Since my baptism in 1977, I have found that reading the scriptures and reading Church publications have helped to not only build my testimony, but have also helped me in my callings and in strengthening me as an individual and my family. Through these blessings, my family and I have gained spiritual learning and understanding.
I've come to realize that lifelong learning is imperative. If we don't continue to learn and expand our horizons, we go backward. We need to continue learning so the strength of our testimonies can continue to grow. Learning is a real nourishment for our testimony.In Alma 32: 37-42, the word "nourish" is used eight times. This chapter in the early months of my Church membership was important to me. I'm a visual person, and the visualization of planting a seed and it growing up to a mighty tree was a help to me. A part of nourishing our testimony is lifelong spiritual learning. As a plant dies if you don't water it, so does a testimony die if it's not nourished. This nourishment includes reading scriptures, prayer, family home evening, and such events as "Know Your Religion."
My quest for lifelong learning began in 1976. I was seeking spiritual strength for myself, and spiritual influence for my children. Then a little child opened the door for me to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. A 7-year-old neighbor girl invited my youngest daughter to attend Primary. Later, I was given a copy of a family home evening manual. I eagerly read the material and was soon teaching the lessons to my children. Before long, I began studying the Book of Mormon and recognized the truth of its words.
In time, all of my family became members of the Church. Since then, I have found daily scripture study a constant teacher and source of comfort. I have attended the institute of religion at our local junior college, and this has helped me so much to understand the standards works. The Ensign, New Era, The Friend and Church News have also been powerful tools to bring the spirit into our home and to help us to learn gospel principles.
When I became a Primary teacher to children the same age as the child that brought the gospel to me, I reflected on how studying and teaching the gospel blesses and strengthens us as individuals and families throughout our lives. As I continue to serve others in various callings, my appreciation for the truths I have learned increases and understanding of them grows.
Family prayer, family home evening and family scripture study were an important part of our spiritual strength and family unity when our children were at home. Now they are all married and have families of their own. My husband, Bill, and I feel very strongly inclined to continue not only our individual prayer and scripture study, but also to continue our prayers together and our scripture study together, and also to have family home evening - something that continues to be a regular Monday night occurrence in our home.
This is a positive and strengthening time when we continue our study of the scriptures and gospel principles. And I would like to emphasize that daily reading and studying of the Book of Mormon, as our leaders have advised, is a special spiritual strength that helps us through each day."