1 nephi 5-8

as i read 1 nephi 5 -8 i thought a lot about the lesson a couple weeks ago on witnesses of the book of mormon. i thought about how the witness of the Holy Ghost is more powerful than even an angel coming and giving you heck for hitting your brother. laman and lemuel saw an angel and still were "not nice" yet the witness of the Holy Ghost can weave the knowledge into the very fiber of your body and soul.

i thought about the scriptures and treasuring them. "And it came to pass that I beheld a tree, whose fruit was desirable to make one happy." how much do i treasure them? 

i thought about how much i hold to their teachings, "And it came to pass that I beheld others pressing forward, and they came forth and caught hold of the end of the rod of iron; and they 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." do i press forward and cling to them? this paints a picture of struggle and work, grasping at the rod to hold on for dear life in the "whirlwinds" of life.

i thought about how i bore my testimony in class that reading the book of mormon is the most important thing that i do for me every day. some days i lose track of that, even though it is for me. in all of this, i thought back again to the lesson and the reading we are doing with the missionaries in the preach my gospel book. in chapter 5 of preach my gospel it says, Have confidence that the Holy Ghost will testify to anyone who reads and ponders the Book of Mormon and asks God if it is true with a sincere heart, real intent, and faith in Christ. This witness of the Holy Ghost should be a central focus of your teaching." this got me to thinking about how i read. do i read to have this testimony of the Holy Ghost? how would it change my reading if i read not only for peace, guidance and all of the other wonderful things that come from reading the scriptures, but if i read with the goal of having a witness from the Holy Ghost?