On Family Scripture Study

Family scripture study isn't easy.

I don't think it ever will be.

This year we set a goal to read the Book of Mormon as a family. We are well on our way, but reading the Book of Mormon with three tiny kids while the hubs is in school is extra challenging. So reading "as a family" sometimes that means Scotty isn't home to read with us. Other times we have to read while Zoe lays on the floor and screams or while Daisy storms out of the room because she didn't get to read first or because the pages in her book didn't turn the way she wanted them to.

Did I mention that it isn't easy?

I just wanted to make that part clear in case there was any question.

There are many ways to study the scriptures as a family, and I hope that as our children get older that our scripture study can become more meaningful. We have tried various methods, and I think it's great to change it up from time to time. Here is what we are currently doing:

We each have a copy of the Book of Mormon - Scotty and I have our nice, personalized copies, and the kids have their own little blue copies (they have multiples since they are always losing them and/or damaging them) (we get them free from D.I.). We read two pages every day. Since the children can't understand the scriptures very well yet, we ask them to listen for the names of the Godhead and raise their hands whenever they hear one. Nicky takes turns reading a few verses, and Daisy "reads" by repeating after us.

It is amazing how fast they have picked up on the scriptural language - they are rocking the "notwithstandings" and the "neverthelesses."  Also, even when Daisy is in one of her "moods" and refuses to participate, we will hear her like an echo from the other room repeating the names of the Godhead as we read.

Me: Thus saith the Lord...

Tiny echo from the kitchen: Lord!

So even through her defiance and complicated four-year-old drama, something is sinking in.

When Daisy is in a rare, agreeable mood, she will sit still for several minutes and color in her scriptures while we read.

When the time and circumstances allow, I will draw a picture in her scriptures for her to color - such as a tree in Lehi's vision or a boat for Nephi's ship (this is something I also do for my kids in sacrament meeting to keep them busy). 

Each time we read our scriptures, we put a marble in a jar for each kid, and during the first Family Home Evening of each month, we do a "Family Store" where the kids can use their marbles to buy things from a Sterilite container under our bed. 

We are also using these Book of Mormon Charts for the kids to track their progress (we update them each week during Family Home Evening).

We are trying really, really hard to make this work and to keep it positive. I try to never force my children to participate, but rather, invite them to participate (which is why Daisy very frequently is in another room doing who-knows-what while occasionally saying, "Lord!") There are moments where things have gone so awry that I've had to say, "Okay, we are done for tonight," before we have finished our two pages. There are still meltdowns and fights and moments of wanting to pull my hair out, and we miss days here and there, but we're doing it! 

Even though it isn't easy.