Knowledge

Working on Knowledge

Value Experience #1

I read Proverbs 1:5; 4:7; 2 Nephi 38:30; and Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-80, 118, 90:15; 130:18-19; 131:6.

I am to think about why I need to gain knowledge and understand about how to apply gospel principles to my family life.  I am to write in my journal what I have learned and discuss it with my family.  So here I am killing 2 birds with one stone.  I figure blogging is the journal part.  I would love to have comments made and that way I will be discussing it.  So folks, help me out and make comments, so I can get my YW medallion.

We should seek knowledge above everything else according to Proverbs 4:7 and with it wisdom.   Wisdom is defined as the ability to make sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience. I would add that wisdom is also making sensible decisions and judgments based on personal knowledge and experience of others.  As I have aged, I have observed in my life, that at times, I learn quite slowly.  But no matter whether I learn vicariously or through personal experience, to really learn, to make it worthwhile, I have to exercise faith, either in someone else or in my Savior.  By learning and trying to gain wisdom I have prepared myself to fulfill my calling as a mother, wife and member of God’s kingdom. 

In Proverbs 1:5 we learn that wise people listen to others and learn from that which they hear.  If you are smart you will seek out people who already know what to do or have been through similar situations.  This is vicarious learning.  We believe the person who tells us the stove is hot.  That is enough for us not to test it for ourselves.  We can learn many things vicariously through the scriptures.  We can learn that it is worthwhile to pray by studying the story of the Brother of Jared.  We can learn how to serve others by reading the example of Christ’s life. 

But the Lord wants us to learn as much about everything as possible.  In D&C 88:78-80, we are encouraged to gain knowledge about everything including theory, principle, doctrine and law of the Gospel.  But also we should learn of things in the heaven, the earth, and under the earth.  We need to become knowledgeable in the history, politics of nations as well as our own. I think the Lord wants us to read a little fiction too, for he advises us in D&C 88:118 to seek out of the best books.  Gandalf, Dorothy and Pumpkin Head as well as Harry Potter have all helped me gain a little knowledge and wisdom. 

As I mentioned before, I have discovered over the course of my life that I learn relatively slowly.  I was watching Chloe the other day flicking through my I-pod, finding Netflix, dismissing an add by touching the x in the corner and scrolling through numerous movies until finding the  one she wanted to watch.  How quickly she can learn at such a young age.  It took me months to master simple things using the same contraption.  My slow learning does not just apply to my old age.  As a returning missionary, I remember arrogantly thinking I understood the Gospel.  I actually wondered what I would learn in Sunday School for the rest of my life.  If I could only reach out and slap my younger self.  The understanding that comes line upon line and precept upon precept as described in 2 Nephi 28:30 will continue for eternity.  How I wish I could have understood the gospel on my mission the way I do now.  How I wish I could understand the gospel now the way I will once I have entered into the presence of my Savior. 

This leads me to the last point.  Some things we just need to experience ourselves.  We have to endure pain to understand and empathize with one in pain.  We have to taste sugar to truly know what it tastes like.  This is why I found the last line of D&C 88:118 so interesting, “…to seek learning, even by study (mostly vicarious learning) and also by FAITH.”  We have to put what we learn to the test.  That test usually requires faith in our Savior.  Faith that he will not allow us to go astray.  How many times do we set out on our own voyage across uncharted waters as did the Jaradites.  How often do we feel we are in the dark and pray for assistance and get the answer, “Figure it out for yourself.”  We seek the knowledge and then we are required to put that knowledge to the test.   We see how wise we really are. But we must have faith that Christ will be there with us, he will not allow us to fail, at least not eternally.  We often don't know the next step for sure. I can, however, testify that I have been warned spiritually whenever I have been about to take a misstep.  Can't say I always listened to the warning, but that is all in how I have gained a little wisdom.   

If we can work on gaining knowledge and applying wisdom etiher vicariously or personal experience, then the Lord can use us in his Kingdom as it explains in D&C 88:80.  We will be prepared in all things to magnify our callings, to help our children, and support our spouse.  We will be able to fulfill the mission with which he has commissioned us. 

What My Mother Taught Me about Faith

and

How She Did It.

My mother was an interesting woman for her age.  In the 1960’s, men seemed to know and read the scriptures more than the women.  Most of my friends mother’s “lived” the gospel rather than “studied” it. 

