Realize the Promise

We just had our Young Women/Young Men Culminating Event this weekend,

"Realize the Promise."

Our YM/YW quorum and class presidencies came up with the idea to read the ENTIRE Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ, in a single weekend.

Yes, the quest was to read the Book of Mormon cover to cover.

Every single page.

As in ALL 531 pages.

We had more than one person tell us we were CRAZY! (and that they'd never want to do that!)

And we, as their leaders, supported and admired them in this desire. It was a sacrifice for everyone to be there. Ryan told me that their Sunday School teacher had them talk about each of their sacrifices: a whole Saturday of College football, swing club, time spent with the girl of one young man's dreams, hanging out with friends, sleeping in, playing video games, a date, etc. Ryan, personally, gave up a High School Debate tournament, which will [negatively] affect his grade - unless he can put to use those debate skills he's learning and persuade his non-LDS teacher that she should have compassion on him.

So we planned and fed them all their meals and snacks while they were there. We planned to go from 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. on Friday and from 7:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. on Saturday (but we actually didn't end until about 10:30 p.m. on Sat.) and then concluding with the very last chapter, Moroni 10, in our combined class at church on Sunday (we ended up having to read eight chapters in Moroni at church.) but it's still good to have a plan.

Everyone came full of excitement to read!

The level of excitement waned in direct proportion to the amount of time we were at it. With bits of revival and rejuvenation sprinkled in there when people put forth their best effort and commitment because then truths were learned and the Holy Spirit was felt. This was definitely an, "I Can Do Hard Things" test.
After all, this event involved 21 hours of reading!! (we listened to it on CD, too.)

Truth be told, this kind of event, at times brought boredom...

....the glazed-over look.....

....an inability to withstand sleeping...

...overeating....

...and leaders confessing, "I can't take it anymore!"
(Uh, Jennifer, wrong book - that's a BIBLE you have open there! :))

We had 11 Young Women attend "Realize the Promise" and a couple dozen young men. (Good odds for our YW, eh? :)) Allow me to just give a "shout out" to our girls...

Sammy

Alana
(I teased her that every time I took her picture, she was with another boy!) :)

Sidney (on the right)

Elizabeth

Brittany

Jordan

Bree

Marissa

Olivia

Ashlyn

Samantha

AND because this is MY blog, and I was the one with the camera, my own sons are gonna get a good share of "PUB" now...

Captain Crunch....because a few pieces of French Toast, scrambled eggs, sausage, hash browns, fruit, orange juice, chocolate milk, and milk was just not enough for breakfast?!???

Look at that multi-tasking....physical + spiritual workout!

Ryan, reliving his "Samuel the Lamanite" part he played at the reenactment of the Book of Mormon at our Youth Conference 1 1/2 years ago.

Kyle - he pays attention, that boy! He noticed that the dates in the footnotes don't always follow in chronological order, and raised the question, which led to an explanation from the YM President. Such a proud mama to know he was into it! AND he was OK with me sitting by him for some of the time. :)

He started drawing (free hand, not tracing) the people he was reading about in Book of Mormon.

Moroni, raising the Title of Liberty

Ammon, ready to fight off the thieves

One of the Stripling Warriors.
I think he's got TALENT!

And so the hours went on....

This young man averted my camera whenever I came around! He hid behind his book or hands, he turned his head or body away from me...and then FINALLY, I got a picture (and caught him cleaning out his teeth with his fingers - SEE, he should've just let me take a normal photo!) :)

...Until, we had finished the whole Book of Mormon!!!

We gave the youth the opportunity to bear their testimony in church afterwards. For many, this was the very first time they had ever read the whole Book of Mormon. What a great start for them to build on the rest of their lives. Some simple just stated that they were glad they went. Others declared that they thought it was "cool" or "fun" or "good." How exciting that even the smallest testimony is being nurtured! Most of them admitted that when they were listening, or when they were following along, or when they were quiet, or when they weren't goofing off, or when they were fully engaged and trying, they felt the Spirit! Most also wished they had done better. Imagine that - what a novel concept!! :) It's so true, you get out of it, what you put into it!

