Thank You Satellite Television

Late last spring, when we thought we were moving to the sunny beaches of California, we had our satellite TV service put on hold. For three blissful months we didn't have television.

I didn't miss it. Even Himself, who always has the TV on if he's in the same room as the TV, even if it's muted (sort of defeating the point, but he doesn't seem to realize that), didn't seem to miss it (then again, it wasn't football season).

However, since we do have to fill our contract, we opted to have it tuned on in late summer, about the time Grover showed up and not long before Pebbles was due to arrive.

And, after a recent discovery, I am SO GRATEFUL. (Words I never thought I'd utter about TV in my life).

It turns out that the BYU Channel has these wonderful, 30-minute segments in the morning and the late evening featuring professors of ancient scripture discussing various scriptures in a round-table format. The ones in the morning right now focus on the Book of Mormon. The ones in the evening focus on the Doctrine and Covenants. Each segment focuses on about 3 chapters and is full of insights, commentary and reading many of the verses aloud.

One of the things I've struggled with since going back to work and having two kids is how to fit in the morning quiet time that I require to be a fully-functioning person. As a true introvert, I require "alone time" to recharge. Usually this is when I would read my scriptures. But with an infant and a toddler and a body crying out desperately for sleep (or falling asleep at the mere opening of a book), quiet time is a rare commodity.

Enter the Discussions on the Scriptures segments. Each morning, I sit, baby and pump in hand, scriptures on my lap and watch/listen to the devotional. I've learned so much and feel that quiet Spirit that is so elusive in my house sometimes. It gives me both intellectual and spiritual stimulation that I have lacked for far too long.

Those 30 minutes a morning make whatever we're paying to have satellite TV, and that channel in particular, worth it.

And THAT is something I definitely never thought I'd say!