I meant to come to the discussion group last week, but somehow life just got in the way. Isn't that often the case?
I did have some thoughts on the reading, however. As I read the lesson and the scriptures I thought about the statement in D&C 121 verse 8 (i think) where it talks about enduring it well. i wondered what that might mean. Does enduring your trials well mean without complaint? Or does it mean that we continually look to God during these times? What constitutes "enduring well"? Any thoughts? While thinking on this I came across some notes I'd taken in a Women of the Scriptures institute class and the notes discussed the story of Hannah. Some of the points I had jotted down were the following:
* Hannah is without children (or at least sons) and is feeling-
- grieved in her heart
- bitterness of soul
- sorrowful in spirit - she had an abundance of complaints and griefs
* How did she handle her feelings?
- went to the temple
- prayed- poured out her soul
- vowed a vow (not a bargain) that she would give her son to God.
* Why don't we pray about our griefs/frustrations/irritations?
- we feel we need to have greater faith before we can ask
- we want something so badly and we're afraid the answer will be no
- we are upset and we don't feel we should be upset with God
**What we learn from Hannah is to pour out our griefs etc., but do it with respect. Have an openness with God. Know that we can pour out our souls and He will understand. Then have the faith that He has heard our sorrows and will do what is best for us. Once we have done these things put it in the Lord's hands and all will be well.

I was really taken with these notes and felt that in a way, they answered my question of "enduring well". We need not treat our Father in Heaven as a distant and unkind individual. If we believe what we teach, that we are Daughters (children) of our Heavenly Father and that He does love and know us individually then why would He not want us to come to Him with our sorrows? Wouldn't He want us to do the things He's asked of us, ie going to the temple, praying, attending our meetings etc, as well as talking to Him and really pouring out our souls to Him?

Thoughts anyone?

--Hopefully this post makes sense. I tend to write in a stream of consciousness and, on occasion, it comes out all jumbly. All apologies if that's the case.

June update

Sisters, it turns out that we will not meet in June for scripture group, due to a conflict with Ward Temple Night.


Check back in for discussion on the reading for June, but plan to meet again in July. Details on that meeting to come.

June Scripture Group

Either not very many people are reading this blog or nobody wants to share their fabulous scripture study ideas:).

Oh well, just in case someone is checking here, I'll post the reading for this month. Lessons 21, 22, 23, and 24 will be covered for the month of June in Gospel Doctrine class. We will mostly discuss lesson 24, "Be Not Deceived, but Continue in Steadfastness." Follow the link to see which scriptures correspond to this lesson.

I believe we will meet at JoAnn Hall's house at 7:00 pm on Thursday, June 25th.


Last month there was an interest expressed in studying the manual Preach My Gospel. While I like the idea of studying PMG in a small group setting, I feel that, for a "Scripture Group" anyways, it is better that we stick to the scriptures. That's the focus I would prefer. Maybe a separate group could be formed for the other if there is enough interest? Does anyone else have any thoughts on that?

How do you read?

I enjoyed Scripture Group last night.

I liked that everyone who came did so with various levels of preparation--some had "read," some had "studied," and some had come just to come--it was great. We had some good discussion about the Degrees of Glory (Gospel Doctrine Lesson 20) and sharing of perspectives from sisters at our various "seasons" of life.

For a while, I have struggled to come up with a system of scripture study that works for me NOW...at my current stage of life. I know what worked for me growing up, while I was single, in college, before I had kids, etc...there are so many stages. And rather than get frustrated at where I'm NOT right now and compare myself to where I was at different points in my life, I want to be realistic about where I am and work from there.

I know that now, perhaps more than ever, I need the strength I can get from reading the scriptures. Yesterday, as I tried to read an entire Sunday School lesson in an afternoon while my kids were running circles around me, I realized that maybe my realistic study routine cannot involve long, in depth, and uninterrupted sessions. I enjoyed that on my mission, and perhaps some day I will again. For now, and thanks to last night's meeting, I'm feeling motivated to find my ideal (and simple) alternative.

Last night I asked some of the sisters what works for them. I liked the ideas that were shared...reading simplified versions, keeping scriptures handy where ever you find yourself during the day, just to name a couple. I would love to hear more ideas; if you've found a system that has worked for you or something that has inspired you in your scripture study, please leave a comment...or post something of your own. If you would like an invitation to contribute to the blog, email me at jodiecundick@gmail.com.

May Scripture Group

Any last minute-ers, like me? I am sorry for not posting this sooner. We will meet tonight at Julia's house, 7pm. We'll discuss lesson 20 in the Gospel Doctrine student manual.

April Scripture Group

When: April 23rd at 7:00 P.M.
Where: Vickie Dean's house

Reading: With General Conference falling on the first Sunday of April, we will study only 3 lessons in Gospel Doctrine class this month: lessons 13, 14, and 15.

Again, feel free to discuss any topics relating to these lessons or your own scripture study throughout the month. On the 23rd, we will focus on lesson 15, "Seek Ye Earnestly the Best Gifts."

March meeting

See the post below for more details about this month's meeting.

If you are coming to Scripture group this week and have any handouts from Sunday School, or any other things to share, please bring them along. Hopefully we can also talk about ways to effectively use this blog, take time to set sisters up as contributors, etc. See you Thursday.

March Scripture Group

When: March 26th at 7pm
Where: Jodie Cundick's--2365 E 2815 S

Reading for the month: lessons 9, 10, 11, and 12
**the reading assignments list out several scriptures, so I will usually just give you a link to the Church website. Click on the lesson number and it will take you to the online version of the lesson, where you will also find the reading.

Feel free to discuss any of the readings throughout the month, but on the 26th, we will spend most of the time on lesson 12, which will be the lesson covered the following Sunday in Gospel Doctrine class.

Scripture Group Meets

Tonight we held our first Scripture Group meeting at Diane Sorenson's house. We discussed a little bit about what we want to study and how to get the most out of meeting together. We decided to align our study with that of the Gospel Doctrine class, and so we will be reading the Doctrine and Covenants and following the readings outlined in the Class Member Study Guide (I believe Vickie Dean will have some copies available soon for any who would like one).

As you'll notice in the study guide, our study will be mostly topic-driven. Weeking readings include passages from the D&C, but the lessons also lay out a Scripture Chain that takes us through all of the Standard Works.

This will hopefully be a great opportunity for sisters, particularly those of us who are unable to attend Gospel Doctrine class, to enhance our study of the scriptures. Ideas will hopefully be shared, questions raised, and comments made in a non- (or at least less-) intimidating setting.

In addition to meeting each month, sisters can use this blog as a way to discuss the reading for the month. What stands out to you? What confuses you? What connections are you making? When are you finding time to read? What is working for you, as far as scripture study? Just leave a comment after each posted reading, or any post (hopefully others of you will post eventually), and see what discussion follows.

We want to keep in mind that quality scripture study is the goal of this group. Hopefully this blog will help us with this goal rather than detract from it. I know how "blogging" can eat up our time, and I plan to keep this blog simple, yet as helpful as possible.

Simple Rule (as was mentioned tonight):
Spend more time in the scriptures than you do on this blog!