Safety for the Soul

I love those "aha" moments when you re-"get" something you already completely comprehended; like Elder Holland pointing out that all of the travelers in Lehi's dream traveled through the midsts of darkness, even the faithful and determined ones. I always try to press forward, usually clinging awkwardly, tenaciously onto. . . well something or another. Elder Hollands talk makes is clear that the thing we ought to cling to most in our misty moments is the Book of Mormon.

I confess. I love reading General Conference talks. I relate to them, they're not encrypted, I remember them and I can easily connect how this talk relates to that other one. Not so with the Book of Mormon. In the last decade my scripture study has been spotty. I get frustrated when I don't get it, or realize that I've read this section a dozen times in my life & I still don't remember the basic story line. I get discouraged that I don't have a spiritual experience every time I read and often my mind wanders. I unrealistically feel like I need to commit a silent 30 minutes to scripture study every day & I just never feel like I'm able to. When I study the scriptures I feel like I fail, so more often than not, my scriptures spend days unopened.

I recently read a devotional talk in the BYU magazine by Sister Elaine Dalton. She bore testimony that reading the Book of Mormon every day, even if only for five minutes can change our lives. Five minutes!?! Five minutes?!? I think I could commit to five minutes!

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know the Lord has answered many of my hearts deepest questions through the scriptures. There are many notes in my scriptures that look like this "8/10/04 Kate". And I remember exactly what the Lord taught me on that day from that verse. I'm certain those moments would happen more often if I did read the Book of Mormon daily.

Up next: More Diligent and Concerned at Home by Elder Bednar