Our family read the Book of Mormon together as a family this past year, and it went much better than I thought. This is the first time I've really included the kids in an ongoing scripture study effort. We started a little later in the year and read a chapter a day (with a few vacation breaks). It worked out that we finished on December 29th, just in time for the end of the year, so that was fun.
We would usually listen to the audio version of each chapter and follow along in our own Book of Mormons. Then at the end of each chapter we would discuss it a little bit. Sometimes the kids would get jelly beans or M&Ms for answering quiz questions about the chapter we just read (made up on the spot by me) and they liked filling in their Book of Mormon reading logs. We also did journals sometimes, where they would write something they heard while we were listening and then talk about it after. We looked at pictures from the Book of Mormon stories book when appropriate and watched the corresponding videos after we read about them. Scott has been gone a lot this year, but he followed along with us from wherever he was.
I learned a lot by preparing things for them and trying to explain in 4 and 5 year old terms what was happening in each chapter. It worked out very well and we are continuing this year with the Doctrine and Covenants. My mom, after observing our scripture study ritual called it "seminary for five year olds," which I liked.
After we finished we talked about having a party to celebrate. The party never happened 'cause of holiday chaos...maybe we'll still have it later on. We asked the kids which stories they liked best and Matthew's favorite was the one where Zerahemnah gets scalped (Alma 43-44). He had some other stories that he liked, but that one seemed to be a favorite. He even made a puppet of Zerahemnah, complete with removable scalp. I don't know whether to smile or be horrified.
In any case, I think it has been a good thing. Removable scalp puppet notwithstanding.
1 comment:
That is some accomplishment, and now you are familiar with those wonderful stories!
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