BOUNTIFUL, Utah -- When Tia Thomas isn't studying for her school classes, she's studying scripture.

And when she isn't spelling out difficult words for a panel of judges, the 14-year-old Mormon girl is quoting the Bible for another panel.

She rarely wastes time. She's on a rigorous memorization schedule that includes learning 350 Bible passages as well as becoming very familiar with six books -- Genesis, 1st and 2nd Samuel, Acts, Romans and Matthew -- and casually familiar with all 66 books.

"I do my homework and then I study," Thomas said. "Maybe during Christmas break, my mom will let me have some time for other things."

It sounds like a tough life, but Tia isn't unhappy.



In fact, she loves competing.

She has been a finalist in the National Spelling Bee from 2004 to 2008, taking third place in 2008.

When her father heard about the National Bible Bee, he thought it would be a great opportunity for her and an opportunity to demonstrate Mormons' deep love and knowledge of the Bible.

(Tia had announced to a packed house at the 2008 Spelling Bee awards ceremony that her hero is Jesus Christ.)

"We're thinking that having a Latter-day Saint performing well at the National Bible Bee could be a great experience for our daughter and send all the right messages to our friends of other faiths," Chance Thomas said.

"I wasn't actually really into it at first," Tia said. "But I am now."

Tia studies four categories of scripture from one and two scripture passages to those with 20 or more in the Bible of her choice (she chose the King James version).

Six members of her Lakeview Ward (Bountiful Central stake) take turns calling Tia and quizzing her on what she's learned for the day.

She's expected not only to memorize the scriptures but to understand them well enough to converse intelligently about them.

She already beat out a field of 17,000 to come in as one of 300 finalists invited to the national finals junior division.

The National Bible Bee finals are scheduled Nov. 5-6 in Washington, D.C.

Tia's expenses were to be underwritten by her sponsor, the Millcreek Baptist Church in Salt Lake City, but the tiny congregation's fund-raising efforts have only netted them about $200 so far.

So Tia's parents are probably going to be paying the $2,000 cost unless other sponsors come forward.

Her mother, Pamela, said they'll do what they have to.

(To help Tia get to the finals, see the Bible Bee Web site)

Tia realizes her life isn't that of the typical teenager and her reward is a growing appreciation for the Bible and for scriptures like 1st Corinthians 10:13 -- "No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

And the studying keeps her sharp.

"I'm probably one of the smartest ones in school," she said.

Tia attends the Academy for Math, Engineering and Science in Salt Lake City.

E-mail: haddoc@desnews.com