"because of their virtue"

A recent goal I have is to read the entire Standard Works in 1 year. Its doable. And I as I was thinking about it...7 pages of scripture is a bit of a hefty load for a college student...but as i thought more about it...perhaps this is one of the greatest things I can do while I am in college.
Before I really begin my year long journey, I came across this scripture that I never want to forget. In the accounts of the scriptures, there are very few mentions of Women...and its even more rare when their names are mentioned.

There are three women mentioned in Abraham 1:11--who's story we don't know anything about, we don't know their names, we don't know what they were like, we don't know how old they were. Yet, we do know the most important thing. They were valiant women--because of their virtue.

It says.."These virgins were offered up because of their virtue; they would not bow down to worship gods of wood or of stone." (Abraham 1:11)

In Mark 5:30, according to the footnote the greek translation of virtue is strength. I believe that as we are virtuous we have that physical, emotional, and spiritual strength that is required to fight off the daily temptations, trials, and challenges that stand in our way from becoming more like Christ--one of His greatest attributes.

Another thing I love about this verse is it talks about the women who believed in a living God. Not a God of wood, or stone. And they knew that God could deliver them from their trials as He has before to others...but if not, they would die because they knew what was right and they were willing to serve God even despite its demands.

I love the Elder Maxwell explains further these "...three young women whose names we do not have. They appear in the Book of Abraham, remarkable young women about whom I am anxious to know more. They were sacrificed upon the altar because "they would not bow down to worship [an idol] of wood or stone. Someday the faithful will get to meet them." (BYU Devotional, Dec. '84)

I believe if I was there with them before they died, I think those women would say they would be willing to give their life 10,000 times over again if it meant, they remained their virtue, integrity, and devoted service to God.

Don't they just radiate Virtue? I  love my parents!

What are you going to do to seek to develop and obtain virtue in your life today?

Book of Mormon: 1 Nephi

I've completed my first week of college, and my absolute most favorite class is Book of Mormon!
I love it!
I just feel so enthusiastic about life after that class, and I've already talked to my teacher about the CES program, and he said he would personally introduce me to the CES Directors/Teachers here, so with a personal recommendation, I have a great shot at getting through the program!

but...since I am a lover of all things wonderful, insprining, and beautiful, I decided to electronically record all my notes that I took in my Book of Mormon notebook. (next class I'm just going to write them directly in my laptop--because three-four hours is alittle time consuming for me to re-record everything.

Hope you Enjoy and learn something new!

Book of Mormon NOTES1

Book of Mormon: BLITZ

3 Nephi 11--one of the very best chapters in the Book of Mormon

Ready. Set. Go. 

I set a goal at the beginning of the year that I would finish the Book of Mormon by graduation. 

Well, here I am one month away from graduation and I have half of the Book of Mormon left. 

I'm currently in Alma 30---fascinating Chapter about Korihor--the anti-Christ. He is definitely repersenting the world today and how they attack families, the divinity of the Godhead, and no faith whatsoever. 

Last night, I watched Sister Rosemary M. Wixom, again. And she shared a story of how a young man wanted to come to know if the Book of Mormon was true. He spent an hour each night reading the Book of Mormon, desiring to know for himself. 

I wanted to take this challenge to study the scriptures for an hour each day. I have a "unshaken" testimony that the Book of Mormon is true, but I will still read it with an objective in mind.

I have challenged of friend of mine, to study an hour each day until we finish the Book of Mormon. 

And as I have been studying, ideas come to me, "oh i want to re-read the Book of Mormon with this goal in mind, or looking for specific patters, or other such objectives. 

So....here I go. i MIGHT go on a Book of Mormon blitz to finish my second half in one week, just so that when we start reading for an hour a day, I can start again at the beginning. But, than I might not because I don't want to gloss over anything!

Luckily, it will be the best hour spent in my day, so this is probably the best challenge we can do!

scripture study

In the past couple of months, I have changed. Since all of you that read this little-blog-of-mine, are older and wiser, you might understand the "change" that I have/am experiencing. The one from youth to adulthood. Its difficult, wonderful, hard, inspiring, and challenging all at the same time. It is almost hard to put into words. I have felt this desire to become a "new" me. I ultimately want to strive to be a better person. Most importantly, it has been the best change. And is getting better an better. I began realizing as I was "changing" that I could either choose to take the opportunity to grow and become a better person, or I could choose to be passive and stay in my comfort zone.

I choose to grow.
And I am constantly going to grow.

The Change. I have been a faithful Latter-Day Saint Member my entire life. Born and raised in the Church.
But these past few weeks I have felt like a convert to the gospel. My love and desire have grown exponentially, and I feel like I can not get enough of the truthfulness of the scriptures and the words of the Prophet. I've been spending more hours in the scriptures than I have in my textbooks (well, I've never really studied my text books in the first place, but, you know what I mean).

I know that attending Institute has helped my testimony to grow tremendously. I've immersed myself into everything gospel related, and I have never been happier.

This gospel makes me so happy. I love who I am. I love my purpose in life. I love that through our extremities we come to KNOW Heavenly Father.

So these past few weeks, I have been inquiring of those who I highly respect in the gospel of how to better my Scripture study so I can glean the most from my scriptures.

Now...I ask you, wise mothers, what is something you maybe wished you would have known when you were my age about scripture reading? What is something that you do that is most effective? What has been the best way to organize your scripture journal?

I know your scripture study habits may be personal, but if you have any suggestions or ideas, I would love al the help I can get.

This gospel is always changing me. And I hope I will always be "converting" to the gospel. It is the greatest source of joy, happiness, peace, stability, and love I have in my life.

I just LOVE THE GOSPEL.