Monday, November 10, 2008

Scripture Study with Toddlers?




Is that even possible?

Not only is it possible, it is very important.

Jared and I have been struggling to find a way to get into a regular scripture study habit with our not-a-still-muscle-in-her-body 16 month old.

However, we found something that works, so I thought I'd share. AND IT'S SIMPLE.

We have chosen after Sariah's bath. She's clean, calm, and willing to sit on your lap and snuggle for a few minutes.

We choose to read in the scriptures in order - but only read one verse. We pick out ONLY THE KEY VERSE in any chapter or story. Some chapters have several key verses. Those chapters, we'll spend a few nights on and read one verse a night.

For us, that's the key - one verse. We talk about it for 30 seconds, and then Sariah's off.

As my friend said, you have to change your patterns as your family grows and gets larger.

For now, this works for us. Jared and I still have our scripture study at night before we go to bed, and this is where we really get to discuss the scriptures between the two of us. I hope that we will always make time for our couple scripture study because it's a time of the day that I treasure with my spouse.

My sincere counsel to you today is to recommit yourselves to these two basic practices that have been the source of so many blessings for the Saints in Peru. Never let a day go by without holding family prayer and family scripture study. Put this, the Lord's program, to the test; and see if it does not bless your home with greater peace, hope, love, and faith. I promise you that daily family prayer and scripture study will build within the walls of your home a security and bonding that will enrich your lives and prepare your families to meet the challenges of today and the eternities to come.

Elder L. Tom Perry

2 comments:

Melissa said...

Good for you. That must be the most precious, snuggly time for you two.

Aubry Wilkes said...

So glad you are making time for this... it is sooo worth it... especially when the day comes that they wake up and start having scripture study on their own... because it is a habit. That happened recently with the boys. They all woke up early and instead of turning on the TV, they got out the scriptures and started reading together. I woke up to sounds of my older boys reading to the younger ones... priceless... absolutely priceless!