For the last couple of months, Drew and I have noticed a definite lack of peace in our home. It's been so noisy with television shows, tablets, phones, iPads, but also contention, idleness, impatience, teasing, shouting (playful shouting, but shouting is still shouting), disobedience, and just a general lack of peace. Of course we still loved each other, but we were giving our best selves to others around us. We were going to church, having Family Home Evening (most Mondays), reading our scriptures and saying our prayers every night as a family. What were we doing wrong??
After quite a bit of thinking, we decided that we needed our children to have a better relationship with our Savior. The phrase "Come unto Christ" kept coming to mind. I know that when I am aware of the Lord in my life, my behavior changes. I feel better and I want to be better. We weren't putting the Lord first in our lives.
In thinking specifically about improving our scripture study, I had two ideas come to my mind:
1- Have the children read that night's chapter before scripture time and find at least one thing that they liked or wanted to make to make a comment about
2 - Look for the Lord's hand in their lives that day
I added those two ideas to their daily list of chores and not one child has complained about it. Our scripture time is so much more peaceful and I love hearing them share what they love about that night's chapter. I also am amazed at the responses that I get when I ask them how they've seen the Lord in their lives. In focusing on the word of God and our Savior, our attitudes and behaviors are slowly changing back. We are beginning to Come Unto Christ once again.
In Alma 31:34-35, it says, "O Lord, wilt thou grant unto us that we may have success in bringing them again unto thee in Christ. Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious."
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this gospel. It is a gospel of second chances. In an article from the September 2002 Ensign, Juan Uceda said,
"It is comforting to know that we worship a God who is merciful and who allows His children many chances to learn His ways and be obedient to them. Who among us would be saved without a second chance—more than one opportunity to prove ourselves in the sight of God?"
