How to teach our kids about the Gospel.

[Fiannan]

I read a survey recently that was conducted with people who had left the Church. One of the biggest reasons cited was that they were hit with information that seemed inconsistent with what they were exposed to in Church publications. This created a crisis of faith.

I have heard this in regards to people who raise their kids in liberal Protestant or Catholic homes and teach their kids that "God is Love." Then they read about the ethnic-cleanings in the Old Testament and that cracks their faith.

this not only happens in regards to religion. What if you raise a kid in a patriotic home and then he or she discovers about all the evil the USA's government has done? Again, cynicism grows -- far greater than if you had raised the kid to love the principles the country was founded upon but not judge the country by the actions of the men who governed it.

I think the same can go for the Church. I have read up on all the controversial things and I believe if one presents the scriptures as well as modern Church history in the proper context you can easily discern truth. For that reason I would cringe at not being totally open with my kids. For instance, on TV a while back a wife was nagging her husband. I joked with my daughters that poor Brigham Young would have had to endure nagging from two dozen women. They laughed at what I said but I can assure you they will not have their faith shaken if someone at school says, "Did you know that your religion used to allow old men to have a dozen young wives?"

If you think that the spotlight is on our religion now just wait...Romney might just get elected! If he does you will see google searches for all topics Mormon skyrocket. If your kids have been given a sugar-coated version of anything in regards to Gospel principles then they just might experience a crisis unless families and the Church in general takes the responsibility to make things more clear.

[drjme]

My view is that I try to teach my young children principles, instead of attempting to indoctrinate them.
especially since My wife and I share differing views of Christianity, her being more evangelical and I being LDS Christian. I personally believe Indoctrination is the 4 year old up on the pulpit bearing testimony with the parent behind them whispering to them to say "the Church is true, and Joseph was a prophet of God", and them reciting it with morbot precision. While these things are true they are secondary to a belief and faith in Christ, Which CAN be discerned by a small child. without the foundation of Christ, they can be easily shaken with the issues you present, yet if they believe that Christ will lead them first and foremost and they are diligent in following him in principle, they will have a better chance at discerning these things that would shake the faith of another whose faith is based in an institution or person.

[AussieOi]

Nonsense Fiannan
The brethren were, are and will always be infallible
Therefore there is nothing that our kids will ever discover that will conflict with the Legacy movie pioneers crossing the plains images of the church
That said, same here. find balance between leaders, prophets seers and revelators, holding all they keys, and a church that grows as it evolves
My observation is that those brought up in the Jedi version of the church- god leads all in every words they say kind of thing- they are the ones who struggle when discovering the reality of an evolving church with humans beings as members
i think the church has to adapt in time. find the balance between not the sugar version and proper respect for the divine church

(hope your well Drjme too)

[drjme]

Nonsense Fiannan
The brethren were, are and will always be infallible
Therefore there is nothing that our kids will ever discover that will conflict with the Legacy movie pioneers crossing the plains images of the church
That said, same here. find balance between leaders, prophets seers and revelators, holding all they keys, and a church that grows as it evolves
My observation is that those brought up in the Jedi version of the church- god leads all in every words they say kind of thing- they are the ones who struggle when discovering the reality of an evolving church with humans beings as members
i think the church has to adapt in time. find the balance between not the sugar version and proper respect for the divine church

(hope your well Drjme too)

how did you know I was going to reply? you must be a magician or something.

[drjme]

My view is that I try to teach my young children principles, instead of attempting to indoctrinate them.
especially since My wife and I share differing views of Christianity, her being more evangelical and I being LDS Christian. I personally believe Indoctrination is the 4 year old up on the pulpit bearing testimony with the parent behind them whispering to them to say "the Church is true, and Joseph was a prophet of God", and them reciting it with morbot precision. While these things are true they are secondary to a belief and faith in Christ, Which CAN be discerned by a small child. without the foundation of Christ, they can be easily shaken with the issues you present, yet if they believe that Christ will lead them first and foremost and they are diligent in following him in principle, they will have a better chance at discerning these things that would shake the faith of another whose faith is based in an institution or person.

I should add that I wouldnt be allowed to Indoctrinate them even if I wanted to, because of my wife and I's differing beliefs, which was the point of writing that. O:-)

[AussieOi]

my kids want to go to seminary 5 days, i only let them go 4 max, i'd prefer 3

(i saw your post as i was posting)

[karend77]

To the OP

How would I teach?did I teach?

Well, you hope you help them gain a testimony of the basics first- The Savior, the plan of salvation, who they are as children of God. If you really read and search the scriptures with them, they come to know the people of the scriptures have flaws (Jonah ran away, etc)but are called of God and the work still gets accomplished.

Then teach by example. The gospel is not just faith but includes actions (works), which sets us apart from other churches right away. My kids helped take food to neighbors, do their yard work "just because", etc.

Next, just as I did with their secular education, be involved and talk about it. This means when they come home from school or seminary or church classes, we talked about their lessons. You don't panic when they ask or tell you things. I have corrected their secular teachers and "educated" a seminary teacher a time or two. (This means actually gone in with the child to the teacher with document/sources to correct some mis guided teaching).

With those teaching moments such as at the breakfast table/dinner table, Family Home Evening, waiting at one of their sporting events, talk about the gospel topics. Bring out not only the scriptures but history books.

Lastly, if you can, take them on field trips. Now not every one can do this. When in st George we took them to the different sites, including the Seven Wives Inn (guess what talk that brought up). Take them to Nauvoo, Liberty Jail, Kirtland, etc. This is bound to bring up the tough subjects and it makes the gospel more real to them.

I agree that, even with having this kind of background, some people, if they are not solid in their testimony, could still be shaken if confronted or harrassed if Romney elected (or even if he's not) and the anti-mormon hatemongers come calling.

Thus, President Monson's October 2011 conference talk called "Dare to Stand Alone" is a timely talk for our time.

he quotes President Benson:

“In all ages, prophets have looked down through the corridors of time to our day. Billions of the deceased and those yet to be born have their eyes on us. Make no mistake about it—you are a marked generation. …

“For nearly six thousand years, God has held you in reserve to make your appearance in the final days before the second coming of the Lord. Some individuals will fall away, but the kingdom of God will remain intact to welcome the return of its Head—even Jesus Christ.

“While this generation will be comparable in wickedness to the days of Noah, when the Lord cleansed the earth by flood, there is a major difference this time: [it is that] God has saved for the final inning some of His strongest … children, who will help bear off the kingdom triumphantly.”

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