NaBoMeReMo

Having just finished NaNoWriMo yesterday, and with a few days of NaBloPoMo still left, my reaction to seeing the NaBoMoReMo website (National Book of Mormon Reading Month, and thanks to Dan’s blog for the heads-up) was split: on the one hand, I’m tired, and yet another ball to juggle felt like almost more than I can handle. On the other hand, however, I’m reading the Book of Mormon anyway; this will just be a change in method. And, frankly, the idea of gulping down large amounts of scripture (since I’ll have to ramp up my reading to finish on time) delights me. A week or so ago Connor sent out a quote that really stuck in my head:

An effort must be put forth to learn the gospel, to understand it, to comprehend the relationship of its principles. The gospel must be studied, otherwise no test of its truth may sanely be applied to it. That study must be wide, for the gospel is so organized that in it is a place for every truth, of every name and nature. That study must be constantly continued, for the content of the gospel is illimitable.

It is a paradox that men will gladly devote time every day for many years to learn a science or an art; yet will expect to win a knowledge of the gospel, which comprehends all sciences and arts, through perfunctory glances at books or occasional listening to sermons. The gospel should be studied more intensively than any school or college subject. They who pass opinion on the gospel without having given it intimate and careful study are not lovers of truth, and their opinions are worthless.

To secure a testimony, then, study must accompany desire and prayer.

–John A. Widtsoe (see Quoty for the full citation)

Now, reading the Book of Mormon straight through alone isn’t enough to count as a serious study of the gospel, but it does help. Catching the big picture makes a huge difference. As the NaBoMoReMo website says, “December is usually a crazy, busy, hectic time of the year, and amidst all the commercialism it’s easy to forget the ‘Reason for the Season.’ My hope is that by immersing ourselves in the Book of Mormon during this month, it will be easier to keep the Savior at the forefront of our thoughts.” And that’s why I’m going to take the challenge. In a way, it’s a nice continuation of President Hinckley’s challenge, and it certainly wouldn’t hurt the Saints to re-read the Book of Mormon every year. After all, I spend more than enough time reading other books; surely I can devote some of that time to the book that matters most.

Besides, they plugged my reader’s edition. ;)

I’ll have a reading chart up for download in PDF pretty soon — it’s half done, but I just remembered I have to be at work at 9 and I haven’t eaten breakfast or shaved or anything yet. Whoops.

An interesting challenge. I know someone that read it in one day. It took her 16 hours. Reading it at a fast pace allows for a flow not seen when micro managed. Micro reading has its definite advantages too. I could do it in an hour, or less a day, in a month, not a fast reader;P

I think a bigger challenge is to see how many endowments one can do in a month. We live in an area where we can go to the temple 6 days a week. That serves both sides of the veil and think of all those who will be interested in your welfare! While you wait for an endowment session to start, you can read some Book of Mormon! Two birds with one stone? I have spent an hour, on a few occasions studying the scriptures in the Temple. It is way cool.
After all, the Temple is the Lord’s University.

Provo is open 18 days in December and closes from Christmas Eve on. Mt Timpanogas is open 5 more days. That is a lot of opportunity.

Then people could blog about the changes and personal growth they had from both experiences!

Not a bad challenge as well, Donna. Definitely one that requires you to go more out of your way, but that’s often a good thing. :) (And maybe sometime in the spring there could be National Book of Mormon Reading Day (NaBoMoReDa? :P Frankly, though, I’m not so big on these two-letter cobbled-together thingamjiggers — the full names are more appealing. But whatever.).)

Agreed about the “Frankly, though, I’m not so big on these two-letter cobbled-together thingamjiggers — the full names are more appealing”

It does get people to stop and figure it out though;)

When President Hinckley gave his challenge, people were seen carrying their Book of Mormon everywhere, snacking and grazing as they went. A slight habit change. Figuring how to increase temple attendance, on the other hand takes large time chunks and we almost need to bring everything on the table and question our sacred cows, and be gut wrenching honest with ourselves about our living to our privileges and seeking the blessings of exaltation in our lives. Some of us do great. Only we and the Lord knows whether we could use more of an infusion of education from His University. Just a thought.

That sight — people carrying Book of Mormons around with them everywhere, making the book more a part of their lives, making it part of them — was beautiful. If only it were like that all the time and not just once in a while…

[…] This is NaBoMoReMo or National read the Book of Mormon in a Month. I read about this on Ben Crowder’s blog, he is the son of my friend Tina. Essentially, you read the Book of Mormon in a month and challenge all you know to do the same. Then you blog about the experience and put NoBoMoReMo in the tag line. […]

[…] Well, I found a great idea at Top of the Mountains today — December is National Book of Mormon Reading Month (NaBoMoReMo), so I’ve got my to-dos set and I’m going for it. I also think it’s great to re-visit President Hinckley’s Challenge from several years ago and try to read the Book of Mormon every year, and so I’m going to work at getting through it again next month :).  Also, as recommended, I’ll be blogging as I do it.  So, if nothing else, we’ll hopefully get some good spiritual thoughts on here. […]

[…] Somebody has put together a website for what they’ve termed NaBoMeReMo (National Book of Mormon Reading Month). The idea is to encourage people to read the Book of Mormon in its entirety during the month of December (thanks to Ben for spreading the word). […]

[…] Tomorrow I’ll review all those resolutions I haven’t looked at since the other bookend of this year (I probably should start reviewing them monthly…) and set new ones. Some I’ll hit; others will languish, which is sadly what happened with NaBoMoReMo for me — I’m only at the end of Alma. Well, you win some, you lose some. And it’s not like I haven’t finished the Book of Mormon before. :) (I still feel guilty, though.) […]