[richlittell]

This subjec is a bit dated, but I just thought I'd chime in on the "reading" the BOM theme here. Last summer, I felt I was falling way behind in my scripture studies and habits, so I took up the 60 day challenge for myself.

It was an awesome experience, it got me back into regular scripture reading/study, and it was a whole different experience from the usual study, ponder, pray. Not that I didn't ponder or pray, but I didn't do cross-references and such, and I certainly pondered and prayed but the emphasis was on reading.

I know that in one of the more recent conferences we were counselled that we shouldn't just read but that we should study, ponder, and pray, and of course this is true, but I don't think they meant you could NEVER just read the scriptures. Have you ever just picked up the Bible or BOM and said to yourself, okay for the next couple months I"m just gonna' kick back on the sofa, kick my legs up and read my scriptures casually just like a good old novel? It's a unique experience and gives one a good appreciation of the scriptures, I think, a more intimate feeling.

I think the prophets have counselled us to study, ponder, and pray so that we don't develop "rote" and meaningless reading habits in the same way we might develop "rote" and meaningless prayer. That doesn't mean we can't have occasional times where just reading is our objective--so long as our heart is into it.

cheers