Learning Experience

The other night we sat down to read scriptures. The boys are usually always good, Joye is another story. But this night Joye was pretty good. We were reading about the Tree of Life and the Iron Rod. Since the kids were being so good, we decided to turn nightly scripture reading into a little family home evening. Braden went out into the garage and got one of his long ropes, and tied it through the kitchen and down the stairs. Then we shut all the lights off, made the kids close their eyes and carried them down stairs. Once we got down we told them they had to keep their eyes shut and hold onto the "Iron Rod". The boys did really good going up the stairs, but the rope was tied to the doorknob at the top and they couldn't find the other part of the rope to keep going. We reminded them that, Lehi asked Heavenly Father for help when he couldn't find his way. So Jaxon said, "Hey I'll ask Heavenly Father to help!" So he bowed his little head and said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help him find the other part of the rope. After he was done, Braden helped him grab the other part of the rope. Then it was Alek's turn. When he couldn't find the other part of the rope, he got scared. So Braden turned into the little devil on his shoulder and I turned into the little angel. Braden kept telling him just to let go and come to him, I kept telling him to keep holding on so he could get to the Tree of Life, and eat the yummy fruit. After he wasn't going to let go, we tried to get him to pray for help. He said he was too scared. I knew that he was getting close to crying, so instead of ruining this neat experience Braden got down next to him to help him pray. He asked Heavenly Father to help him not be scared, and to help him find the rope so he could get to the "tree". During this time I am of course crying. Braden helped Alek find the other part of the rope and keep going. Our Tree of Life was our refrigerator. Once the boys got to the end of the Rod, we opened the freezer to show the boys the brightness, and our fruit was inside. We all got ice cream for holding onto the rod, and making it to the end. While we were eating our ice cream we talked to the boys about prayer, and that they can always ask for help, where ever they are.
I am so thankful for my little family, and all that we get to do together. I'm also thankful that the boys love when we read scriptures. They always ask me if we get to read scriptures when dad gets home from work. It makes it easy to have scripture study when there isn't a fight. I'm grateful for scriptures and prayer, and that we get the chance to teach our children about them, and how important they are. I think I cry every time that Joye folds her arms and prays. 1. because she is learning how to pray and she loves it and 2. because she is too big, she shouldn't be big enough to pray. The boys know how important it is to pray for safety. Every prayer they say they ask for Dad to drive safe when he's going to and coming home from work. They also pray for Uncle Jairon (if this doesn't get done, who ever said the prayer gets a talking to after, from the boys) They usually say, "Thank you for Uncle Jairon on his mission, bless him to be safe." I'm sure Uncle Jairon is very appreciative of their sweet prayers. They think we are teaching them about prayer and scriptures, but really I think Braden and I learn more from them, than they will ever know.