SUCCESSFUL MORNING SCRIPTURE STUDY

1- Make it relevant

We will all listen to things that are relevant to ourselves – say you are looking to buy a car, you may stop and watch a car commercial you never noticed before because it is relevant to you at that time.

If your morning scripture study routine consists of reading sections of scriptures together, I would probably try to pre-read it (with my spouse) searching for relevant principles for our family so we would be inspired and prepared when we read that section.  So I am looking for things they NEED right now.  Something about the start of work, or making friends, or being a good example.  Then when I  find that principle I may try to think of a short story or a really good quote so it really applies to them.

2- Make it sparkle

A few years back Elder Richard G. Scott was speaking to the seminary teachers and he told them that their lessons should “sparkle”.  He didn't mean that they should be flashy, but that they should “sparkle”.  I think of a beautiful gem, sparkling in the sun – it is showing its amazing beauty and capturing your attention.

That message really resonated with me and I put the word “sparkle” in my laptop screen so I could see it whenever I was planning a lesson for sharing time, doing work at the office and some other stuff.  And I would always know when I was getting there – I could feel it.

A sparkling scripture study moment can be as much as you sharing an amazing story, opening up the meaning of a scripture, giving a challenge, or bearing a powerful testimony. But you will know it when it is happening – you will see it in your children’s faces or the people you serve. 

3- Keep it short

I am pretty sure that things are hectic in most homes before school or work and that most people don’t have the time to have more than 5 or 10 minutes together.  But those 10 minutes can really count.  It may take some prayerful planning, but 10 minutes can be the power minutes for the rest of the day.

And honestly, I think a powerful lesson or thought can often be lost if the teacher keeps on talking on and on.  So a power 5 or 10 minutes can actually be more impact than an hour long scripture study. The lesson will be taught and then your children can think on that one important doctrine or principle the rest of the day.

4- Establish it as a life line

I imagine that in most homes it would be hard to implement a morning scripture study routine, until it became a need rather than a duty.  If the morning messages really were relevant to your family’s lives, then they would quickly come to rely on the guidance they received in those precious moments.  

5- Have impact

This goes with being relevant, but the goal is that every day your children leave your house feeling strong.  The goal isn't to read a few scriptures, but rather to learn something that has impact in their lives.

I hope this formula will help you to have an effective scripture study every morning!