One of the easiest things to do as a parent, whether you like it or not, is to act like your parents did. It's what you know and it was how you were taught. Likewise, one of the hardest things to do as a parent, is to do something your parents didn't do. This is where I stand on the topic of Family Home Evening and Family Scripture Study.
It would be unfair to say that we Never did these things as a family, because on occasion we did. We just never made it a habit. I believe this was especially true by the time I was old enough to notice, as by then most of my siblings were teenagers who were constantly on the move. As Matt and I got married, we started off really great at these things. We would read a chapter together from the Old Testament each night and we would read a General Conference talk together each week. We weren't hugely official about it, but we were doing something and that was a blessing.
Time went on and the habits we tried to make and keep, slowly slipped away. It was important, we knew, but we were also busy and life got distracting. We were able to hold on to Family Scripture Study on and off over the years, doing really great for a time, and not so great for another. | How do teach a two year old the Gospel? |
As our oldest son gets older and is starting to learn and absorb what we show him, it is becoming increasingly important to me that he be taught the Gospel in our home through Family Home Evening and Family Scripture Study. But then it occurred to me, how do you teach a two year old the Gospel?
Everything I could ever want or need, was right at my fingertips. | The desire to start these good habits in our home has continued to nag at me for the past few weeks and finally as I looked through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' website, it hit me. The Church has put so much material onto their website, I hadn't even realized how much was available to me. |
Finally, I can download the entire Triple Combination of the Scriptures in audio format for free. I can look at the entire Gospel Art Book without buying a copy. I can listen to all of the music, both from the Hymnal and Primary Songbook and sing along with the words. Everything I could ever want or need, was right at my fingertips. With these resources to help me and Heavenly Father to guide me, at last I feel equipped to teach our children the Gospel as we participate together in Family Home Evening and Family Scripture study.
There are two things you need to know to understand why I am planning things the way I am. First, I am a routine person. I like to eat the same things for breakfast and lunch every single day. I would do the same for dinner too if it weren't for Matt who believes that food is a wonderful blessing and we should have a taste of every flavor He has given us from time to time. Not that we have tried everything, but I know he sure would like to. Due to my desire for routine, I cannot look at Family Home Evening with this bright and cheery idea that we will do something new and exciting each and every week. This would overwhelm me beyond belief and before you know it, we'd stop doing it all together again. So my plan is simple. We will do the same things each and every week with only slight variations, and add to it over the years as our children get older. This may sound boring to some, but like I said before, I need it this way if I plan to keep on top of it.
Second, I need someone to be accountable to. This is where you and this blog comes in. My goal is to make Mondays my FHE & FSS day. I will come here each and every Monday to write down my plan for FHE that night and for FSS that week. On top of keeping me steady in my resolve, my hope is that others might be inspired to follow this plan too and bring the Gospel into their homes through Family Home Evening and Family Scripture Study.
Wish us luck as we begin our journey, and please feel free to return and join with us!