Book of Mormon

I started reading my Book of Mormon on August 8th. That Saturday and Sunday I read 200 pages. I couldn't put it down and I wanted to keep reading. So I made it a goal to read it that week, then it got pushed to two weeks, and finally a month. But I decided, a month is a month and I can't push it any farther than that.
So over the next three weeks I read three hundred pages. Then Friday (this one) came and I had 200 pages left. That night I stayed up until 12:30 reading. On Saturday I had 140 to read. But I was determined. I read from 10-1:30 and was so bored and tired, but I couldn't let myself down, and I finished.
I read the family version, so it helped me understand what was going on, and helped with the confusing scripture talk. I kept a journal of what I was reading and I also kept track of the hours since I'm doing it for my Personal Progress Virtue project. I have 20 pages of front and back standard paper filled with my thoughts on individual verses and things that connected while reading. Also, it took me 18 hours to complete. Such a small, at the same time large, amount of time that I gave to my Heavenly Father.
My final goal was to bear my testimony on the Book of Mormon the fast Sunday after I finished. It just so happens that that Sunday was the day after I finished so it was all fresh on my mind. I got up in the morning knowing I had to make it to sacrement meeting, and knowing that I was going to stand up there. When the time came I didn't even think about it, I just walked up. But when I got up there, everything I had thought over in my mind disappeared and I fumbled for words. I rambled on and couldn't put my thoughts together. I think it was terrible. After I was done, I walked out the side I was so embarassed, and I kind of wanted to bury my head. But I walked back in there and sat through the rest of the meeting.
I first read the Book of Mormon with my ward, a 60 day challenge and I thought I learned a lot. I've always heard that if you read it again, you learn so much more but I didn't realize it until I experienced it myself. Sometimes it was like reading a whole different book. It was amazing! I feel like I have a greater understanding and a deeper love for the book and the church. I now have a record of my thoughts that I can turn to when I feel the storm is too strong or the world has influenced me to doubt. I have such a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father and I'm so grateful for that.
If you have any extra time and you aren't already, I challenge you to read the Book of Mormon. It brought such a sweet spirit into my life that I really needed. It makes all the difference when I'm at school, facing such diverse values and comfort levels of teenagers around me. It reminds me of who I am, and where I'm going. I think everyone could use that reminder every once in a while.

"I Will Not Fail Thee" by Derek Hegsted

Just a quick picture that I love. I really want this to be framed in my room. I love it so much and sometimes wish that I was that girl in the painting. Then I remember, all of God's children are there, if they choose to be.