Marking your scriptures teaches your children how to study and love the Word of God.
Some time ago, I received a message that was written by a sister who was addicted to her scriptures. She read her scriptures first thing in the morning before she even slid out of bed. She read before going to sleep at night. Then, during the day, she simply had to return to read just a few verses more. My mother and I refer to this as the ‘morning fix’, no different than someone who desperately needs a cup of coffee each morning before approaching the world.
My mother has read her scriptures daily for years. When I was a senior in high school, I attended classes only in the mornings. When I came home, my mother would be sitting on the couch reading her scriptures while my youngest sister napped. She would quietly invite me to join her. I would quickly get my own set of scriptures and read with her. Some times, we shared our insights as we read and other times, we sat quietly on the couch together lost in our own thoughts.
Because of her wonderful example, I feel just as the stripling soldiers. I have never doubted scripture study because of the testimony of my mother. It is a habit that has been engraved on my heart,
I come for a long line of scripture studiers. My paternal grandmother who was not a member of the church had a love of the Bible that I had rarely seen at that point in my life. She read from it every day and marked it with a red pencil. When each of her grandchildren turned 12 years old, we received a very special Bible. A beautiful edition –leather bound with our names engraved in gold on the front cover and the words of Christ in red. She truly felt as Nephi of old when he wrote: “For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them” (2 Nephi 9:15).
Empowering Faithful Living through Lifelong Continual Commitment to Gospel Principles: Click on Image to Read More
When I read this scripture recently, my heart soared. I understood what Nephi was saying. I was the one that he was talking about. He wrote for my profit and learning. I was the one that he wrote to. I wanted to stand up and scream, ‘Thank you, Nephi!’
My favorite pencils for scripture marking! Click on image.
How can we share our love of the scriptures and teach it to our children?
- Tell them of God’s love for them.
- Show them where they can read and learn more about God’s love for them.
- Be an example of daily scripture reading.
- Read in front of your children as well as to your children.
- Read scriptures as a family. (3 Nephi 17:3)
- Share with them how the prophets love the scriptures. (2 Nephi 4:15)
- Teach from the scriptures.
- Listen to hymns and religious music.
- Share scripture stories.
By Tracy Atkinson
Tracy Atkinson, mother of six, lives in the Midwest with her husband. She is a teacher, having taught elementary school to higher education, holding degrees in elementary education and a master’s in higher education. Her passion is researching, studying and investigating the attributes related to self-directed learners. She has published several titles, including Calais: The Annals of the Hidden, Lemosa: The Annals of the Hidden, Book Two, Rachel’s 8 and Securing Your Tent. She is currently working on a non-fiction text exploring the attributes of self-directed learners: The Five Characteristics of Self-directed Learners.
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