...Thank you so much! It really does mean a lot to me that you do so much to keep me happy, and i'm super appreciative of that. But what would really make me happy is if you extend a challenge to the family to read the Old Testament with me...I know its a big challenge, and they don't have a whole lot of time to do it, but i feel like it would help you guys a whole lot.. Do you think that could work?
~Elder Johnson~
Sometimes your children school you on what's important. I was so happy that his focus as a teenager has shifted from gaining temporal things to gaining spiritual things. David went on to challenge us to finish the old testament by February....wowza...yeah that's a challenge alright! I have committed to do it and I extend the challenge to all who want to participate. Furthermore (yes there's more) he extended the challenge to finish the standard works by the end of the next year, "if not earlier," he added. Yes! Why not? My mother heart can hardly contain how proud I am of how he is completely diving into his role as a missionary. My sadness that overcame me when he departed on his mission, is now replaced with overwhelming joy! Let's do this!
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I think Elder Johnson's challenge is a great idea and I'm in! I don’t read the Old Testament often. I have studied it in Gospel Doctrine and when I attended an institute class where Michael Wilcox taught from some of the chapters. Even when I was a member of the Nazarene church, I never read the Old Testament from cover to cover, and if I tried I would hit a wall around Exodus 25 – after the Ten Commandments and when it becomes about building things, “burnt offerings” and “aromas pleasing to the Lord.” I enjoy reading from Psalms and a few of the shorter books. I am not sure why I decided to read the Old Testament cover to cover, but in 2014 I felt prompted to do so. I finished a year later. I felt some accomplishment and discovered some hidden gems.
ReplyDelete"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of men." Ecclesiastes 12:13