy Ghost, which serves as a guide and comforter. And then, as Nephi taught, we “press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ” until the very end of our lives. (Elder Kevin S. Hamilton - Continually Holding Fast)


The stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon (see Alma 53; 56–58) prayed earnestly that God would strengthen and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies. Interestingly, the answers to these prayers did not produce additional weapons or an increased number of troops. Instead, God granted these faithful warriors assurance that He would deliver them, peace to their souls, and great faith and hope for their deliverance in Him (see Alma 58:11). Thus, the sons of Helaman did take courage, were fixed with a determination to conquer, and did go forth with all of their might against the Lamanites (see Alma 58:12–13). Assurance, peace, faith, and hope initially might not seem like the blessings warriors in battle might want, but they were precisely the blessings these valiant young men needed to press forward and prevail physically and spiritually. (Elder David A. Bednar - The Windows of Heaven)


The first chapter of the Book of Mormon declares that God’s “power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth” (1 Nephi 1:14). A later chapter declares that “he hath given [his salvation] free for all men” and that “all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden” (2 Nephi 26:27–28). Consequently, the scriptures teach that we are responsible to be compassionate and charitable (loving) toward all me (Elder Dallin H. Oaks - No Other Gods)


In the title page of the Book of Mormon we read, “And now, if there are faults they are the mistakes of men; wherefore, condemn not the things of God, that ye may be found spotless at the judgment-seat of Christ.”This is the way it has always been and will be until the perfect day when Christ Himself reigns personally upon the earth again. (Pres. Dieter F. Uchtdorf - Come, Join with Us)


The prophet Moroni, in the Book of Mormon, taught, “I would show unto the world that faith is things which are hoped for and not seen; wherefore, dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.”6 In our world where instant gratification is the expectation, we are often guilty of expecting the reward without having to work for it. I believe Moroni is telling us that we must do the work first and exercise faith by living the gospel, and then we will receive the witness that it is true. True conversion occurs as you continue to act upon the doctrines you know are true and keep the commandments, day after day, month after month. (Sis. Bonnie L. Oscarson - Be Ye Converted)


The Book of Mormon says Ammon and his brethren were depressed at a very difficult time,and so can the rest of us be. But today I am speaking of something more serious, of an affliction so severe that it significantly restricts a person’s ability to function fully, a crater in the mind so deep that no one can responsibly suggest it would surely go away if those victims would just square their shoulders and think more positively--though I am a vigorous advocate of square shoulders and positive thinking! (Elder Jeffery R. Holland - Like a Broken Vessel)


Heavenly Father has organized our journey through life to be a test of our character. We are exposed to both good and evil influences and then given the moral agency to choose for ourselves which path we will take. As the ancient Book of Mormon prophet Samuel taught, “Ye are free; ye are permitted to act for yourselves; for behold, God hath given unto you a knowledge and he hath made you free.” (Elder Richard J. Maynes - The Strength to Endure)


From the Book of Mormon we read that Alma “consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men.

“Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.”

In performing our home teaching responsibilities, we are wise if we learn and understand the challenges of the members of each family, that we might be effective in teaching and in providing needed assistance.

 (Pres. Thomas S. Monson - True Shepherds)


I don't know about you, but if you have read all those quotes from our wonderful leaders, it incites a genuine excitement and quest for more knowledge - to have a better understanding of the Lord's plan for each of His children. I, personally thirst after knowledge. So, my challenge. I can make times to do this. It will be a challenge, but one that I gladly accept. 

December is the month that the world pauses to remember the birth of our Savior. Hymns of lullabies for our Savior and songs of Joy to the world proclaiming The Lord is come. It is also of contemplation, where we ponder aloud, "What shall we give Him poor as we are? We'll give Him our heart".

Returning to our last General Conference, we heard the words of promise:

We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior. (Elder M. Russell Nelson - Put Your Trust in the Lord)

I feel that if we read the Book of Mormon with true purpose, we will receive names of those that we want to, and to perhaps feel as Lehi did - once we have tasted of the "fruit", we desire others to do so. This is maybe why I reach out to others to join with me in this challenge. Who is with me? Let me know. We have promises given to us by prophets that by reading the Book of Mormon daily will prepare us spiritually for those daily, hourly, and minutely challenges that we can rise above - because we know that we are truly blessed.

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