A Lesson From the Book of Mormon

My thoughts on Sister Matsumori's talk "A Lesson from the Book of Mormon"

Book of Mormon Stories that my teacher tells to me...

I love that song so much! One of the first I ever learned to play on the piano and I love that they have added verses!
Our family song (to go along with our school name, Helaman’s Academy) is The Army of Helaman!

We talked about “first generation” members a few months ago—I believe it was in the October 2006 session. My hubby is a first generation—sort of. His parents joined when he was 7 so most of his learning came from church, but he LOVES the Book of Mormon too.

How many of you use the Book of Mormon to teach gospel lessons?

I know that before you can teach something you must know it so therefore we must read and learn.

Do you use them in your school or just during scripture time?

How do you use the Book of Mormon in your school?

(from another post)
Quote:
“Today, reading and studying the scriptures continues to build our faith, helps us resist temptation, and allows us to grow closer to Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.”

This is the primary thing I want my children to leave home with—a testimony of Jesus Christ. If they don’t know their times tables but have a strong testimony, I may have failed in the eyes of the world, but in Heavenly Father’s eyes I have won!

Quote:
“With every reading of the scriptures, unfamiliar words will take on meaning. You can read about heroes and great acts of courage. You can learn of the tender mercies of the Lord. And above all, you can feel the love of God and know that Jesus Christ is our Savior.”

Is there another reason to read the scriptures? NO! We read the scriptures to feel and know that God loves us and Jesus Christ is our Savior.
My 10 years old’s vocabulary is amazing and most of his words come from reading the scriptures. We have never used the “reader” scriptures and have always used the “real” stuff. We made this a matter of prayer and although we do have the “readers” we have never used them in our family scripture time. We did this under the direction of the Spirit. That 10 year old (see above) was learning to read and you know how you have the children parrot back what you read when they are first learning to follow along. Well, one day this child (he was about 5) said to Steve, “Dad, I can read it myself.” Steve looked up at me, I shrugged my shoulders and what do you know? But that boy could read! So much for my reading lessons! I literally up the phonics cards away and just let the boy read! What is more important that the fact he learn to read from daily scripture study (I had only done about five phonics lessons with him and of course he probably sat in for the older children’s lessons) is that he knew the words, was familiar with them as he had been sitting in family scripture time since his birth (all my kids have). He then internalized them and he one of the first to find a scripture story that matches what is going on or teaches the lesson I want taught.
BTW—his other siblings are quick to point out scripture stories too. Guess all that headache to get them around the table is paying off (smile)
I want to share a couple of cool examples—not to pat myself on the back—but to show what obeying the prophets can bring to your home.

A while ago I ran a carpool for a music class my daughter was in. I left my older children at home (I have three teens!) and took these sweet little girls to their music class. I was going to run to the grocery store while the girls were in class since it was just around the corner and down the street. When I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed that my purse was missing. I was also missing my cell phone. I had two choices: go home and collect those things and not go shopping, or just go back to the music class and take a nap. Boy did I want to take a nap, but instead I went home to get my phone and purse. At the time I didn’t know why I wanted my phone. I could have driven without my license, but for some reason the urge to get my phone, not my purse, was the driving force behind me going home.
As I drove to my driveway, I passed it like normal so I can back into it. (If I don’t when I go to leave I have to nearly get all the way out of my driveway before I can see the traffic on my street—too many trees and a very long van.) As I did this I noticed that across the street was a white van with a man in it staring at my house. I backed up and then went up to grab the mail, or so I made out to do, but I really didn’t like that van across the street. No idea why, but I didn’t like the fact that he (I saw a man) in there with my children all over the yard playing. As I got to my mailbox, the van sped away. He went so fast he kicked up the rocks he was on. My already fast heart rate went even faster! My mind that was already racing could have beaten the fastest runner around! My mind raced to the articles I had read and news stories I had heard about a “white van” lurking around schools and neighborhoods. And then that email popped into my head about the recent home burglaries we have had in our neighborhood. I don’t recall if I got the mail or not, but I ran to the home and was screaming that my children all get in the house. One was playing basketball on our sports court with the music blaring, three were on the trampoline, and the other one—I can’t remember—I think he ran up the stairs when I started yelling.
I gathered them together and assured them that they weren’t in trouble (they were supposed to be doing school work) and told them what the trouble was. I gave each of them an assignment (close and lock doors, shut windows etc.) and that they were all going to come with me to finish the carpool. Before I could tell them “go,” by 15 year old said, “Mom, I think we should say a prayer.”
I’m not sure my jaw dropped, but my first thought was, “WOW!” then it was “Why didn’t you think of that, Doreen?” He said a very short and quick prayer and off they went.

Next story:

While on our way to Yellowstone this past June, my husband was driving and we were so close we could taste the fun. We were just about 10 miles from the north park entrance. We were all excited to be done with a very long road trip and eagerly awaiting the grand views this gorgeous park would afford us. Steve asked me to look out my window to see how the trailer was behaving. Nothing looked out of the ordinary. I asked what was wrong and he told me that the car was pulling to the left and he didn’t like the feel of how it was riding. We have been having trouble with our trailer’s tires so he was concerned. Just about then we heard it and the car pulled sharply to the left. We had lost a tire! Front driver side to be exact. Oh the Lord and his tender mercies! We had the flat in the most convenient place! On that whole strip of road there were only about 6 places that you could safely pull off the side of the road to do anything as the shoulders were very small. This place happened to be a very short side road that was graveled for the homes on the side there. Our car literally steered itself there as it was pulling hard to the left.
Our tire had literally come all the way off!
We all hopped out of the car and I went to get the tire out of the middle of the road before someone ran over it and had an accident. Don’t know why I did this, but I used my feet to move it. That tire was very hot and there I go using my feet. Maybe I was thinking I didn’t want to get my hands all dirty, but that hasn’t stopped me before—dirt doesn’t bother me.
As I come back to the car, this very same son comes running to me and asks, “Mom, do you think I should gather the children for prayer?” Of course I said yes. This boy gathers his five siblings and right there on that gravel driveway, six children kneel down and ask Heavenly Father to help Steve change the tire and thank them for their protection.”
Again, I had those very same thoughts run through my mind. “WOW!” then “Why didn’t I think of that?”

As I asked myself that question, I had to remember that in both incidents I had a prayer in my heart as I went about doing what was needful (Mary and Martha) and that it was time for this boy to have those experiences, just like my mom let me have when I was living under her roof. As my mom will tell it, “Doreen prayed many a car to a service station.” I was just like my son; the first to ask a prayer even if it was just my own sweet simple prayer with just me in the circle. I also have to remember the times that I was the one to tell my children, “We need to gather together to pray.” Or “Have you asked Heavenly Father to help you find your ______?” I had to remember that I had been setting the example and not beat myself up with the “Why didn’t I think of that?” question. I had thought of it enough to be an example and someone had actually learned the lesson.

Prayer is something that needs to be taught these young people! Learning to pray while young only helps them later learn how to ponder. And of course they use it in times of trouble and need just like Kray in those two incidents.