Holding Fast to the Rod

This is harder than I thought it would be.  I am not well versed in the scriptures or the Book of Mormon.  All I know is that I have a testimony and that I want to share it.  I also feel I don't have much more to share than I already have shared.  I don't even know if anyone is reading this.  I have a fear of getting my facts wrong and I don't won't to mess up.  I am also not the best writer, so bear with me.  Hear goes...

This month there is a special issue of the Ensign, it is all about the Book of Mormon.  I have always been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and my parents taught me to make good choices.  I have always strived to be a good person and to make good choices.  I always think about reading my scriptures on a daily basis.  Some days are better than others, and the days that I read I find that I have smoother flowing days and that the Holy Ghost is there to guide me, because I am more open to listen to the promptings of the spirit.

I originally took on this challenge for myself mostly to see if I could consistently read the Book of Mormon and say my prayers everyday without fail.  The first week I did GREAT, I felt awesome I had more of a desire to share the Book of Mormon than I had in a long time.  I actually made a goal for myself to giveaway a Book of Mormon during this month, which I still plan on doing.  Then last week, I fell flat on my face, I read a couple verses on Tuesday and then I didn't read anything until Sunday, I know it's HORRIBLE.  I have to do better, and I NEED to be consistent.  I know that I cannot do this ALONE. 

Reading this article about Clinging versus Continually Holding Fast to the Rod really caught my attention when I first read it.

1 Nephi 11:25

 25 And it came to pass that I beheld that the ^arod of iron, which my father had seen, was the ^bword of God, which ^cled to the fountain of ^dliving waters, or to the ^etree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

The Iron Rod is the Word of God.   

From the Article referred to above:

In 1 Nephi 8:24–28 we read about a second group of people who obtained the strait and narrow path that led to the tree of life. This group “did press forward through the mist of darkness, clinging to the rod of iron, even until they did come forth and partake of the fruit of the tree” (verse 24). However, as the finely dressed occupants of the great and spacious building mocked this second group of people, “they were ashamed” and “fell away into forbidden paths and were lost” (verse 28). Please notice that this group is described as “clinging to the rod of iron” (1 Nephi 8:24; emphasis added).

 It is significant that the second group pressed forward with faith and commitment. They also had the added blessing of the rod of iron, and they were clinging to it! However, as they were confronted with persecution and adversity, they fell away into forbidden paths and were lost. Even with faith, commitment, and the word of God, this group eventually was lost—perhaps because they only periodically read or studied or searched the scriptures. Clinging to the rod of iron suggests to me only occasional “bursts” of study or irregular dipping rather than consistent, ongoing immersion in the word of God.

As I read this I though of myself, only in the sense of occasionally reading.  Not being consistent.  We need to strive to be consistent when we Read the Scriptures.  That is the only way we will be able to have his spirit with us constantly,  I know this for a fact.

From the Article referred to above:

“continually holding fast to the rod of iron, until they came forth and fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.” The key phrase in this verse is continually holding fast to the rod of iron.The third group also pressed forward with faith and conviction; however, there is no indication that they wandered off, fell into forbidden paths, or were lost. Perhaps this third group of people consistently read and studied and searched the scriptures. Perhaps it was diligence and devotion to a seemingly “small and simple [thing]” (Alma 37:6) that saved the third group from perishing. Perhaps it was “the knowledge of the Lord” and “the knowledge of the truth” (Alma 23:5, 6) obtained through faithful study of the scriptures that yielded the spiritual gift of humility—such that this group of people “fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree” (1 Nephi 8:30; emphasis added). Perhaps it was the spiritual nourishment and strength provided by continually “feasting upon the word of Christ” (2 Nephi 31:20) that enabled this group to heed not the scorning and mocking of the people in the great and spacious building (see 1 Nephi 8:33). This is the group you and I should strive to join.

I want to strive to be like the second group who "continually holding fast to the rod of iron," They partook of the fruit and were happy.  

Question:  Please Comment below this helps me just as much as you!

How do you fit in daily scripture study?  What do you find happens to your day when you forget and how do you fix it for the next day?