5 Meaningful Ways to Teach Gospel Principles Through Everyday Moments

As a busy parent, you know how precious those small, everyday moments with your kids can be. Sometimes, it's easy to wonder if you're doing enough to teach them the gospel when life seems to be moving at 100 miles an hour. But here’s some good news: those simple, everyday moments can be some of the best opportunities for sharing gospel truths!

Whether it's in the car, around the dinner table, or during bedtime routines, there are countless opportunities to turn small moments into gospel-centered conversations. Here are five meaningful ways to teach gospel principles to your kids in those everyday moments.

1. Have "Gospel Talks" in the Car 🚗

Car rides are the perfect opportunity for gospel discussions. Whether it’s just a few minutes to school or a longer drive to a family event, you have a captive audience (well, mostly captive). Use this time to share a quick scripture, discuss a gospel topic, or ask your kids how they can apply gospel principles to situations they’re facing in their lives.

Some conversation starters could be:

• "What is something kind you did today that made someone happy?"
• "How can you be a better friend at school?"
• "What’s a story about Jesus that you love, and why?"

These simple prompts can lead to deeper discussions and help your children apply gospel teachings to their daily lives.

2. Make Mealtime More Meaningful 🍽️

Dinner time is often one of the few times everyone is together, making it a great opportunity for family discussions. Instead of just talking about your day, ask each person to share something they’re grateful for, a way they saw God’s hand in their life that day, or something they learned from the scriptures.

If your family follows the Come, Follow Me curriculum, bring a scripture from that week's lesson to the table and talk about it together. You can also introduce a weekly gospel challenge—something simple like showing kindness, serving a sibling, or helping a neighbor—that everyone can work on during the week.

3. Use Bedtime as a Moment to Connect 🌙

Bedtime can be more than just brushing teeth, getting pajamas on, and lights out. It’s a sweet opportunity to connect with your child one-on-one. Before saying goodnight, take a few minutes to share a favorite scripture story, talk about a Christlike attribute they can work on, or say a prayer together.

If you're looking for a way to make these conversations easier, the Essential Conversations Bedtime Moments flipbook is designed to help parents connect with their kids during these quiet moments. Each page features a child-friendly topic, a gospel discussion prompt, and affirmations to share together—all inspired by the Articles of Faith. It’s an evergreen tool you can use year after year to have spiritual moments with your little ones.

4. Find Gospel Lessons in Nature and Everyday Activities 🌳

Kids are naturally curious and always exploring their surroundings, making nature walks, visits to the park, or even simple chores at home great times to connect everyday experiences with gospel lessons. For example:

• When you see a tree, talk about how faith starts small like a seed and can grow into something strong.
• While baking, compare the process of following a recipe to following the commandments to achieve the best result.
• When gardening, explain how nurturing a plant is like growing a testimony—it needs daily care and nourishment.

These analogies can help your kids see the gospel in the world around them and understand principles on a deeper level.

5. Have Consistent, Simple Gospel Study Sessions 📖

While everyday moments are wonderful for teaching gospel principles, having a consistent time for family scripture study is essential for building a foundation of faith in your home. That said, we know how hard it can be to find the time to study the gospel as a family—especially when schedules are full and days are long.

That’s why we created Essential Conversations | Scripture Study for Families from the Doctrine and Covenants. This flipbook makes it easy to dive into gospel study with your family, no matter how busy life gets. Aligned with the 2025 Come, Follow Me curriculum, it offers:

• 52 weeks of thoughtfully written questions based on the Doctrine and Covenants.
• Weekly family challenges to help you live the gospel each day.
• Beautiful scripture prints to display in your home, making gospel study a visual reminder for all.

The flipbook is designed to stand on its own, so you can place it in a high-traffic area (like the kitchen counter) and study a little bit each day, right where your family gathers.

And don’t forget about the Essential Conversations flipbook for teens! If you have older kids, this resource is perfect for helping them dive deeper into the Doctrine and Covenants with doctrinal mastery stickers and reflective questions that encourage personal growth.

These small, everyday moments add up. By turning daily activities into opportunities for gospel teaching, you help your children develop a habit of looking for the Savior’s influence in their lives and grow closer as a family.