Our gospel study has come along very slowly. When my kids were very little, we used the Gospel Art Instruction kit. We would look at a picture and learn the story. We probably did this about once a week. Then I would hang the picture up so we could be reminded about what we learned.
I also included "Read Scriptures" as one of our morning chores to be done before breakfast. The kids who couldn't read yet would bring me their book and I would have them repeat after me one scripture. Once they could read on their own, they would choose how much to read. (Although I tried to encourage them to not just open it up and read one verse of wherever they turned.) I would suggest a column or a page or even a chapter, depending on their age.
I realized that they may not really be getting anything out of their reading but at least I hoped they were developing the habit.
My two oldest are now in seminary at school studying the New Testament. They wake up on their own each morning at 6:00am and get ready and then read their scriptures. They also use this time for working on their Personal Progress.
We have family scripture study at 7:00am. We choose to sit around the kitchen table so people are less likely to lay down and read with their eyes closed. We have tried doing this at night, but it was much harder to get everyone together and quiet. And even at this time, when my husband is sometimes already gone to work, we just do it without him. I think every family is different; the important thing for us is just consistency. (As a motivation to come to scripture study, if my kids miss it, they have to read whatever they missed, out loud to me before breakfast.)
We mostly just read the Book of Mormon about a chapter at a time. We take turns reading around 3-4 verses out loud (depending on the length of the chapter).
We have tried reading other scriptures as a family, but we really need the blessings that are promised to us in this quote:
You will have the spirit of peace in your home 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 that counsel. 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.
Marion G. Romney,
Conference Report, April 1960, p.112 - p.113
And we definitely notice a difference when we read something other than the Book of Mormon.
We did take a few weeks recently, the last time we finished the Book of Mormon, to study Chapter 5 from Preach My Gospel. I loved doing this because I actually felt like we were having discussions rather than just reading like usual. In fact, sometimes I feel bad that we don't have more discussions, but I think it's kind of like going to church with young kids, it's not always about how much you're going to get out of it, but rather just developing the habit for later on.
Another thing we do is memorize scriptures. I found this Charlotte Mason program to help memorize scriptures. Mostly we work on the scriptures from seminary, but I add others in as needed. We repeat our scriptures for the day before morning and evening family prayers.
For the current younger kids personal scripture study, I printed out these scripture prompts from the Book of Mormon reader. We read the section in the reader and then talk about the question. My 5 year old enjoys drawing pictures that go along with it. But my 9 and 11 year old write their answers in a special scripture journal and then mark their regular scriptures as well.
For the kids still in primary, they can choose between this, or working in their Faith in God book. (Although, my 11 year old has decided to read the Doctrine Covenants on his own.) My 12 year old son works on his Duty to God during this time. This is something I love about homeschooling, I don't feel like I have to rush past this to get them out the door. We just have a set time where they work on it.
One thing that I have enjoyed doing in the past is our Sunday night conference talk. Each child takes a turn choosing a talk from the most recent General Conference. We either read it together or watch it on the computer. This is actually a great time for discussion of principles. And the kids are more invested in it when they are the one that picked it.
We also have Family Home Evening every Monday night. Lately, these have mostly been about spending time together as a family. Every once in a while, my husband or I will feel prompted that something in particular needs to be taught, but for the most part we just try and do something that will help unite us as a family.
I wish I could say that all of this happens every day perfectly. It doesn't. It's definitely a work in progress. And I'm sure that as our family changes and the world changes we'll have to adapt accordingly.
What doesn't change is the Gospel.
And my hope as a mother is to help my children learn it and love it as I do.
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