Sacrament Meeting Talk: How The Book of Mormon Has Blessed Me and My Family

Today I  gave a short talk in my ward's sacrament meeting. The topic I was given is: how The Book of Mormon has blessed me and my family during these trying times.

To be honest, when the first presidency announced the cancellation of Sunday worship services back in March, I cried. Sunday is one of the few times a week that I get face-to-face adult interaction. Before all of this, I used to read my scriptures while I ate my breakfast. After taking Benjamin to school, I would get the girls focused on their toys or a movie, and I would enjoy breakfast by myself with my scriptures. My copy of Come, Follow Me is full of notes until April. With everyone home, I'm lucky to zoom through a chapter, but there is not much time for self-reflection. 

Despite my struggles with personal study, our family study has increased and prospered. On Sundays, we have a family Church service in our home. We sing the hymns that Sister Struthers shares on the ward page, Gerson blesses the Sacrament and passes it, and I teach a full length primary lesson to our three children. I would like to highlight two sections of the Book of Mormon that talk about a parent's responsibility to their children.

Jacob 1:18-19 says,

"For I, Jacob, and my brother Joseph had been consecrated priests and teachers of this people, by the hand of Nephi.

And we did magnify our office unto the Lord, taking upon us the responsibility, answering the sins of the people upon our own heads if we did not teach them the word of God with all diligence; wherefore, by laboring with our might their blood might not come upon our garments; otherwise their blood would come upon our garments, and we would not be found spotless at the last day."

I am responsible for my children's actions if I don't teach them right from wrong. 

In the Come, Follow Me for Individuals and Families, Enos 1:1-3 is highlighted with the question about what those verses mean for parents and children. Enos said that he remembered the things that his dad taught him. In my copy, I wrote: "Teach truth, children will remember what we teach them."

Topics that our at-home Primary has covered so far:

• Jesus Christ
• Prophets are seers, they teach about Jesus, we should listen to and follow them
• Put trust in God
• Mosiah 7:33 "But if ye will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in him, and serve him with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, he will, according to his own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage." 
• The 10 Commandments
• Repentance and Forgiveness
• Missionary work
• Practiced saying, "The Book of Mormon teaches about Jesus Christ."
• Service
• Prayer
• Testimony
• Resurrection

To teach these topics to my children I have used the Book of Mormon Stories illustrated book, and I highlight 1-3 verses from The Book of Mormon. 

Focusing on Primary during our at-home worship services has helped me be directly involved in my children's religious education. Not that I wasn't before. We have always done FHE and family scripture study, but at the same time I have always relied on nursery and primary teachers to help with that. Now I'm doing it all. This has also helped all of us to share more personal stories to serve as examples for the topics we are teaching and discussing. And my children have been very comfortable sharing their thoughts and asking questions. I taught them how to share a testimony, and both Benjamin and Luna have shared their testimonies on Fast Sunday. My mom and my dad also join us. My dad is inactive, so this has been really special for us to have him there. 

I would like to end by sharing my favorite Book of Mormon verses about Jesus Christ.

Alma 7:11-12

"And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

Jesus Christ knows how to comfort us, because he knows how we feel. I have loved these two verses long before the current crisis hit our family, but I find that this time of emotional and financial struggle makes these verses even more relevant as Gerson and I have had to lean on each other and Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for the experience to study The Book of Mormon so closely as a family. I have really enjoyed teaching my children and watching them think it over and figure out the messages as we talk about it on their level. Focusing on them and teaching them has been the biggest blessing that has come out of all of this.