Sunday dinner is a precious time for many families. So can we do something to help our family want to linger just a little longer at the dinner table?
Here’s a question you may consider asking your family next Sunday:
“Was there anything today that you had a question about?”
The first few times you ask, there may be a lot of crickets in the room. But over time, and if you’re consistent in asking, family members may start to open up or find themselves “saving” a question from church for the dinner table.
Come with Your Own Question
As any good Sunday School teacher knows, thought-provoking questions are vital to a good group discussion. The same can be true at your dinner table. One way to get the conversation flowing is to share something you had a question about.
Here are a few examples of gospel-related questions to get you thinking:
- What does it mean to “believe on [the Savior’s] name” (Helaman 14:13)?
- How have I felt the Lord strengthen me in difficult situations?
- Does repentance feel like a positive thing or a negative thing for me?
- Why do we need a living prophet?
The Question Can Be Anything
Your questions at church may be gospel-related, such as something that came up for you while pondering in sacrament meeting or second-hour classes. But the questions could also be related to your calling or other members of your ward:
- What can I do to connect more with the members of my class or quorum?
- I wonder if Mary’s sister is still sick—is there something I can do to help her family?
- What am I most looking forward to about general conference next month?
The Right Atmosphere
I can foresee my four-year-old son asking, “Why did that guy have to say the sacrament prayer three times today?” Or something inconsequential like, “Why did the bishop wear a red tie today?”
And that’s OK! I plan to respect any of his questions. Creating an atmosphere where all questions are welcome, even from the youngest age, can only be helpful in a family dynamic.
The Effort is Worth It
Spearheading these discussions—even when there are crickets—will be totally worth the effort and bring a new dynamic to your home.
Elder Dieter F. Uchtdorf has said, “We build deep and loving family relationships by doing simple things together, like family dinner and family home evening and by just having fun together. In family relationships, love is really spelled ‘TIME.’ Taking time for each other is the key for harmony at home. We talk with, rather than about, each other.”
Open, honest discussion will lead to more understanding of what your kids are learning and what’s important or concerning to them, and they can start to see the same for you. So these questions and discussions can help you learn from each other and build more harmony at home.
For more great articles on strengthening family discussions, check out the links below:
► What youth need to hear most about the world today
► 3 things parents can do to help kids grow up excited about marriage
► 1 thing we forget when teaching our children about feeling the Spirit
