Although the 34 unread letters in my email box today tell me that Meridian readers have not exhausted the topic of autism, it is time for us to start another topic. However, I don't want the letters that have been sent in to go to waste — nor do I want the readers who are still looking for solutions to help children with autism to go unsatisfied.

That being the case, I'm going to offer you something that has never been done before for Circle of Sisters. Anyone who writes to meridianmagazine@aol.com and puts “Send Autism Letters” in the subject line will receive all the letters about autism in my in-box that were meant to be posted in Meridian .

To those of you who wrote those letters, DO NOT PANIC. I will not be sending email addresses or other identifying information along with your comments. The only way I will edit them will be to take off the names you didn't want me to include.

Thanks so much to those of you who have responded so wholeheartedly to this topic. Apparently autism is a big concern to many church members these days. I only hope the discussion we've had during the past few weeks will help you help the people you love.

Now we have a new topic. Let's let our reader ask today's question in her own words:

Today in Sunday School we heard a fascinating study that showed that 95% of youth that practiced personal scripture study and prayers daily went on to receive the Melchizedek priesthood, go through the temple, serve missions and be married in the temple.   It said that family prayer, family scripture study and family home evenings were a (if not the ) greatest factor in those who did read and pray daily.  

I teach a seminary class of eleven youth, freshmen to seniors — different backgrounds, support systems, interests and desires, and so on.  Most of them have the goals mentioned above, but less than 30-40% of them read their scriptures daily.   

I'm looking for practical ideas and suggestions.  Got any help for me?

Shauna R

There you have it. How do you teach youth to love the scriptures? We'd like to hear how to get them to read the scriptures daily, but we'd also like any suggestions you may have for things that caused your youth to get excited about a particular portion of scripture or even a specific lesson. If you have come up with anything that really got children and teens excited about scriptures, we want to hear from you .

Send your thoughts to meridianmagazine@aol.com. Put something in the subject line that will let me know your letter isn't spam. And when you write, be sure to include your full name, city and state or province. (If you'd rather be semi-anonymous, sign your name as “A Reader from Michigan ,” or “Sandy from Timbuktu .” The important thing is that we hear from you.)

Until next week — Kathy

If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation,
knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries
and peaceable things — that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.

Doctrine and Covenants 42:61