Promises

Had an interesting time with the family scripture study this evening. I must first confess that our family scripture study has been intermittent at best for several months. Each night that I'm alone when putting kidlets to bed, my only goal becomes to get them sequestered as quickly as possible, to avoid further headaches and any bloodshed. Sadly, in my lack of forward thinking, that has often meant foregoing scriptures because I just haven't the energy to fight the wrestle fest that is scripture time with small children, some of whom are boys. So, when I hear conference talks about the power of the Book of Mormon in our family, I get antsy and guilty. I know my family needs that power. I just get shortsighted when the choice becomes, scripture power or children safely and quietly in their rooms (and away from me) a few moments earlier at night. But we're trying again.

And because we're trying again, we decided to start at the very beginning (always a very good place to start) with First Nephi. The ruckus was legendary (underscoring why I haven't been attempting it on my own), but we forged ahead. We met with surprising resistance from CE, not to the idea of scripture reading, but because she wanted us to read the Old Testament instead. I found myself telling her of the promises our prophets and apostles have repeatedly made to us regarding the power a study of the Book of Mormon will have on our lives. We need that power. I trust in the promises made by the Lord's mouthpieces. They have never failed me. I know if I can show those same promises to my children and they can see my testimony of their truth, they can develop the same trust in prophetic promises. Somehow our reading of First Nephi 1 turned into a discussion of the fiery serpent and the children of Israel and the type of the Savior that is. CE read the story in Numbers, DH then read the doctrinal interpretations by Nephi and Alma. My children (well some of them at least) are finally getting old enough to have an impromptu gospel discussion. The whole fiery serpent discussion really isn't that far removed from the discussion of prophetic promises. For it is a small thing to read the Book of Mormon. It is a small thing to experiment upon the truth of most prophetic promises--akin to looking at the brass serpent Moses held to cure the afflicted children of Israel. But looking, obeying, though it be a small thing, always brings the promised blessings, the promised power.

First Nephi 1 closes with Nephi's promise that he will show to us the tender mercies over all those whom the Lord chooses because of their faith. I suppose that verse was the segue to the serpent discussion, for aren't we looking to those tender mercies, to the promise of power unto deliverance if we have the requisite faith?