My passion...

I still remember sitting in the September 2004 General Relief Society meeting and being so moved by President Monson's talk. He shared an especially poignant poem:

You may have tangible wealth untold;
Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.
Richer than I you can never be—
I had a Mother who read to me.
But think of the fate of a different child,
Whose manner is meek, whose temper is mild,
While yet instilled with that same special need,
Was born to a mother who could not read

At this time, I was completing my student teaching in the elementary education program and teaching reading to young kids. I discovered a passion in myself for teaching reading during this period that I didn't know I had. I have always loved to teach and especially to work with young kids-but being able to help open a new world of possibilities by teaching them something so simple as reading was incredible to me. President Monson in this same conference (read his talk in it entirety) spoke about how the exalted purpose of the Relief Society is to help spread literacy. I remember being so moved by this comment. How are children of God able to develop and gain a testimony of their own if they are not able to study it out on their own? It was during this moment that I became determined to spread literacy to all I could in my lifetime. It was a year later that I began teaching preschool from home and now,two years later, my 3-5 years olds have begun reading. I can't explain the excitement I feel when I watch them struggle and then succeed at sounding out new words. I love to hear them read their "take home" books and listen to the inflection in their voices as they read with excitement.

Tonight, I had an especially neat moment. One little boy in my class has missed many class periods for various reasons. He already has a tough situation because his Mom is blind and Dad is in his last year of law school. He was getting rides every day and so I didn't have much interaction with the parents to let them know what was going on. Half the time, they weren't even aware of materials or books he had brought home to practice. Finally, the parents and I decided to meet and discuss how we could best help him. They came over tonight and we had a wonderful discussion. It was during our discussion that I began to think about President Monson's message and the Spirit confirmed the truth and power of it to me. This sweet little boy was in my ward in Wymount. Tyson and I remember him sitting behind us in sacrament meeting expounding upon scripture stories at the tender age of 2. We were so amazed. He LOVES the scriptures. Every time he comes to preschool, he brings his little, worn-out copy of The Book of Mormon and places it by his seat. I've had a hard time finding motivation for him to practice his sight words or "take home" books either at home or during recess with me. His parents and I were discussing ways we could help encourage him and get him excited. I realized the answer was sitting right in front of us. One of the first sight words I assigned to him was "the." As I looked down at his little copy of The Book of Mormon, it came to me! I brought him over and showed him "THE Book of Mormon." There was his word...the very first word on his favorite book. His motivation is the scriptures. He is such a bright little guy-I know he'll be picking up the high-frequency words in no time now. We just needed to find his motivation. What better motivation to learn to read than so he can read his scriptures on his very own? As he learns to read on his own, he will be able to search the scriptures and gain a testimony of his very own. As he and his Dad were walking out the door to leave, I saw his Dad take the card with WAS and say, "Joseph WAS a prophet."

As I read scriptures with Carter before bed tonight, I told him how important it was for him to learn these stories. I shared with him my testimony of the gospel and my desire that he gain a testimony of his own so that he can be a valiant servant of our Heavenly Father. As I reread President Monson's talk tonight after getting Carter to bed, I was struck by yet another statement. He explains:

The scriptures also remind us that what we learn from our mothers comprises our very core values, as with the 2,000 stripling sons and warriors of Helaman, who “had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.”And He did.

What an awesome responsibility! I want my sweet son to be as the Army of Helaman and go forward with faith, not doubting, as he faces the troubles of this world. I know he is a special Spirit of our Heavenly Father and I feel such responsibility to help teach him those things that will help him to become his potential. It is so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day of life and forget our real purpose for being here. I am grateful for a loving Father who gives me nights like tonight to remind me of where I should be and what life is all about.