Survive and Thrive in Family Scripture Study

This past Saturday was a "Home and Family Conference" up at BYU-Idaho. I am soooo grateful that my mom had me go with her. It is similar to Education Week that they have up there in July which everyone should go to if they get the chance! Anyway, they had a bunch of different classes and I really want to share my notes throughout the week from the ones that I attended. The spirit was SO strong up there and I really ended up in the classes that I need at this time in my life. Some I had circled and when I went to them they were full so I'd end up in another and I know it happened for a reason. I am still feeling the spirit from these classes and am sitting down with Chris tonight (he doesn't know this yet:)) for FHE to talk about what changes need to happen in our lives and what we need to be doing better at. My favorite class was the topic of this post. I have to admit, I'm not too great at scripture study. If I do happen to read before bed, I really don't get much out of it because I'm so tired. So this class really hit home with me especially now that we have a daughter. I want to share what I learned and hopefully it will impact someone out there to be better at Family Scripture Study.
Marion G Romney:
“I feel certain that if, in our homes, parents will read from the Book of Mormon prayerfully and regularly, both by themselves and with their children, the spirit of that great book will come to permeate our homes and all who dwell therein. The spirit of reverence will increase; mutual respect and consideration for each other will grow. The spirit of contention will depart. Parents will counsel their children in greater love and wisdom. Children will be more responsive and submissive to the counsel of their parents. Righteousness will increase. Faith, hope, and charity—the pure love of Christ—will abound in our homes and lives, bringing in their wake peace, joy, and happiness.”
I can't think of a greater blessing to have in our lives. I think sometimes we underestimate the power of daily scripture study and the impact it can have in our homes. Have you ever noticed that when we get in ruts we become more irritated and annoyed with our spouses/kids? Just in general our attitude changes and when we step back and look at our lives we realize what we have stopped doing spiritually. The teacher had 8 kids in 7 years and one of my favorite things she said was, " I'm not a good enough parent/spouse to NOT have the power with me that scripture study brings." We just can't raise these children alone. We need the power that it brings to our homes. She talked about Lehi's dream and that the Iron Rod is only one thing....it's the Word of God. We can talk about and show our children the Iron Rod, and show them the tree of life at the end. But would you teach your child a language and not have them read in that language?? NO!! It's the same thing..we need to act on what we teach. Unless we have had that daily scripture study as a family and allowed their hearts to be stirred, plant that seed, let the power of the spirit take hold...only then can they follow it. We want them to reach the tree of life and it's up to us to take them to the Iron Rod each day.
She talked about how you need to be doing it no matter the age of the children. Even when they're babies they can feel the spirit and as they get older, it's also the best book you can have them start to read from. With her, her children are all at the stage where they're not focused and things are crazy in the morning, but no matter what....it does plant a seed, and being obedient to reading and taking time out of our crazy schedules to have that time together as a family will affect them and they DO get something out of it. She said there's many things we can do as parents, but we can't get in their hearts and stir them..only the spirit can, and that happens when we open that book and read. It doesn't have to be long, 15 minutes is what her family does each morning.
The Word of God when it is ignited with the the Power of the Spirit, will actively seek to:
*Discern our thoughts and intents
*Enlighten our understanding
*Expand our minds
*Enlarge our soul
*Heal our wounds
*Stir us up to repentance
*Lead us to do righteousness
*Divert the fiery darts of the enemy
(Alma 32 & 33, Jacob 2:8, Jarom 1:12, D&C 6:2, 1 Ne. 15:24
Then there always comes that day when something goes wrong and we all know it only takes one break to end a habit. That's when he apply Ether 12:27
“…and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.”
This isn't a case where we need to show our faith before we reap the blessings. In the Bible Dictionary, Grace means:
“Divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ…
[where we] receive strength and assistance to do good works [or persist in family scripture study]….
[And remember…these are works that we] otherwise would not be able to maintain if left to [our] own means.”
He will empower us from the beginning if we just ASK! It's that simple..we don't have to show our faith first to recieve blessing later..he will help us from the start! So she challenged us to go home and sit down with our family and decide a time of day, how to get everyone there etc...and stick to it. I know this is long, but it was so powerful to me and I hope that it can be for someone else as well. I know I need to be better, but I know I can't be all that I can be as a mother, wife, friend without it...so I'm committed to doing this as a little family of 3 each day.