Reading the Book of Mormon

       It was interesting to watch my journey as I read the Book of Mormon as the prophet invited us in October to do.  In a nutshell, this was my experience:

• I began super motivated, was reading about 10-15 pages per day.  I had the Book of Mormon by me constantly, was feeling the sweet spirit it brings and doing great.  
• A few weeks into November, my girls had tonsillectomies and so my reading slowed.  I wasn't as consistent as I should of been, but I was doing it.
• I had a week in November that I visited my sister, and got to read quite a bit.  I didn't have any distractions, and I did great. 
• December was an up and down challenge.  I still read, but it wasn't every day and all of a sudden it was a few days before the end of the year and I had a hundred pages left.  These are some questions I asked myself, "How did I let this happen?" "Why can't I be more consistent?"  " How am I going to finish?"  "Even if I don't finish at least I tried."  and on and on.
• I knew that even if I didn't finish by December 31st, the Lord still loved me the same, that I wasn't a failure and that the most important thing was that I was doing it, even if I was inconsistent.  
• I wanted to finish, and as I have found, when I really want to do something when I include the Lord, I can accomplish it.  I finished reading on December 31st at about 10 am.  

     As I look back at my my experience, I realize, this is my life.  I am consistently not consistent.  But, I am trying.  And as Jeffrey R. Holland said, we get credit for trying, even when we don't succeed.
     My challenge in this life is how to make time for the essential things and to not get distracted.  What is amazing is that my Savior and Heavenly Parents are always there.  Always ready to assist me in this journey.
     I loved reading the Book of Mormon.  I loved feeling the spirit as I read.  I loved recognizing the difference in myself when I read and didn't read.   I loved learning over and over how important it was to keep the commandments and how we are blessed when we do.  I loved seeing that with God nothing shall be impossible.  I loved being reminded that I have experiences that I need to write down and that I need to do it.  I love reading of the Savior's visit to America.  I actually read it a little different and so I ended with 3 Nephi.  It was beautiful.
     I know that the Book of Mormon is another testament of Christ.  It talks of him on almost every page.  I know that as I read it, my relationship with Him grows closer and more intimate.  I know that it is true.
     I am grateful for the challenge President Nelson gave us.  I know it helped prepare me to be ready to start the Come Follow Me and it just helps me be the best me.  Because no matter if I remember everything I read, when I read the Book of Mormon, I can feel the spirit.  And that is the most important thing to have with me each and every day.  It is rewarding and motivating to know where to go to get that spirit back each day.  

Come Follow Me

        About in August 2018, I received a new calling, primary president in our ward.  I am humbled for this opportunity to serve.  It has been amazing to me these last few months, what the Lord is teaching me.  He is refining me in only the way he can.  I find it empowering when He shows me my weaknesses and teaches me how to make them strengths.
      I was so excited for the new "Come Follow Me" curriculum to come out, but when I received this calling, it became even more important to me.  We received a training within the Stake to answer questions we had.  And then on December 16,  we as a ward were going to have a training on the new curriculum.  I was invited to be a part of that.  To explain the program for primary, the changes, etc.  My biggest desire always is to do the will of the Lord.  I was excited to learn more.  But, I have to be honest and share that for a moment, I also got overwhelmed.  I needed to do the home and individual study, read the primary manual and understand it, finish the challenge to read the Book of Mormon and make sure I was fulfilling my calling, and most importantly, fulfilling my stewardship as a wife and mother, my most important calling.  One day I was feeling this and pondering, and the thought came.  "Breathe!"  "You are making this so much harder than it needs to be."  "Try it out."
       And so I did.  I took a few weeks to try the new "Come Follow Me" program.  And what I found is that it is a very simple program.  That anyone can do it.  That it is for the seasoned member and also the newest member.  I love how it presents a different way to study.  One that provides the opportunity to have conversations and discussions.  It has changed how I read and think about the scriptures.
      In Primary, we learn the articles of faith.  The 9th article of faith states, "We believe all that God has revealed, all that he does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal, many great and important things pertaining to the kingdom of God."  We are witnessing this.  We are witnessing what the early Saints witnessed as continued revelation comes to our Prophet, so that we can become whom the Lord needs his church to be.  So that he will recognize us when he comes. 
         So, as I was preparing for the "Come Follow Me' presentation, my heart was drawn out in prayer.  I wanted to express what my father wanted me to say.  I had studied the program and was finalizing what I was going to share and then one night, the week before, I had a dream.  In this dream, I was back in high school and it was track season.  I was at a track meet, I was dressed in my uniform, getting ready for a race.  I got distracted for a moment and all of a sudden realized, My race was starting and I wasn't there.  The starter was saying, "on your mark..."  I grabbed my spikes, trying to put them on as I ran, thinking "I've missed it."  As I got closer, I noticed that the started had paused to allow me to join the race, and I did.  And that was my dream.  I have a lot of track dreams :), this is the first time that I asked what it meant.  As I pondered this, this is what I received. 
       Natalie, this race is important.  I need you in this race.  You are going to get distracted, I need you to try not to get distracted.  But, no matter when you join the race, I will be waiting for you.  You can always join the race.  I am ALWAYS with you, watching for you.
       As I have studied, I realize that the Lord just wants me in the scriptures every day.  No matter how much or how little.  He wants me to be consistent, but knows also that it is easy to get distracted from the essential things. 
       My family and friends, as we do this program, it will not be perfect.  We are going to have weeks we do awesome and other week not so much.  And that is okay.  The important thing is that we are trying.  What works for one may not work for another.  We can assist each other and sharing what works.  But no matter what, never give up.  Keep trying, we will succeed.
      I am learning that the Lord wants time with me, with us.  He wants to abide with us as we go on this journey in mortality.  We live in a joyous and glorious time of revelation.  I am grateful to be apart of this history.  I know that President Russell M Nelson, is God's prophet in these latter days.  I look forward to following him as he reveals that will of our Father.

Side note:  It is now January and the program has begun.  We were out of town when we were supposed to begin and the first week in January was crazy, but isn't every week.  Finally, on Saturday, we sat down with those that were home, about 1/2 our family and discussed the parable of the sower.  It was great.  I am learning that a coloring page about what we are learning helps my family be focused and more quiet.  And they like it.  Could I be upset with myself for only doing one day, absolutely.  Could it have been better? Absolutely.  But I am okay with our efforts.  It will get better, the important thing is we are in the race.