Not my mom, she lived it and studied it.  I saw her reading her scriptures quite often.  She knew her Old Testament amazingly well and I was often told a Bible story for a bedtime story or just during the day because she thought it was a good time to tell me the story.  We had this big Family Bible with pictures.  Mom, often told me to look through it at the pictures (this was a way of keeping me busy while she was doing something else).  I didn’t like the pictures.  I still don’t like that artist’s work.  But the pictures made me ask questions and Mom would tell me the story regarding the picture.  Because of this, I gained a good foundation for my study of the Old Testament later. 

My first year of teaching Seminary turned out to be an Old Testament year.  I would often begin the lesson by saying, “Oh, this is one of my favorite stories!  Who can tell me the story of Jonah and the Whale (for instance)?”  I was shocked at how many kids did not know anything about the Old Testament.  They knew Adam and Eve, a few knew about Noah (the good one, not the bad king) but the rest of the book was just a black hole to many of my students.  (I also wondered if they had not gone to the Doctor and the Dentist.  When I was a kid there was this blue book of Bible stories in all the doctor’s and dentist’s offices.  That was another place I learned about the scriptures from my mom. She would sit by me and read the stories or just tell them in her own words. There wasn’t much else to do while sitting there.  Sure there was Highlights Magazine, but that was not as much fun as having Mom read to me.  But I digress.)

From listening to my Mom relate the stories of the Bible to me, I knew that she believed in God.  She loved her Savior.  I knew at a very young age that my mother had a testimony. 

I knew that she said her prayers.  I never saw her, at least not that I recall.  She would close her door to say them.  She was very good at getting me to say my evening prayers as part of my bedtime ritual.  She would whisper what I should say and I would repeat it.  Then one day in either Sunbeams or Stars we were challenged by Sister Inkley to say our prayers at home by ourselves and to ask Heavenly Father if he was really there and if he loved us.  That night I told Mom that I needed to pray by myself.  It was the beginning of my testimony.  But Mom never listened to my prayers again.  I was a little hurt by that at first.  However, Mom knew that I no longer needed her guidance with my prayers.  Her job there was finished.  Because of this I developed a very good relationship with my Father in Heaven that has helped a lot during my life.  She knew when to let go.

Mom taught me to keep the commandments and to expect the blessings that came from obeying them.  She often quoted D&C 130:20-21, “There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven…upon which all blessing are predicated…when we receive any blessing…it is by obedience to that law…”

She often took me to deliver food to the sick or a new mother.  She would tell me that she was offering a service and that she would receive a blessing for doing so.  She told me that by watching for that blessing she could be thankful for it.  Another one of her favorite scriptures she liked to quote to me is also found in the Doctrine and Covenants 59:21.  “And in nothing doth man offend God,…save those who confess not his hand in all things…”

“If you don’t expect the blessings,” she taught, “you won’t notice them and you won’t thank God for them.”

One day when I was in Junior High, Mom was getting ready to prepare dinner.  Michael and Kathleen were both on their missions.  Kennecott Copper Company was on strike in Utah causing economic problems for the community.  Therefore, Dad did not have a lot of work.  No one was building new homes.  Well, Mom pulled out the shelf that had the soup cans on it.  “Wow, we only have one can of soup left to make dinner tonight.  Don’t know what I will do tomorrow night.  Glad I paid the tithing this month.” 

This was spoken so matter-of-factly I did not think there was anything to worry about.  I had dinner the next night and the next night and every night thereafter.  When I was a mother myself, I asked Mom about that time.  She said she remembered that night.  There really was only one can of soup in the cupboard.  She said there was other food in the house, but not much, cans of vegetables and all the bottles of fruit downstairs.  But she said that we had absolutely no cash in the house and no cash coming in.  The savings were being eaten up with bills and missionary checks.  Then she bore her testimony to me again…”But I had paid our tithing at the beginning of the month.  I wasn’t worried.  We would make it.  My goodness, two of our children were serving missions.  Your Dad was in the bishopric.  I was in some calling.  We were doing what we were supposed to be doing.  We weren’t going to be left destitute.”  Again, she was very matter-of-fact. 

There was one area in which I was surprised at my mother’s lack of faith.  That was in herself.  One day when I was about 10, I asked what she thought it was going to be like in the Celestial Kingdom.  She informed me that she didn’t think she was going to go there, but she thought the Terrestrial Kingdom was going to be beautiful. 

