The Talk

A while ago, Eric and I were talking about how we really should start studying together from Preach My Gospel, but, at that point, it was just talk. Then after General Conference, we decided we really should study from it and we even took the next step and chose Sunday as a good day to discuss it together. And so, it was last Sunday that we got back from a family walk and, without a plan (what? Me and E without a plan?!), pulled the Preach My Gospel books off of the shelf and sat down at the table. We didn't expect the boys to join us. They just came and sat down, too. And we definitely didn't expect the comments and insights and excitement that came from our impromptu family gospel discussion. All we did was read from the first page, stopping whenever we felt like it, and said just what we thought or wondered. Kacin's eyes were shining and he didn't stop talking (and what he said actually pertained to exactly what we were talking about!). Eric and I walked away thinking "Wow!" It went really well.

I think that it was when we were getting ready for church this morning when Kacin started asking about when we were going to have the talk today. And as we sat in the chapel before stake conference he was explaining to us that a good time for the big talk would be right after lunch. Eric decided that after dinner would be best, and so all afternoon we heard questions about when we would talk. We finally gathered around the table and had another really good discussion based on two paragraphs out of Preach My Gospel.

Mind you, we're not talking about some news-breaking, spectacular insights or thoughts here. It was really just a simple conversation that gave us the opportunity to share what we know to be true in a very simple way and to help eachother understand principles better. Yet, it was powerful to get together in a relaxed setting just to talk. I really think it went so well because we didn't have a plan. There was no "teacher" or "leader", per se. It wasn't a listen-to-me-and-talk-only-when-you're-asked-to lesson. We didn't just take turns around the circle. We all asked questions and shared what we were thinking when we felt to. It was a conversation. And we kept it short.

I'm so glad we stumbled upon this way of teaching and learning together!