A Challenge to Delve into the Scriptures

This is your substitute bloggess, here for a short comment today.
Bishop Dennis challenged 5 people in our ward to a 2 week challenge of: 1. read the Book of Mormon for 5 (or was it 10) minutes each day, 2. spend 5 minutes contemplating what they had just read. 3. drop to the knees and talk these things over with the Lord as well as anything else that might come to mind, like thankfulness for so much He has given us.
There seemed to be some common threads they each experienced as you might expect. The first challenge was allotting the time where study could be done in the best circumstances. One sister said she found that she could "make time" in her busy schedule once she had made the commitment. Each person had to discover what worked best for him or her. Just like practicing anything worth while, it helps to set aside a time that works for you and then stick to it. It does help to have the bishop spurring you on but if not, well the Lord told us to read the Book of Mormon regularly and hasn't excused us from that assignment yet.
Discovery seemed to be the next thing that happened. I think, as a listener, what I felt they each learned was something personal that had perhaps been buried and needed dusting off and addressed again. Self-discovery is usually a bit painful or surprising as we review our short comings and watch ourselves more objectively. We know that none of us is perfect but it sometimes takes quiet moments to dig deeper and make a conscious decision to make some changes- - -again.
Learning is something that we can never do too much of (bad grammar). We are here on earth to learn and grow and take back to our Father those things that have made us better, we hope. Even the less positive experiences help us become strong. One person said he felt closer to the Lord as he recommitted to study, something that had come easily when he attended religion classes in college. College might come to an end but our learning through the scriptures should never cease.
Blessings are poured out upon us when we read the scriptures. It doesn't seem to be logical all the time that when we do something simple, like reading the Book of Mormon, we receive answers to prayers, inspiration for our lives or family members or just strength to carry on upon rising from our knees. Do you remember that comment about being in debt to the Lord, for He always blesses us when we do what He says. We can't "catch up:" but I really don't think He cares about a level tally. As those who accepted the Bishop's challenge, we can all find greater happiness, peace, comfort, have a greater understanding of some of life's pitfalls by reading the scriptures, taking time to think about what we read and then communing with the Lord. That line is always open and He will always listen to us if we take the time.
 The bishop quoted President Benson who told us that we must read the Book of Mormon regularly and learn from it. The acts of this book of scriptures were set into action long before Christ came to earth. It was recorded for us, our handbook in life when the world cannot find its way. We can develop a closer relation with our Savior when we study, even for 5 minutes. Think about it. Is there 5 minutes in your day that you could say you "waste?"  Fill those minutes with the Book of Mormon council and go to the Lord as President Benson advised us to do.
I bear testimony as did those of the challenge today, that reading the scriptures, somehow changes our lives for the better if we will do it.
your substitute bloggess for a day,
Janice