Ryan was the first one to stand, and got me tearing up right from the get-go. He said that this time reading The Book of Mormon he was enlightened the most, he marked the most scriptures and testified that the truths found inside are a "Guide Book" for our lives and he is so thankful he can rely on it in his life.

This sweet girl shared that she was so touched by the many people in The Book of Mormon who sacrificed so much, even their lives, in defending the gospel and standing up for the church. (i.e. Abinadi and Moroni, "And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ...") because IT IS TRUE!

Don't let his tough look fool ya....this Young Man shared the strong impact reading about the Savior's visit to the Americas had on him. During that part, we actually had the lights turned off, and we just listened to the words of Jesus Christ. This Young Man said that he felt as though he was really there with Christ, and he FELT that he was really important to Jesus! He testified, fighting through emotion, that he KNEW Jesus loved him and that Jesus loved all of us, too!


This Young Woman taught us so well during the testimony meeting. Before we started reading the last third of Alma, our Young Men's President had asked the youth to think about WHY about 20 chapters in The Book of Mormon was all about war and battles - what did it all have to do with us? She stood up in the testimony meeting and told us that she had realized that, in The Book of Mormon, when the people relied on the Lord and were humble and righteous, they had success in their battles. Likewise, she testified, that WE have our own battles in life, and if we have faith and rely on the Lord, she knows WE will be strengthened and successful in overcoming them.

Wow.

As I am writing this, tears run down my cheeks remembering the strength and truth that came from their words.

I told the girls who were sitting by me that they might feel like they're on "B of M overload" and want to take a "break" on Monday, BUT I advised them they're already on a 3-day streak! If they read Monday, they'll be on a 4-day streak, Tuesday makes it 5 days, etc. etc. Which is a better streak than they may have experience before - and that is AWESOME - so don't quit! :)

Here's the one and only picture of me - it's proof that I was there, too!

The Book of Mormon I have now is quite new. It became necessary to get another one after my toddler daughter ripped out page after page after page when I wasn't looking a while back. She had a grand time!! ;) I have had about four different B of M's through the years, before they get too worn out to use anymore. I still remember my first B of M as a child was a BIG blue one with large print - with my eyesight like it is now, it might be a good idea to go back to that type! :) It's kind of hard to get new scriptures because I get used to where I have marked everything and written notes and I rely on them to understand....but I think it also makes me stretch, and read with "new eyes" and find new insights without using my past markings as a "crutch."

With this experience, I was able to mark my scriptures with many things that the Lord was teaching me through the Holy Ghost:

• I know the Lord will make things known to me if I believe in Him and keep the commandments (1 Nephi 15:11)

• Keeping the commandments means ALL of them - and ALWAYS (1 Nephi 15:25)

• I know that the Coming Unto the Lord = Happiness (2 Nephi 9:43)

• The Lord delivers His people time and time again (Mosiah 11:26) and I know the Lord has power to deliver ME from whatever problem/challenge I have.

• Believing should lead to ACTION. (Alma's example in Mosiah 17 & 18)

• My own slothfulness hurts my progression... and my children... and generations after me - I should never be weary of good works (Alma 37: 33 and 41)

• Forget myself and go to work. Be Fearless! (Helaman 10:4)

• Christ can HEAL me [from sin, emotionally, physically, psychologically] - and everyone. (3 Nephi 17: 7-9)

• NO contention is a good goal - I want this in my home! This begins with me. (4 Nephi 1)

• The word of God and his Gospel is not the way of the world - it is a MORE EXCELLENT way, prepared lovingly for ME...and you! (Ether 12:11)

• All GOOD things come from God and Jesus Christ (Moroni 7:12)

(just to name a few ~ there are many more!)

....and the way I spent my weekend was definitely GOOD. It was exactly what my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ would have wanted all of us there to be doing. Who cares what all the "naysayers" said or thought!

This quote sums it up:
"We find that sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. And in the end we learn it was no sacrifice at all." Spencer W. Kimball