Just a little bit before Christmas, we finished the Old Testament as a family! We were so proud of ourselves and it was an interesting experience. I can’t say we heard every word, but with four children, we read every day – usually a whole chapter unless it was especially long. Sometime into Leviticus, we decided to add a chapter of The Book of Mormon each night because it just wasn’t uplifting like we needed our scripture study to be.
My husband and I marveled at the interesting way they lived in the Old Testament and behavior that seemed so much like cavemen. I’m not saying they were cavemen, but it is bizarre how Abraham felt the need to lie about Sarah being his wife in case someone tried to kill him to get to her. I can’t fathom living in a time like that. How did she feel, I wonder? He took his lie so far, he let another man “marry” her. Can you imagine men offing people to take their wives? Can you imagine women putting up with that? It’s hard not to picture these guys holding a club, whacking each other, and dragging the women off by their hair. I’m surprised women were willing to reproduce under those circumstances.
Anyway, it is like a breath of fresh air reading The New Testament! Such a contrast and I can feel the need more than ever for a Savior. I spent a year studying the four Gospels in depth with a wonderful group of women, so I enjoy this even more because I feel like I have so much to teach my kids. We’re just a short way into Matthew and rather than just reading, I stop and explain things to my kids. As Jesus taught about choosing Him over even our family, I shared my testimony with them and the story of their grandma converting to the church.
My mom converted in foster care and at the time, she had one adult relative left in her life – her grandmother. She said if she joined the church, she would be dead to her. She chose to be baptized even though this was extremely painful for her and I told my children, “This is how you know Grandma knows the Gospel is true. We know that choosing to follow Jesus was the most important thing to her.”
Tonight I explained what parables are and we had a nice discussion about it. The New Testament brings such opportunities to share my testimony with my kids and it has become my most favorite part of the day. It is my New Year’s resolution to become closer to Christ and I can’t think of a better way. I am so grateful we have this habit of studying the scriptures together.
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