A few years ago, I went to see a psychologist in order to have an IQ test done. I will not say what the score was, but it was fairly high. Higher than 98% of the population in fact (but still much lower than others I have met).<\/p>\n
Anyhow, while in the 90-minute assessment, the psychologist noticed something different regarding the way I responded to some questions and pressed further after regarding some background. She later determined that I have a slight learning disability. Without further tests, however, she was unable to diagnose me or say specifically which it was.<\/p>\n
What she did say, however, was it was likely trauma induced (I received a concussion during a skiing accident in Saskatchewan when I was 14) and it affected my ability to concentrate.<\/p>\n
Up to that point, I had never really thought about it before, but I did find it difficult concentrating after that. I did well academically in elementary school, but relatively poorly once I hit high school. I often daydreamed in class. And that was in the classes where the teacher wasn’t boring; in those classes I would fall asleep.<\/p>\n
It sure made sense why I hated school so much. It was not because I was too stupid to learn anything. It was because I found it difficult to concentrate. It also explains why I did so well in college compared to university. My college programme was all project-based and required very little lecturing.<\/p>\n
Anyhow, I am digressing.<\/p>\n
This limitation in my ability to concentrate or focus also affects how I interact in church meetings and other religious activities. I find it difficult to focus on most speakers in Sacrament. I have a hard time simply reading the scriptures. I can easily fall asleep saying silent prayers at night.<\/p>\n
I have not been able to find ways to cope with sacrament speakers since I cannot really change how others present sermons. In that regard I just bear through it and try taking in the occasional sound bite or story. Stories usually help because they allow me to imagine the event being retold.<\/p>\n
Scripture study and praying have been easier, however, since I have control over what I do.<\/p>\n
I found three things that help me study my scriptures. The first, which I tried for the first time several years ago, is to rewrite the verses I read in my own words. I went through the entire Book of Mormon this way. It helps because it forces me to focus on one verse (1?\u00a2\u201a\u00c7\u00a8\u201a\u00c4\u00fa2 sentences at a time).<\/p>\n
The second is to use a commentary. Good commentaries are Institute manuals. I will read the commentary, including the scriptures on which it comments. While easier than trying to read straight through the scriptures, it still requires a fair bit of concentration.<\/p>\n
The third method ?\u00a2\u201a\u00c7\u00a8\u201a\u00c4\u00f9 and the one I currently use ?\u00a2\u201a\u00c7\u00a8\u201a\u00c4\u00f9 is probably my favourite. It entails me reading only a verse or two at a time and really digesting what is in it. I ponder messages in the verse and questions that it prompts in my mind. I also follow the footnotes in the verse providing me with context and further elaboration. I like this method because it helps me focus on a short selection of verses and it helps provide more depth to my understanding of gospel principles. In addition, it is a method that is guaranteed to provide me with gospel study for years to come (it can take a month to get through a single chapter).<\/p>\n
Finally, the way I have found to cope with saying my prayers is to say them aloud, or at the very least to mouth the words if I am saying them silently. My morning prayers are often the most difficult since I say them at breakfast while the rest of my family is running around as the morning starts; it easy to get distracted. Prayers at work are easy since I have my own office and prayers in the van before I go on a visit or to a meeting are easy as well.<\/p>\n
By speaking aloud, it helps me to concentrate and prevents me from day dreaming and forgetting what I have already said.<\/p>\n
I am just glad I am not a bishop. That is the last thing a ward needs: their bishop falling asleep during Sacrament or having glazed over eyes during an interview.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"