I was shocked!  How could my mother not think she was not going to be in the Celestial Kingdom?  As I developed a better understanding of the atonement and salvation I would often read a few scriptures with her and discuss it. So did my siblings.  I think she changed her viewpoint on this towards the end of her life. 

Her lack of faith in her own worthiness helped me to study and investigate the truth.  Because my Mother read her scriptures and believed and acted on them, because she expected blessings for obedience, because she knew when to leave me alone with my Father in Heaven, and because she had lack of faith in herself, I developed my faith.  It is the greatest gift she ever gave me.  Thanks Mom.  Love you. 

Grandma's Baking Adventure With Chloe

This morning Kreed asked me to pick up some treats for his home teachees, if I went to the store.  Well, after entertaining Chloe for a couple of hours, I thought I would take her to the store and we would pick up those treats.  But then I started thinking about all the effort it would take to put her in the car seat, get her out of the car seat and then fight her to stay in the grocery cart, finally giving up and taking her out and then running after her.  I decided baking something at home would be much easier and more time efficient.

Now, you must keep in mind that I have not baked anything from scratch for the past 4 months since starting P90X. 

I decided to make pumpkin bread.  Nope, the pumpkin cans had expired in July.   Okay, how about the mincmeat.  I like mincemeat cookies.  Good…not expired.  But the condensed mincemeat was expiring before the stuff in the jar, so I decided to use that. 

So I got out a pan, broke up the mincemeat, added the water and set the pan to boil. Then I began to gather the remaining ingredients. 

Meanwhile Chloe was walking around the kitchen trying to get her hands on anything higher than her head.  Kreed’s pears tasted good to her as long as she had only one bite per pear.  Numerous toys were brought out by her grandmother, but their interest lasted a total of 60 seconds.

In between removing Chloe from dangerous situations or removing objects I did not want her touching, I was still gathering ingredients.  This is how it went.

Shortening:  expired and rancid.  As I said, haven’t baked in a long time.  Shortening does not keep well in the Las Vegas heat.  This was unused new shortening, a little discouraging.  But then…a light bulb moment…food storage!  I had lots of dehydrated shortening, never been used and now might be a good time to learn how to use it.  So went and found the shortening, then opened the can and read the instructions.   

To the fridge to get the eggs. While on P90X I have used only egg whites in the carton.  You guessed it, the eggs were expired (by only 2 weeks).  Ah, but I have dried eggs in food storage too. Went and dug those out of storage and opened the can.  I now know that 3 eggs are equal to ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons and 1 ½ teaspoon of dried eggs and equal part water.  You have to whisk this together.  Finally into the mixing bowl with the sugar shortening and eggs. 

Now to get the flour out.  I grind my own.  You guessed it.  There was not enough to make 2 batches of cookies.  I now had to grind more wheat.  In the meantime, the bug man showed up to spray the house.  Are you serious! He is supposed to come on Monday at 9:00!. 

The condensed mincemeat was still too warm and moist when I added it to the cookie mix, so I turned that into a cake.  Tastes very good.  The second batch was made with the canned mincemeat and I did not add all it said to add.  These also turned out wonderful, they are actual cookies. 

Now that the work is done, Chloe is playing quietly with a book in her box house.  I am cleaning up and the baked goods taste pretty good. 

Lesson learned, food storage is not just for financial emergencies or natural disasters but also very helpful when you just don’t have the energy to follow a 20-month-old around the grocery store.  Because it is obvious that going into Albertson’s and picking up a couple of dozen cookies would have been a lot harder than what I just did. 

God is in His heaven.

Over the past few months, I have been praying that the Lord would help my unbelief.  I, like the father who brought the ill son to the Lord, need help with my unbelief. (Mark 9:18-27

My request has been granted in so many simple ways.  I have found myself asking for help with such simple things because I have known He would help.  It seems that all that I have asked for has been given. this has given me pause, if what I ask for is so readily given, I may need to be careful for that which I ask. My desire to ask for only things that God desires has increased. 

So as this election day of 2012 begins, I have been searching for the way to phrase my prayers.   Personally, I want Romney to win.

 I do not know if I can endure another 4 years of the divisive politics of President Obama.  I fear the apathy that Obama's redistribution policy will place on our students.  I fear the tolerance that will be displayed to our youth about morals and values that are so important for them to develop for success in their families and careers.  I just don't want the grinding whine of Senator Reid and Congresswoman Polosi to be present in the media.

