Today's scripture lesson hand out and quote

I teach the 14-15 year old class in Sunday School.  Sometimes it has been frustrating for them to see things like I do!!! (Surprise, surprise...it does help that I teach Jr. High every day! and so I get it, but it's even harder at church...no grades, or anything to help them want to do what they should, except pure desire...that's the fun part...getting the desire to be a desire!)

Today we're reading the scriptures (obviously) and I want them to realize how important they are and how much they can get out of them.  If they read them regularly, we will get a lot out of them.   I'm giving them a giant jaw breaker (lots of sugar, but lots of fun too! each child to should experience this at least one time in their life!) and they are "supposed to" read their scriptures while eating their jawbreaker, or at least think about reading their scriptures while eating their jawbreakers. We'll see how it goes.So this is my handout for them today:

“Scriptures are like packets of light that illuminate our minds and give place to guidance and inspiration from on high.”           --Elder Richard G. Scott

Every time you eat your jaw breaker, think of how profound and deep the doctrines of the scriptures are.  Just like the depth of the jawbreaker, the scriptures have depth and layers to them.  The more you read, the deeper you’ll go.

Courage

“Courage is required to make an initial thrust toward one’s coveted goal, but even greater courage is called for when one stumbles and must make a second effort to achieve.  Have the determination to make the effort, the single-mindedness to work toward a worthy goal, and the courage not only to face the challenges that inevitably come but also to make a second effort, should such be required. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says, “I’ll try again tomorrow.” – President Monson

I read this quote in a talk, "The Abundant Life" and kept back coming back to it. I realized that it is so hard to have courage sometimes, especially when you've tried and failed, it feels like it's better to give up. But, just when you want to, I love the advice that says it's okay to give yourself a break and say, "I'll try again tomorrow."  I'm glad for second chances!

Reading

I've been reading a lot this week. My personal goal is to sit/lay/be outside in the sun and read at least once every day this week on my Spring Break.  So far I have succeeded all the way since Saturday. I've finished 2 books (one I started last Spring break...) "A Bend in the road" Nicholas Sparks and "Silhouette" by Nancy L. Cratty.  I am currently reading, "One in Thine Hand" by Gerald N. Lund and have been reading a lot in the Book of Mormon today to prepare for me having a sub in my Sunday School class (Thanks Apple!) and also my talk I'm giving in church this Sunday on the Atonement.

My sister is flying in on Thursday and I will have to drop her off at the airport on Sunday right after my talk so I can't teach, but it has been really fun preparing with Apple for the lesson. It is on the Plan of Happiness in Alma 39-42. I have loved those chapters since I was about 19 and realized that they actually talk about the Plan of Salvation!  It is great.  I was looking for a quote online for the lesson and while perusing, I logged into Goodreads which I don't do a lot.

“As you submit your wills to God, you are giving Him the only thing you can actually give Him that is really yours to give. Don't wait too long to find the altar or to begin to place the gift of your wills upon it! No need to wait for a receipt; the Lord has His own special ways of acknowledging.”
― Neal A. Maxwell

I found my profile and had to laugh at what I wrote in 2008. It still stands true except that I've finished reading almost all of the books mentioned! 

How did I get interested in reading?

Well, it all started when I started reading Jack Weyland books and babysitter club books. I would save all my money until we would go on temple trips to LA and I would go buy as many Jack Weyland books as I could afford at the Seagull book across the street. I love to read. It is really relaxing for me. Generally, I am reading at least 4 to 10 books all at once. I get bored, or I have to be in a certain mood to read a certain book. Currently, off the top of my head, I am reading the Stephanie Meyer books, To Kill a Mockingbird, Harry Potter (the first one), Elder Maxwell's biography, Esperanza Rising, the Narnia Series, some teaching books etc...I enjoy reading, especially in a room full of people.  (weird I know, but it's my way of being productive in 2 ways; socializing and accomplishing finishing a book...i'm weird like that!)  I like to read outside a lot at sun set or on the porch. I have a vision of my husband and I, growing old together sitting on the porch rocking back and forth in rocking chairs reading and chatting as the sun goes down. I am going to in the near future, get chairs for the front porch. So yeah, I guess people invited me to this reading web page, because I do enjoy reading. And probably, because I usually always have a book in my purse (even on dates!), maybe that's why I'm not married (yet)! (I just added the yet, cause I feel like it's coming!  There is always hope!  After reading all of the scriptures I have today, I have felt the Lord's confirmation to me that there is hope and it's all going to be okay!)

Welp, I'm off to bask in the sunshine and read my book, maybe even get in a nap!  Have a great day!