At the beginning of August, with only a few weeks of summer left until the kids went back to school, I was feeling pretty secure in the knowledge that I had given my children a summer jam packed with fun. But I felt like there was something lacking. That is when I decided to challenge my family to read/listen to the Book of Mormon in 30 days.
Well, 30 days came and went. And we did it! We all finished! I can truly say that it was one of the greatest things we have ever ever done as a family. It just might become an annual Back to School Family Tradition. At any given time throughout the entire month of August, the Book of Mormon was being listened to by someone in our home. Constantly. It was on every time we were in the car. I listened while I walked in the morning. Steve listened while he was working all day. It played while I was cooking dinner. When the kids were cleaning their rooms. The kids all fell asleep every night to the words of the Book of Mormon. It was awesome. The Spirit that was felt in our home was undeniable.
To celebrate our accomplishment we all went out to dinner and then went to see the movie "Ephraim's Rescue". It is a movie about the infamous ill fated Martin/Willie Handcart Companies. It was so good. When we got home, we talked about our Pioneer Ancestors. Steve and I both have ancestors who were a part of those companies. We told the kids that all the struggles that we had just witness played out on the big screen actually happened to their ancestors. They left comfortable lives and comfortable homes behind in their native lands because they read the Book of Mormon and knew without any doubt that it was a true book. That the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored upon the earth. Their testimonies of those things meant so much to them they were willing to literally give up all and endure unspeakable hardships because of that testimony that burned within them. We challenged our children to never forget that legacy that was given to them by these ancestors. We also challenged them to develop their own firm and unwavering testimony of this book as well.
Steve's 3rd Great Grandmother, my children's 4th Great Grandmother, Ann Jewell Rowley, was featured in the movie 17 miracles. She was in the Willie Handcart Company. Here is her miraculous story, in her own words, that was featured in that movie:
There came a time, when there seemed to be no food at all. Some of the men left to hunt buffalo. Night was coming and there was no food for the evening meal. I asked God's help as I always did. I got on my knees, remembering two hard sea biscuits that were still in my trunk. They had been left over from the sea voyage, they were not large, and were so hard, they couldn't be broken. Surely, that was not enough to feed 8 people, but 5 loaves and 2 fishes were not enough to feed 5000 people either, but through a miracle, Jesus had done it. So, with God's help, nothing is impossible. I found the biscuits and put them in a dutch oven and covered them with water and asked for God's blessing, then I put the lid on the pan and set it on the coals. When I took off the lid a little later, I found the pan filled with food. I kneeled with my family and thanked God for his goodness. That night my family had sufficient food.
You can read more of her trail journal by clicking here.
Here is an excerpt from her journal that tells of how she was introduced to the gospel and her desire to make the journey to Zion:
[We] had a beautiful home ... in the Parish of Buckley, Worcestershire, England. ... [In 1840] we were privileged to hear a man named Wilford Woodruff proclaim a new gospel message...We had only to hear him once and William and I knew with all our hearts that he was offering us a priceless treasure. We accepted his offer and were baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints... We dreamed of going to Zion, where we could be with the main body of the Saints, but money was the problem here, too. William was never to see Zion ... he died [on February 14, 1848] when Jane was six months old. I was left a widow with seven children under 12 years of age and the step-children of William's first marriage. I was very grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and the comfort it gave me. I knew that our parting was only temporary and that viewed from the eternities, this was but a fleeting moment. I also knew that no matter how fleeting a moment it was, I had to make the best of it. I had a very real job to do. The children had to be fed and clothed, but the big task and the one I must accomplish, is to get us all to Zion.I must be among the people of my faith and I must get the temple work done for us.
I am forever grateful for those who came before me and my husband and my children. I am thankful for their acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and for their fortitude and strength and unwavering testimony of the gospel and the Book of Mormon. I have read the book several times and to the testimonies of my ancestors I add my own testimony. That I know the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know it was written and preserved so that we could have it in our day. So that we could learn from the ancient inhabitants of this land what happens when you obey the Lord and live righteously. Also so we can learn what happens when his laws are ignored and unrighteousness abounds. I LOVE the Book of Mormon. If you haven't read it, I challenge you to read it and then pray to ask God if it is true. Click here for a free copy. Click here to read or listen to it online.
"I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness." - President Marion G. Romney
