We have children from ages three to
twenty-one living in our home. We do different things with the
younger children than we do with the older children. Most of the
teenagers and young adults know the stories of the Book of Mormon.
They are most interested in understanding the truth, seeing the
patterns of God, and learning to apply these principles in their
life. They are interested in the outcome of living God's laws.
We constantly shift and change things
to fit our family's schedule, but what works for us right now is to
get up and have family scripture study from 5:00-5:30 a.m. Kids
start leaving the home at 5:30 a.m., and all of them are finally home
again at 9:30 p.m.
Morning scripture study is not
required. If they want to come, they need to set an alarm and show
up. All of our children are not interested in studying the
scriptures. We have found it is not fun to have children at family
scripture study who don't want to be there, so they sleep while the
interested ones make the effort to come. The little children are
also asleep at this time and not making noise.
While everyone is gathering, we pass
off the scriptures we've been memorizing. Most of us are following
the
Memorize
For Life
formula, so we always have
something to pass off. This just takes a couple minutes each day.
Our teenagers aren't interested in
creating a Book of Mormon scrapbook like the little children.
Instead, each one has a simple spiral notebook where they can take
notes, ask questions, and write down other helpful references.
Sometimes we study by chapter, sometimes we study by topic. This
week we are studying Alma 17. We usually only get through two to
three verses a day, but I find myself learning new things every day.
We ask a lot of questions. It doesn't
matter if we have answers to all of the questions; we still write
them down. We get to think about our questions during the day and
listen to the voice of God as He teaches us and gives us greater
understanding. This process requires us to ask, seek, and knock.
Here are a some of the things we talked
about on Monday and Tuesday.
1 And now it came
to pass that as Alma was journeying from the land of Gideon
southward, away to the land of Manti, behold, to his astonishment, he
met with the sons of Mosiah journeying towards the land of Zarahemla.
2 Now these sons
of Mosiah were with Alma at the time the angel first appeared unto
him; therefore Alma did rejoice exceedingly to see his brethren; and
what added more to his joy, they were still his brethren in the Lord;
yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for
they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the
scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God.
3 But this is not
all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore
they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and
when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. Alma
17
What's the purpose of fasting? Why do
we fast? What is fasting? Fasting sometimes means going without food
and water, but is this its only meaning? “Verily, this is fasting
and prayer, or in other words, rejoicing and prayer.”D&C 50:14
Could fasting also mean rejoicing? Does it have other meanings?
One of our daughters asked if there is
a connection between the way we eat, fasting, and receiving
knowledge. She read us this scripture from the word of wisdom,
“And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking
in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel
and marrow to their bones; And shall find wisdom and great treasures
of knowledge, even hidden treasures;” D&C 89:18-19
We would like to take more time to
study fasting and increase our understanding of how to fast in a way
that brings results. We put this on the list of topics we would like
to study.
What's the pattern we see in Alma
17:1-2? What is the key to receiving the spirit of prophecy, and the
spirit of revelation? What is the key to teaching with the power and
authority of God? What kind of labor is required to receive these
spiritual gifts? What does teaching with power and authority of God
look like? When we use God's words correctly, does he authorize and
give power to those words because they are His words? Is this why
having a sound understand of the word of God is important before we
can teach with power and authority of God?
4And they had been
teaching the word of God for the space of fourteen years among the
Lamanites, having had much success in bringing many to the knowledge
of the truth; yea, by the power of their words many were brought
before the altar of God, to call on his name and confess their sins
before him. Alma 17
What is the altar of God? Is this an
ordinance?
What does it mean to have a knowledge
of the truth? Who is the truth? “Jesus saith unto him, I am the
way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me.” John 14:6
What does it mean to have knowledge of
Jesus? What is the difference between faith and knowledge? “And
because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from
beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which,
when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of
the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.”
Ether 3:19
5 Now these are
the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they
had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind,
such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the
spirit. Alma 17
How do we labor in the spirit? What
sacrifices do we make in our relationship with God? Do we make
sacrifices so we can be more effective servants?
One of our sons has been reading The
Second Comforter and our discussion reminded him of these words.
Doing the Lord's everyday work is more
important than it may seem at times . . . How the Lord finds you
spending your time is important to whether He can visit with you or
not . . . The right kind of life puts you in the right place at the
right time to receive the Second Comforter
6 Now these were
their journeyings: Having taken leave of their father, Mosiah, in the
first year of the judges; having refused the kingdom which their
father was desirous to confer upon them, and also this was the minds
of the people; Alma 17
These sons of Mosiah gave up ruling the
kingdom of the Nephites to be servants among the Lamanites. Which
one would we prefer? Do we want to be a king or a servant? What did
Ammon know of our Lord that most do not?
And there was also
a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.
And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship
over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called
benefactors. But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among
you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth
serve. For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that
serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he
that serveth. Luke 22:24-27
We would love to hear what you've learned from these verses. What
questions, thoughts, and insights do you have to share? Feel free to
leave a comment!
