Making new friends
“Learning, pondering, searching, and memorizing scriptures is like filling a filing cabinet with friends, values, and truths that can be called upon anytime, anywhere in the world,” said Richard G. Scott “Great power can come from memorizing scriptures. To memorize a scripture is to forge a new friendship. It is like discovering a new individual who can help in time of need, give inspiration and comfort, and be a source of motivation for needed change.”
When I heard him say that, I felt the deep, resonating feeling of the Spirit. I want my children to have amazing friends; and I had just been told by a living apostle how to do it. You can read Elder Scott’s full address here.
How I pick my children’s “friends”: During personal scripture study, I mark scriptures that particularly speak to my soul; and keep a specific list of potential memorization scriptures for my kiddos. I aim to select scriptures of an ideal length for their ability; and ones that teach basic Gospel principles. When we’re working on a difficult issue or experiencing a specific hardship, I’ll search out a scripture friend tailored to help us deal with it.
Parents know just how influential our children’s friends can be … these friends speak peace to the soul. These friends always influence for good. These friends keep us focused on Him.
So, every week or two or three, we make a new hand-picked heaven-sent friend. After selecting the scripture, I write it down or type it up and give it a “seat” in a little stand on our kitchen table. In this way, our newest friend is invited to each meal with us.
At breakfast, we take a few minutes to say the scripture together. Sometimes we make hand motions or use American Sign Language to help us remember the words. Sometimes we create a tune to sing the scripture. Sometime we chant it. Sometimes we just say it normal.
As the week progresses, and the scripture becomes memorized, the children take turns saying it on their own – they test themselves (and they test me). This is when our new friends engrave themselves on our hearts.
Once memorized, our scripture friends speak up. They visit with us in our conversation and our trials. For example, a scripture that hit home for our entire family last year is:
“Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16:24
If an argument breaks out, or unpleasant words begin to sour the Spirit in our home, that scripture friend speaks up (and on occasion a child has been shouted it in righteous retort – ha!)
These friends are always welcome. They are true, eternal friends – ones who inspire, uplift, console, teach and counsel. These friends fill our home, adorn our walls, stick to our hearts and travel with us as we face the world.
I’m thankful my children have fantastic physical “real” friends too … my kiddos pick those friends, and we love them. But those friends can’t be with them all the time. And human friends are … human. That’s why I’m deeply comforted to know that they have scripture friends who can be with them too – at all times. Scripture friends are always perfect, always perfecting and always pointing to Him.
Please share: What scripture does your family quote most often? Or what is on your “to memorize” list?
