Reading The Book of Mormon in Under 3 Months

In November our *Stake President challenged us to read the entire Book of Mormon as a couple before stake conference in February. At first, when we started, we calculated that we needed to read six or seven pages a day to get it done. Not very much. Honestly, I've read books almost twice this length in a matter of weeks, but we wanted to read it together, out loud, which takes a bit longer. Then we had a family emergency, didn't read as much as we should have during Thanksgiving and Christmas break, and just stopped early a few times when we were sick or tired at the end of the day. We're now needing to read 13 pages a day to finish, but we're planning to be done by the day before conference. Mission accomplished!

Every once in a while this feels like a burden. It can take a long time to finish our daily reading, which we usually do right around bedtime, and I get tired. But then I think of how much I love this book and how many blessings I've seen in my life because we've accepted this challenge. 

President Runia told us that if we did this that the spirit would increase in our home and that we would have increased tenderness in our marriage. I have noticed that. Cameron and I have become more patient and loving towards each other. It is easier to feel the spirit in our home, which in turn creates more peace and love.

Although I've read The Book of Mormon before, several times, reading it so quickly this time has helped me to see the continuity so much more clearly. To see things prophesied and then happen in such close proximity to each other that I'm able to recall more clearly what was said is a true blessing. It has strengthened my testimony that the Lord keeps his promises, that he lives, and that miracles are real.

I know that The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know that it teaches of Him and His Son, just as the Bible does. I know that, if we let it, the doctrine and stories in it can change our hearts and help us to become more like our Savior. I am so grateful for this church, I am so grateful for the scriptures, and I am so grateful for the love of my Heavenly Father.

*A Stake President is an ecclesiastical leader who presides over a group of about 10 wards (or congregations) which make up a stake. If you have any questions about this or anything else I've mentioned please feel free to leave a comment or send me a message! 

If you want to do some research about the LDS church, receive a free copy of the Book of Mormon, or want to chat online with Mormon Missionaries (or make an appointment to speak with them in person), visit mormon.org, or click the "I Believe" link at the top of the page.

The Engagement

Cameron and I have known that we want to get married for a while. He asked (well, tried to ask, but that's another story) my dad for my hand almost two weeks ago and we pretty much immediately started working on picking a date and colors and things, but we didn't want to go around telling people that we were engaged before he'd officially asked me. Let's just say that by the time he proposed I was more than ready to say yes.

On Thursday night we were just hanging out and he asked if I would like to go on a date next week. I thought for sure that's when he would propose then. When he was leaving he VERY casually asked if I'd like to go hiking with him the next morning so he could build up stamina for his Elders Quorum activity on Tuesday to hike the entirety of Timpanogos. I said yes before he told me that he'd be picking me up at 6:00 am. Good thing, too, because it was going to be the best hike of my life.

Friday I woke up at 5:30, after a whopping five hours of sleep. I thought vaguely as I was brushing my teeth that he's a pretty sneaky guy and might be trying to throw me off by asking me on that date for next week. I quickly brushed it aside, not because I thought I was wrong, but because the last thing I wanted was to get my hopes up only to be disappointed when we got back and I still had no ring on my finger. At multiple points throughout the hike I stopped him to point out the view and give him a hug and a kiss, and I'm sure he was getting frustrated with my dragging pace, but he didn't show it. I didn't know we were trying to do anything but get to the waterfall and turn around.

The hike was absolutely beautiful. *(I LOVE nature, especially trees and animals so this hike was perfect for me. As my mom puts it, if a woodland fairy would like it, so will I.)* Almost the entire trail was covered by beautiful green trees, there were hundreds of butterflies and honeybees, we even saw a family of wild turkey, a few chipmunks, lots of birds, and a doe! So, needless to say, I was having the time of my life.

We finally got to Stewart Falls it was an amazing. The sun was out, the air was warm, the water was cool, and the view of the river and canyon was spectacular. In the back of my mind I thought, "this is such a romantic spot, he should just propose to me right now."

He must have read my mind because a moment later he sat me down on a giant rock and handed me an envelope. Inside was this: 

Each page was a dated journal entry of memorable days we'd spent together (all written on staff paper.) *(we love reading books together)* The second to last page was this...

And that's when I was sure he was going to do it. The last page, though I wasn't quite sure what it was at the time, was lyrics to a song he had written for me, and they were so, so sweet. Then he asked if he could ask me a few questions, the first of which was, "may I have this dance?" *(we tend to spontaneously slow dance to non-existent music)* 

As we were dancing he asked if he could sing a song for me. *(We love singing, especially together. We met through choir.)* He started singing a beautiful song, the one he wrote for me, and I started... well I'm not sure what to call it. It was somewhere between laughing and crying, but I didn't have any tears. My shoulders were definitely shaking though, and I just had my face buried in his shoulder. Then he finished the song, pulled back a half step, and walked me backwards the few feet to the rock where I'd been sitting before. He sat me down and reached behind me without me noticing, and pulled the ring box out of his back pack. 

As soon as I saw him on one knee holding the little wooden box I started really crying. When he opened it and I saw the ring my hands flew to my mouth and I started sobbing. It was the most beautiful ring I'd ever seen. I immediately noticed the leaves and vines and knew that he knew me and loved me. *(He picked the ring all by himself)* Then he asked me one more question:

"Will you be my wife?"

I, of course, said yes. Then he asked if he could put the ring on my finger, and of course I said yes again. He slipped it on and stood up. I kissed him and held him and told him over and over that I loved him. He was crying, too.

Then we continued to cry and and laugh and look at the way the ring sparkles in the sun. Then he looked at his watch, looked me in the eye, and said, "Dana, four months from today, at this very moment, we will be waiting in the temple to be married!" *(We'd already picked our wedding date, November 20th)*

It was the most absolutely perfect proposal I could have imagined. I am so in love with him and I can't wait to be married in the temple so we can be together, not just "till death do us part," but for all eternity, even after we die. I am so grateful for his kindness and faith and love. It is so wonderful to have this constant reminder on my hand of how much he loves me, and how we get to be together forever. 

I get to marry my best friend.

5 days down, 119 to go ;)

The Hobbit!!!

I loved reading the Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings, and I loved the LOTR movies. Well guess what? Peter Jackson is at it again and I am SOOOOO excited!!!! They're making a production blog!