The Book of Mormon: A Book for Our Day

[rameumptom]

Originally Posted by Mykdiver

Reading it that fast really inhibits your understanding of it would it not?
I think that is too fast to really delve into it and understand it.

It depends on the individual. I find value in reading it both quickly and slowly. Once you've read it several dozen times, the wording is familiar enough that small phrases leap out at you to ponder, even when reading it quickly.

[Mykdiver]

I guess that would be true if you have read it that many times.

[Islander]

I read abuot 2 hours per day. One hour in the morning and then 15-20 min intervals throughout the day. I manage to read it twice per year since 1998 when I joined the church. I tend to read other things during the weekend.

I think it is different for everyone but I am inclined to believe that reading too fast keeps us from really savoring the text and reflecting on its meaning.

[MorningStar]

A convert friend of mine thought the war stuff was put in The Book of Mormon so the men would like reading it. I said, "I'm sure there's something deeper going on than that."

[Hemidakota]

[ninjormon]

The first time I read the BoM it took a couple months, the next time I read the BoM in five days, it took about 10 hours a day with only breaks to pray, eat, and work out. Since then I've just been studying so I cant say that I have read the whole thing since then but I havent tried so I guess Im on my third too, right now Im trying to read the Bible more, being the only LDS in my family I try to teach them according to what they know, Does anyone have anything totally ground breaking?

[ninjormon]

As far as parralells in our day I see alot, Political Machinations,
pride cycle (laviousness/recession/depression) Obamas starting up the workforce again like Roosevelt. I think I see a trend with the gadianton robbers surrounding us as they did the nephites, kind of scary, Ive thought of the BoM as a playbook for our day as well as the rest but I know we are supposed to try our best to be peaceful (hard for a ninja) Has anyone else ever felt this or can they acknowledge my thoughts or is it anxiety/anxiousness?

[Justice]

Originally Posted by Mykdiver

Reading it that fast really inhibits your understanding of it would it not?
I think that is too fast to really delve into it and understand it.

I have found that you need both. The Book of Mormon is different when you read it fast. You need those times when you read and study isolated books and chapters. But, I believe everyone needs to speed read it through at least once. I recently read 15 chapters a day, sometimes more, and picked up on so many things you just can't get by going slow and studying. However, isolating chapters and verses is still my favorite way to read it.

[rameumptom]

There is value in different methods of study. I have found as I've read the Book through dozens of times (over 60 times), it has helped me to see patterns and tie different sections of the Book together. Why? Because I have become very comfortable with the language and the story. I now have phrases and words jump out at me that I can ponder and think about later when I'm not reading.

Do I spend time studying themes and concepts? Of course. In fact, speed reading with a theme in mind is a perfect way to learn the Book of Mormon from another perspective. Try reading to see all that is taught about Christ. Try reading to see all that is taught about Satan and wickedness. Try reading to see all that is taught that relates to the temple (there is a lot of it). It is a form of study to go through it quickly with a question or two in mind, and allowing the words to give answers as you go along.