I then put all this in a Google Calendar with pop-up reminders (since I'm working on my computer most of the day). I installed the Labs Edition of Google Talk, which puts the pop-ups on my computer even if I don't have Calendar open. For me it works great, reminding me when to start reading BoM, and when to move to the next part of my study.

Thanks man, I love this too. It was actually my brother Travis, who wrote this. So a special thanks to him. I only just now added the code to show who the author of the post is (it wasn't an issue 'till just lately). So its my fault. Hopefully that will make it more clear in the future.

I think I'm going to start trying to read several pages a day from my reproduction of the first printing of the Book of Mormon, that Travis gave me. Then setup a cross-training schedule that's independent of that reading. I hope that without the verses and normal formatting, I'll be able to see things differently than I normally do. And it'll only be 10-20 minutes a day, on top of my "cross-training."

I love this – I've been trying to best figure out how to "cross train" for years! There is so much good stuff to study from that this seems to be the only way to get at all of it. My biggest struggle has been wanting to get in meaningful Book of Mormon study every day in addition to the specified book/manual for that day. It generally comes down to time constraints (which could probably be addressed if I'd actually get up when my alarm goes off).

I've probably got 5 draft posts where I started an outline, and then didn't finish the last little bit of studying I wanted to do before writing the article. I'm definitely going to take your advice and start some spiritual cross-training.

I also thought of the metaphor the scriptures themselves use: feasting on the word. A feast is always varied with many different foods, sometimes in "courses" to keep things interesting. I love Mom's cheesecake, but even a medium sized piece can be too much, if its all you eat. As the desert at the end of a feast though, a small slice is perfect.

What I tend to do is a topical study every day, but I have different ways of doing it, and hardly do I study the same topic more than 2 days in a row; yeah, the whole burn out thing. I have about 10 or so topics that I study and depending on how I'm feeling that day, that's the topic I study. One day as I study that topic, I may use the Ensign. Another day, I may use the B.O.M., another day, I may relate it to my Patriarchal Blessing. It all just depends.

I've found as I do it this way, I'm less likely to burn out and have an easier time remembering stuff, because I don't feel the pressure to study something I don't want to.

You've inspired me though, I'm going to map out days and time frames, and I think I'll try assigning a certain topic on those days, or maybe on day go over the Young Men's, Elder's, or Sunday School lessons or something. Honestly, I never read those before hand.

Thanks for sharing.