When I was younger my father instilled in me a great love for the scriptures and more especially the Book of Mormon. So I knew that when I became a father I would want to do the same for my kids.
Just this last year we began "reading" the scriptures with Macey. It was simply looking at a picture and telling the story behind it. Nothing fancy. It seemed to be going well but I felt like Macey, in a way, lacked interest. Oh...did I mention at this point she was 2 and a half years old? Not a whole lot peaks her interest. But we just pressed on hoping that maybe she was absorbing something.
One day during my personal study I came across this article in the "True to the Faith" manual that the Church has. I read this line about scripture study:
"Do not be afraid of reading the scriptures to small children. The language of those sacred records has power to touch even the very young."
This prompted me to read the Book of Mormon out loud to Macey. So the first night we sat down and read verses out loud and the results were incredible. Macey was sucked in! She began learning and feeling and in some way we began discussing doctrines and principles with her. Her favorite stories so far (we are just starting Mosiah at this point) are Nephi getting the plates an d the story of Nephi building the boat.
Even though she is 3, she is grasping, in some degree, the doctrines of the Gospel. Here is an example:
Me: (Reading from the Book of Enos) "So Enos prayed because he felt in his heart that he needed to. Do you know you can pray whenever we thou feel like it?"
Macey: "Macey had hiccups so I say prayer and hiccups go away. They all gone!"
Me: "Do you think Jesus helped you get rid of your hiccups?"
Macey: "Yes. Jesus help. Jesus love me."
Simple? Sure. But that is the point. For Macey, the Red Sea was parted, the Lord's hand was revealed and she learned that the scriptures are true and the Christ lives and loves her.
Not only has the spiritual learning been accelerated, but her secular learning has as well. Where, at first, she showed little to no interest in reading, now you can find her in the toy room with a stack of 12 books reading them all out loud. Is she actually reading? No, but she is learning. Her behavior has improved as well and the Book of Mormon provides her with parallel stories and examples that she can recognize daily.
What a tender mercy to have the Book of Mormon in our lives, and for the Spirit to confirm its truthfulness to even a little child.
