I can't not talk about this book

If you have talked with me about anything religious anytime in the past month for any length of time, you have likely heard me say something about this:

This is a book that changed my life.

I say "a book" because there are other books—the Book of Mormon, the Bible, and James E. Talmage's Jesus the Christ, to name a few—that have changed my life as well, and in huge ways. But this book...this book has changed my life most recently and in an unpredictable, unforgettable way. I'm not going to waste your time because you should just be picking up this book right now and not reading anymore of this blog post, but let me just say it is the single best resource right now, aside from the words of prophets, for latter-day Saints to learn to be effective missionaries. I love this book so much I finished reading it and then picked it up the next day to start all over again.

If that doesn't convince you, then you should know Clayton Christensen was quoted in general conference this past weekend, and the quote used was in this book! Let that sink in.

When we lived in McKay and McKenna's ward earlier this year for just under two months, I didn't know why we were there. I mean in that particular ward. But while we were there, a brother in the elders quorum couldn't not talk about this book because it is so amazing. All I ever heard come out of his mouth was how inspiring this book is. He was so passionate about it that his words convinced me to pick it up several weeks after we left the ward. If nothing came out of our time in that ward other than my having picked up this book, then it was still a wonderful use of two months.

I have said nothing about the contents of The Power of Everyday Missionaries for a reason. Just pick it up and start reading. Do it right now. It will change your life.

1590 pages in 4 years

We finished the Bible! Karen and I started reading it back when we were dating (sometime in 2008). For our scripture study every night, we have read almost exclusively from the Bible, little by little, for about four years and maybe a few months. When we finished last night, we felt a sense of accomplishment. Do we remember every story as well as the last? Certainly not. But we love the Bible and are so glad we read it as a family. Now, it’s on to the Doctrine and Covenants!

Here are a few things that really struck me during our Bible study.

"Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me?" (Genesis 44:33-34)

"And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 15:20)

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)