Poem - “P” “O” “M” “E” - Poem

Reading is like oxygen to your blood

It was 1981. I was in 4th Grade and boy did I love math. But english - not so much. Unlike these pictures of my kids who grew up in books and loved to read, I had never read a book before the 5th grade!

What was the first book you ever read? My first book was The Secret Life of the Underwear Champ. My next book was A Day No Pigs Would Die. Both these books I read in the 5th and 6th grade. But beyond that, not so much.

How did you learn to read? Did you mom or dad read to you? Did you have your favorite series? When I saw people reading I thought they were weird - not smart....

For me, reading just didn't come natural! In the 4th grade the whole grade was invited to participate in the school spelling be. Man I was super excited. I remember exactly were I was sitting in Mr. Stephenson's class. No one was getting out (misspelling their word) and it was finally my turn. "David, your word is poem". I thought for a quick second and said, "Poem - 'P' 'O' 'M' 'E' - Poem". When they told me I was out I was shocked!

In reality I shouldn't have been shocked. Heck, I hadn't even read my first book yet! Throughout junior high and high school I was really bad at reading. I hated to read. Please do not call on me to read - please.

Then came my junior year in high school. It was the beginning of a new year (1989). I, surely being influenced by many good folks, e.g., parents, friends, teachers, etc., decided to read the Book of Mormon. That is right, my third book I decided would be the Book of Mormon.

It took more than a few minutes each night to read a chapter. Though scripture chapters are usually short it took me a good hot minute to get through one. Most of the time I didn't understand much, if anything.

After a few months of a chapter a day I was in the book of Alma. I remember having 'major' issues each day (remember this is high school, everything seems major!). Then at night the chapter would some how 'solve' my problem. Whoa! After a few weeks of getting my problems solved at night I came to the smart conclusion, I should read in the morning!

That is when lighting struck. I went from reading one chapter to two a day and my reading ability improved, my happiness increased, I felt like I had God in my life. Like he was there and that he cared about me. Slowly, throughout Alma, I came to realize the Book of Mormon was not a normal book (though only my third book) - I just knew it was special.

As I continued to read the scriptures my reading comprehension improved and my reading level rose. I don't know how many times I read the Book of Mormon over the next year, but I got through it a good half-a-dozen times.

I had some memorable moving experiences; the experience were God speaks directly to you, the experience of pointing to a verse and it answers my desperate prayers, the experience of simply praying and giving thanks for such a book and feeling the Spirit - undeniable it is the word of God.

When I went on my mission the first missionary zone conference the mission president wrote on the board the numbers 1 - 10. He then asked all us young men and woman what we wanted the most. He listed our answers next to the numbers. Then he asked, how do you obtain it? All sorts of answers were given. He then wrote next to each number the letters:

1. S

2.C

3.R

4.I

5.P

6.T

7.U

8.R

9.E

10.S

We all have our top 10 list of things we want/need. But where are we turning for help? If we spend 20 minutes a day (10 in the morning, 10 in the evening) that is only 20/24*60 or 20/1440 or just 1.388% of our time. If I gave you $1,000 would you give me back $13.88? It's really not that much time to turn to the LORD. The LORD, through the scriptures, has completely turned my life around and blessed me. Why would I want that to end? Especially once I have tasted of the goodness and know of the power found in them.

"The word of God ... has the power to fortify [you] and arm [you] with the Spirit so [you] can resist evil, hold fast to the good, and find joy in this life." (Ezra Taft Benson 2014). It also has the power to improve your reading and comprehension - haha.

In short, if God can take me from POME to POEM, from not having a testimony to having one and being blessed both spiritually and temporary he can and WILL take you too!