Friday, March 23, 2012

Living According to the Dictates of Our Own Consciences Is NOT Rebellion

I don't teach my kids rebellion - EVER. I teach them to think about everything and live according to the dictates of their own conscience. They can do that without rebelling, and I model that for them.

How do I do that?

1) By talking about things I hear at Church with which I disagree, but ALWAYS in the context of how much I love and admire the people who say them - and ALWAYS in context of how much I love serving in the Church - and ALWAYS in the context of why I disagree, based on my view of the pure Gospel of Christ and the pure core of Mormonism. My kids know full well that I don't believe everything I hear in Church - and even in General Conference occasionally - and often can tell me something with which I disagree before I mention it to them. For example, they know I don't like one of the lines in "Away in a Manger". They laugh about it now, but it will be a foundation for them when they hear things that really bother them - and that has happened with my oldest four already more than once.

2) By skipping some meetings / gatherings / events at church for other things - or simply because right now we can't afford the gas costs of driving 50 miles round-trip for such things. We go on Sunday, and we go on Wednesday - and we go to something else very rarely. All those other things are optional in their entirety, so we do what we can - and I teach them that making that choice is not wrong in ANY way.

5 comments:

Michael said...

Papa D,

As usual, an awesome post comprised of pure wisdom and common sense. The title by itself communicates Eternal Truth.

Clean Cut said...

I second that about the title. Love this:

"Living According to the Dictates of Our Own Consciences Is NOT Rebellion"

Anonymous said...

This is so great because your approach offers an opt in clause rather than an opt out. We once had a bishop go round inviting less actives to have their names taken off the records. That attitude was communicated to our youth, you're either in or you're out.Youth are frequently looking for a reason not to attend. We lost a lot of good people.

But God is good and we have had the opportunity to get reacquainted with a lot of those who left at that time. Wish my children were amongst them.

We very much took your view,but it's very difficult when those in authority represent a different standpoint. It's a tough row to hoe on your own.

Papa D said...

Thank you, everyone.

Anonymous, I REALLY like the distinction between "opting in" and "opting out". Thank you for sharing that.

Stephen said...

Thanks, enjoyed this post.