We are told that the Book of Mormon was written for our day, and we can find guidance to help us solve our everyday problems. When Charlotte and I were raising our children, we worked hard to have family prayer and scripture study each day. It seemed relatively easy to make sure we had family prayer each day because we held it at a set time each day, so it went fairly smoothly. Daily family scripture study was not quite as easily accomplished. We found that as long as nothing interrupted our daily schedule, it went well. There are, however, many things that came up to challenge our daily schedule. Things like summer vacation, spring break, illness, family coming to visit us for a few days, and on and on.
When we would get off schedule and neglect scripture study for a time, we would notice that our children were not quite as obedient, we did not get other things done like we wanted, the Spirit was not as evident in our home, and the fruits of the Spirit were not as abundant in our lives. When we would see these things going on, more than once we took stock of our lives and realized that what we lacked was consistent scripture study as a family. We would re-order our lives, start reading scriptures on a daily basis again, and the Spirit would return. Children were more obedient, we felt a greater measure of peace in our home, and the fruits of the Spirit returned to our lives once again.
Alma, in speaking to his son Helaman in Alma 37:6, said, "...but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass..." Reading the scriptures in the home may truly seem like a small and simple thing, but by it great things were truly brought to pass in our home.
In the April 2017 General Conference President Monson, speaking in the Sunday Morning session, said, "My dear associates in the work of the Lord, I implore each of us to prayerfully study and ponder the Book of Mormon each day. As we do so, we will be in a position to hear the voice of the Spirit, to resist temptation, to overcome doubt and fear, and to receive heaven’s help in our lives. I so testify with all my heart in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.” I testify with President Monson that daily scripture study as families in our homes truly does invite the Spirit into our homes and with it come the fruits that the Spirit brings as stated in Galatians 5:22: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”
May we all use this small and simple thing to allow the Lord to bring the fruits of the Spirit into our homes and bless our lives in this troubled world.
I wish I had just read this today as it is written much better than I could say it. Thanks for sharing President.
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