Those of you that have been around my site long enough know that I’m a religious gal, and I wanted to share something that I feel strongly about, Memorizing Scriptures! My goal is to share 2 scriptures each month, as options to pick one, or do both in order to Memorize a Scripture a month. This Month, the scripture is Mathew 5:14-16.
Mathew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Back in high school, the first scripture that I ever memorized in full, and still have it all down word for word, is Matthew 5:14-16. I’ve also seen it as one of my life motto’s, and a goal for this little website as well. I want to be a LIGHT in the world. There is just too much darkness. I want to be a light! The scripture reminds me to be that light, when times are tough, or when I feel frustrated and feel darkness creeping in. So I chose this as the first Bible verse of the year.
My amazing and talented friend and designer, Jessika Reed blew me away with her design, when I mentioned to her what was swirling in my head. I wanted visuals and pictures to help my kids envision something concrete, while at the same time memorize it word for word.
Memorizing Scriptures
For the past few months in our family, we have been choosing a scripture a month to memorize. It’s something I’ve wanted to implement for a while, and finally did it. Sometimes things have to swirl around in your head for a long time before you do it, right?
I’ve loved seeing the kids excitement as we recite together as a family, what we have learned together. I remember when I was in high school, I attended an early morning scripture study class, and doing this very thing.
Why memorize scriptures???
Here are three reasons to study and memorize scriptures as part of your learning:
- Memorizing scripture passages can help you understand them better. I love this quote that I found online, “I have discovered that many times you don’t fully understand a scripture until you memorize it. And sometimes I have memorized a passage because it seemed important and valuable to me—then afterwards I discovered deeper meanings that I hadn’t even known were there” -Gene R. Cook
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Memorized passages can provide you with help, inspiration, comfort, and motivation. I love this quote, “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” -Richard G. Scott
- Memorized scriptures can add power to the words you use to teach others. Love this quote, “When scriptures are used as the Lord has caused them to be recorded, they have intrinsic power that is not communicated when paraphrased. The scriptures provide the strength of authority to our declarations when they are cited correctly” -Richard G. Scott
Tips for Memorizing Scriptures
I found these great tips for helping young children memorize scriptures:
- Choose a scripture and repeat it aloud once or twice.
- Repeat the scripture, but this time discuss its meaning. We have found we memorize the words more quickly if we understand what we are saying.
- If you plan to learn a scripture a month, break it down into 4 parts, so you learn a section each week, and add onto it.
- Continue rehearsing the scripture until all have learned it. Sometimes we each take turns repeating it aloud, and sometimes we say it together.
- Since we each learn at different rates, our family sometimes moves on to another scripture before my youngest has fully memorized it.
- We regularly invite the youngest to repeat those scriptures she knows well, and we have occasional review sessions that help her—and everyone—recall scriptures we have previously studied.
Download the above: Ye are the Light of the World Matthew 5
Print, and hang it up in a prominent spot to help everyone memorize it! We generally do a line or two a week in our family, just working on that part each week.
Helaman 5:12
Along with sharing a Bible verse each month, I wanted to share a verse from The Book of Mormon each month. I know not everyone studies from that book, but I wanted to offer it to those who do, as well as share some of my favorite verses for those of you out there that are less familiar with The Book of Mormon.
One of my most favorite passages from The Book of Mormon is Helaman 5:12, and this is the scripture my kids memorized a few months ago, and we keep repeating it to remember. I think is it SOOO important in a gospel study, to focus on your FOUNDATION. I emphasize this with my kids over and over, that their lives, their spirituality, and everything is based on the foundation they build for themselves. Is it a firm foundation, or is it weak? What can they do now to help build that strong foundation of a rock? There will be whirlwinds and storms and hail, how you handle it is based on your foundation. This is one of my most favorite scriptures in The Book of Mormon.
Download the above: Rock Foundation Helaman 5
I hope that this can help those of you out there who might have similar goals in teaching your children. I love having these uplifting words run through my mind. Especially when I am frustrated, sad, or just need some direction and peace.
I’ve also created a PDF version of 25 Scriptures to Memorize in the Old Testament with smaller bookmarks, too. Check it out! {Click image below or link to left}
