"born of goodly parents..."

I have challenged myself to read the Book of Mormon once through before the start of the fall semester. It's going to be a lot of reading but I know I can do it. As I read the Book of Mormon over and over again I read things, understand things, and have reveled things unto me that I have not seen before. It's amazing how the Spirit works when you're in tune. 

As I began reading I was stuck on the first verse, 1 Nephi 1:1 which reads " I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days."

I read it again but the beginning went like this, "I, [Celia], having been born of goodly parents, there I was taight somewhat in all the learning of my [parents]". Now "goodly" can mean wealth and Nephi did come from a well off home but I read it more than just material wealth. I read the word "goodly" as richness of the gospel. I began to reflect upon my own life as a daughter of my parents, of my parents faith and sacrifice, and of the person I have become and striving to become due to my parents teachings. My faith began with my parents. They taught me what faith was before anything else. You can say my testimony of the gospel began with their teachings. It began in the home. My parents have taught me many things that have kept me going through the years.

One thing they have taught me was the power of prayer. Ever since I could remember we had family prayer every night kneeling around their bed. Every night we took turns saying the prayer. We all basically said the same things, we said thanks for the day and asked to watch over each family member. Now that I am far from home and don't have family prayer I make sure to include those basic things in my prayers. I always ask Heavenly Father to watch over my family. I guess you can say I do out of habit but it's something I sincerely mean. 

Another things my parents have taught me has been in times of trial and hardships the best thing to do is turn to the Lord. My parents have had their fair share of trials over the years, big and small. Although I may have not understood them at the time I knew my parents faced them with faith in the Lord. As I look back I see how their actions reflected on their trust in the Lord. During this past school year I had to look back on my parents' example of their faith and trust in the Lord and I continue to follow their example. Times will become harder but I know putting my trust in the Lord everything will turn out to be okay.

Even though I'm not living at home I still look toward my parents' teachings to get through this crazy/hard/insane/interesting/random/fun life. All they have taught me has never gone to waste or wasn't something I needed. Far from home they still teach me. I will never stop learning from my parents.