I want the security of knowing that someone is in the White House who prays before a committee meeting, someone  who desires to listen to others , someone who really understands the free enterprise system, a true capitalist.  Someone who is actually worthy of attending the temple.  It just gives me peace of mind. 

But, I do not know what God's will is?  I know what mine is. I have heard an apostle of God at the BYUI commencement promise that a time of prosperity is coming to America, perhaps it might be a short time, but that things still needed to be invented to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world.  The Church needs a time of prosperity to continue its work.  Wonderful!  Will the next 4 years be that time?  I do not know. 

What I do know is that God is in his heaven.  As Lehi discovered in 1 Nephi 1, God is in control.  He has made a plan and His plan will succeed.  Whatever happens today will not impede that plan.  So, Father, help thou my unbelief.  Help me to trust in thee.  Help me to remember, you are in control.

Devision

Division

A few weeks ago Kreed and I were reading 2 Nephi 30 for our scripture study.  Basically it is a revelation Nephi received describing how many of the gentiles and Jews during the last days will accept the gospel.  The Jews will again be gathered, etc.  But verse 10 really caught my attention.  Perhaps because of the political climate right now.

The verse reads, "For the time speedily cometh that the Lord God shall cause a great division among the people,..." 

Fulfilled prophecy!

Remember the gulf that divided those partaking of the fruit of the tree of life along with those holding to the rod from the great and spacious building.  1 Nephi 12:18, "...And a great and terrible gulf divideth them; (now look at what the gulf is) yea, even the word of the justice of the Eternal God..."  Justice divideth.

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for ME and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15. 

 I do not need to try to stretch across the gulf and have a foothold in the "vain imaginations of the world" while trying to hold on to the rod.  I accept there is a division.   I choose the Lord. 
! 

Rejoice? Really?

Trying out Elder Bednar’s suggestion of studying a specific topic by using an inexpensive Book of Mormon and reading to find answers to that topic.  How can I apply the atonement more effectively in my life. This topic incorporates a lot of subcategories which I have listed as faith, repentance and forgiveness.  Forgiveness is unique as I am trying to understand how I can be forgiven and accept that forgiveness.  I have discovered some subcategories of faith including diligence and endurance.  This blog attempts to elucidate some of the inspiration received in 1 Nephi 1.

Many members of the church probably feel as I felt as I turned to 1 Nephi 1, “What new tidbit could I possibly learn from this chapter.”  This chapter is probably the most read chapter of any book of scripture.  “I Nephi, having been born of goodly parents…” Yeah, yeah, yeah…we have all read it numerous times.  Many of us have taught it numerous times in Sunday School, seminary, etc.  As I began that verse, my mind raced ahead to the rest of the chapter, “Lehi is going to have a couple of visions and then he is going to go out and preach.” 

Wait a minute..I remembered that I would be reading some things I had previously found to be a bit incongruous.   Lehi prays because of his concern for his people.  He then has a vision of a fire resting on a rock. He presumably sees the destruction of Jerusalem and it troubles him.  Verse 7, says that once he returned home he cast himself on his bed and was overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.  This all makes sense to me. It would disturb me if I saw a vision of the destruction of Las Vegas (not hard to imagine).

While pondering on his bed, Lehi sees God sitting on his throne, Christ coming to earth, the twelve, and is told to read a book (In John the Beloved’s vision he was instructed to eat the book).  Lehi reads as described in verse 13, “Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thy abominations!”  He then sees the destruction of Jerusalem and that many “perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive…”

Now comes the part I have always found to be a bit inconsistent.  After seeing this great destruction, Lehi praises God for his mercy in verse 14.  Mercy?  Really?  He has just witnessed many deaths and the captivity of those that are left and he is talking about the mercy of God? Verse 15 is really odd.  Nephi records, “for his (Lehi’s) soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen.”  Now he is rejoicing?  I must have missed something.  I reread the entire chapter looking for the reason for such joy amidst such bad news. I believe I caught a glimpse of what gave Lehi reason to rejoice. 

Now I would like to hear from you what you believe gave Lehi reason to rejoice and his heart to be filled.  Nephi admits in Verse 16 that he did not write all that his father saw, but he alludes to it here and there.  Why is this particular vision and his Lehi’s reaction to it, used as the beginning of the Book of Mormon?  I would enjoy hearing from you, my readers.  Please, comment.  I will supply my thoughts latter. 

This morning, I heard a tidbit of a report about those people who had stood in line, some for days, so they could be the first to own the new i-phone.  I like my i-pod and some day, I think it might be nice to have an i-phone, everything in one place type of thing.  They interviewed on man who said, "When you want something, you do anything to get it.  You just have to have it right now."

Really!  Is that what he is teaching his children.  If they want something, does he really give it to them "right now."  We are not entitled to instant gratification.  If we were, those that repented would be instantly transfigured.  No matter how we try in our modern world to have instantaneous responses, that is not the way of this earth.  The seed must be planted, the sun must shine and the rain must fall and after days or weeks, the seed slowly begins to grow.  After a summer of weeding, nuturing, watering,...a harvest comes. 

I earn the money for the things I want.  I safe until I can pay cash for them.  My credit cards are payed off monthly.  If I can't afford it, I don't buy it.  If I can buy it and I think it is too expensive anyway, I go without.  The only things I need to exist are water, food, and the love of my family.  Everything else is frosting on the cake (I don't like cake without frosting anyway). 

Jeremy worked for the welfare office for a while as a food stamp case worker.  He was often amazed at the people who came in to get their food stamps with $80 artificial nails, big fancy cars and one guy who had a 7000 sq ft house.  It reminded me of a bishop who told me of a man coming in and asking for assistance because he had lost his job.  The bishop told the man he would come buy and visit him later that evening to talk about it.  As he drove up to the house (which the man had just purchased), he saw in the driveway a large SUV with a new car lisence in the window and the box for a new flat screen TV at the curb.  The bishop went into the house and suggested the man sell his new SUV, the flat screen TV and get rid of the cable and the unlimited texting plan for each of the children.  At first the man was upset (and I am sure his family was).  But they were obdient to the bishop and began to cut corners.  They were able to stay in their home and live off their savings and did not receive assistance from the church.  The man told the bishop it was the best thing that had ever happened to them.  The children all had part time jobs to help out and felt closer as a family. 

What do you have to have, right this minute.  The newest techno gadget?  The newest tweet?  The most recent post on facebook?  Come on...give it up.  We all survived when there was only one phone in the house at it was connected to the wall. It was luxuious if the cord was a 20 footer.  People made millions on wall street.  Dates still happened.  Friends still got together (actually face to face, in person), and children let their parents know they were going to be late. 

The most important thing in my life is my family, their health and welfare.  Our relationship is going to last an eternity and is worth working on everyday and is much more important than the latest i-phone.

No more seminary! I am so lost. What do I do for scripture study? I have read the assignment for Sunday School…twice. Even read some supporting articles. Now what! I can study anything I want? What a gift!



For family scripture study yesterday, Dad and I were reading in 1 Peter 4:12, 13.  I hadn't been getting much out of Peter this time around. It reminded me of Old English Legalese. But these two scriptures caught my attention. Study material!



Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.



Not just joy, but exceeding joy!



I love the BYU Scripture Citation site. (Thank you to all the poor students that have put that together.)  First quote listed is Neal A. Maxwell. We know that one will be good. It is from a talk in 1997 entitled "From Whom all Blessings Flow."



"Those who emerge successfully from their varied and fiery "trials" (furnaces) have experienced the grace of the Lord, which He says is sufficient (Ether 12:27)."



Stop! How often do I think that once I have completed something difficult in my life, that I made it through by the grace of my Savior? Or am I like the man who sees the single footsteps on the sand and does not realize they are not his footprints but Christ's.



By suffering I have the opportunity to be a “partaker of Christ’s suffering?”  I do not presume to believe that what I suffer comes close to what Christ endured, but does it allow me to glimpse and understand more fully and appreciate more completely what he endured?  Do I even think like that?   And what is it that disappoints God most?  When we do not acknowledge Him in all things. 



I am humbled.  I complain and gripe and groan and cry and gnash my teeth about my trials.  From now on, I pray that I will have a completely different attitude.  In D&C 121 we are advised that our problems will be for our own good.  Yes, they could be, if I allowed them to teach me of my Savior.  I can better understand Him because of my trials. 



Referring to Elder Maxwell’s quote, if I emerge from my trials, I do so because of the grace of Christ.  It is sufficient, enough, adequate.  The fact that I emerge from my trials is proof that he cares.  I think I have done it alone.  I foolishly give myself credit for enduring.  Hah!  I did nothing.  Without acknowledgement or receipt of gratitude, my Savior has carried me through.  I am nothing but a piece of ungrateful dust (Mosiah 2). 



I pray that I will remember this and put it to use in my life.  I can glimpse the joy and peace I can receive. 

I have to include Elder Maxwell's next statement.  "Even so, brothers and sisters, such emerging individuals do not rush to line up in front of another fiery furnace in order to get an extra turn."

Thank you Elder Maxwell. 

Success at last.

LeDawn Williams called me yesterday and asked if I kept a journal.  Yes.....  Then she asked if I would be willing to share a journal entry with the class and explain the benefits I have felt with keeping a journal.  Well, I have written in many journals quite often.  They are all over the house.  But I don't usually go back and read them.  I get the benefit of getting my feelings out with the writing but I don't often have the desire to go back and read what I have written. 

So this morning I opened my journal and read some things.  It was funny.  Most of the time I was reprimanding myself for yelling at my children.  Well, I can finally say I have overcome that problem.  They all moved out.  I haven't yelled at a child for years. 

My Goodness:  Mom is going to make two posts in one month!  Hold on to your hats!  Here it comes!

Teaching Judges in Seminary next week.  In Judges 2, the Lord lists the pagan God's that the Canaanites worship and tempt the Israelites to worship.  So I thought I better look them up and know some background concerning the "great" Baalim.  Wow!  What you can learn from Wikipedia! (along with the Bible dictionary)
Baal is basically a Phoenician God.  He is worshipped by all the "ites" in the area but with their own spin on it and at times with other names.  He is identified as Zeus among the Greeks.  Now who was Zeus?  How did he become the head honcho of the Gods.  Killed his "evil" dad, right.   Just think about that for a moment.

Baal (the more common use of the name), was the king of the Gods who ruled over the Gods of Heaven.  (Okay, I see the Zeus similarity).  In Canaan he was also known as Hadad and was the son of...wait for it...EL!

Now doesn't that put a whole different spin on these stories of the "Gods" of the ancients.  Satan, the great counterfeiter, spreads his version of what should have happened in the pre-existence.  In his version, the Son does get the Father's glory and saves all of mankind from the fathers tyranny.

Oh, there are many things that made the worship of false Gods despicable in the eyes of Jehovah.  But this must have been the most.  Satan changes the story so that he is the winner.  No wonder Zeus and the Gods had such carnal appetites.  That was who they were, the epitome of  carnal world.

Well, hope you enjoyed my little wikipedia find today. 

A New Years Resolution

I want to study the gospel more efficiently and more.  I don't know if I have been more efficient this morning.  I read a page and a paragraph of preach my gospel in 2 hours.

It was an amazing experience though.  You know how when you read about a doctrine, you might think, "Oh yeah, there is a great scripture that goes with that.  Let's see, I think it is somewhere in 2 Nephi, or is it Timothy?  Might be section 31 or maybe in Abraham."  In other words, you have no idea where it is, you just know it exists and it says something like....

Well this morning I made myself find the scriptures of which I was thinking.  It was amazing.  I also made a place in the back of my scriptures to jot them down and to organize them.

The section I read of Preach My Gospel was "Introduction: How Can I Best Use Preach My Gospel?" Like I said, I read just one page. 

The lesson that hit me the hardest was in the second section entitled "The Missionary Lessons." 

Rarely should a lesson go over 45 minutes. 

I was so impressed with this that I wrote William about it.  I know from experience, that the Spirit stops testifying somewhere around 46 minutes. But I can keep going anyway.  There is an old saying in entertainment and business, "Always leave the people wanting more."  I cringe when I look back on my mission and realize how often I tried to teach, not line upon line, but novel upon novel. 

Short and Sweet.  That needs to be my motto.  I think that needs to be everyones motto.  I don't mind getting out of church early. 

I thought of two chapters of the scriptures that went along with this section.  First 3 Nephi 27 and especially verse 21.  Jesus says his gospel shows us what we need to do and that includes what we have seen him do.  Then in 2 Nephi 31 it tells us what Jesus did.  I read 2 Nephi 31 outloud and even did a few markings to see how long it took Nephi to explain the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  6 minutes! 

Short and Sweet and to the point.