After hearing this, I decided I needed to step it up a notch and better prepare my children before they go to school. Our Monday night Family Home Evening lesson was about bettering our personal scripture study time. We decided to better our family's morning devotional as well to a more in-depth study.
Yesterday, Tyson came home from school to tell me that a kid was giving him a hard time about being a Mormon.
According to Tyson:
The kid asked him what religion he was. Tyson said he was a Mormon and a Christian. The kid said, "You can't be both because Mormon's aren't Christian."
Tyson responded, "Yes I am because I believe in Jesus Christ."
The kid: "My parents said you think you believe in Christ, but you don't."
Quite surprised Tyson responded, "You don't believe me?"
The kid: "My parents said you Mormons are bad."
Tyson: "Am I bad?"
The kid: "No, but that's because you're still just a kid."
Then Tyson turned to another kid standing there listening and said, "Do you believe that I'm a Mormon and a Christian?" To Tyson's satisfaction, the boy nodded his head.
Tyson said, "If you want to know more about me being a Christian, you can visit www.lds.org."
(As Tyson told me this story, I was surprised to hear his response that he sent him to the actual website to learn more instead of arguing with him.... very Christlike in my opinion. :-) I believe the Holy Ghost was working in his soul because I asked Tyson if he felt upset. He said, "No, I just felt like I was informing them.")
Then Tyson went to the next room where there were about 5 other kids and asked a couple of them what religion they were. One of the boys said he was a Mormon too! Tyson didn't even know him. This boy came from the only other family in the entire school who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon), and they drive about 45 minutes to get to that school. They attend a different congregation than us. My boys were glad to know they are not the only kids of our faith at their school.
Now let me tell you something about my Mormon boys...
Their band teacher reported that Jackson and Tyson are the kindest, most well-behaved, respectful students he has at the school. Their choir/theater teacher, the lady at the front office, the athletic director, and the admissions representative have all reported how impressed they are with Jackson and Tyson's behavior towards their education and their respect towards the teachers and other students. Other kids keep commenting on how nice the boys are because they are always encouraging other kids.
Tyson has never attended public school in his life. He is only 9 years old in classes with all 12-13 year old kids. Even so, every time he hears the kids take the Lord's name in vain, he politely and boldly asks them to stop. Tyson has reported that many kids have now started to say, "Oh my gosh," instead of yelling God's name in vain.
I am so proud of both of my Christian boys who have chosen the gospel principles of The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints to bring them closer to their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Now... why do I share this? The opposition they are facing is a HUGE testimony to me that my boys are going in the right direction.
The adversary would try to discourage my boys in their spiritual beliefs when it is their spiritual beliefs that make them the kind, wonderful boys that they are. Isn't it interesting that the very week we increased our standard of study, the adversary tried even harder to bring them down? Isn't it interesting that people could actually believe that these wonderful boys could come from people who are inherently "bad?"
They don't believe it, and neither do I because "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." (Matthew 7:20)
I write this in my Daily Miracles blog because it is a miracle to me that my boys have the opportunity to strengthen their testimonies by bearing them with even more power in the very week we have strengthened our personal and family scripture study.
I share just a few captured moments of kindness inspired by my children's love for Christ.
Jesus Christ defines love.
What an absolutely wonderful experience. I am so uplifted by this. But I must ask you...HOW DO YOU DO IT!!?? Everytime something goes amiss with my kids, I think of your sweet family and say, "they are so happy...all the time. how do they do it?"
ReplyDeleteAs you may remember, I have 3 boys (ages 15 1/2, 14 and 10) and an almost 3 year old daughter.
I have 2 1/2 years before my oldest serves his mission. I feel like time is running out. I feel like I haven't taught them nearly enough.
I wonder how families fit in the family scripture study? How do you help your sons be so strong that they kneel in prayer on their own? How do you raise a kid who will refer the nay-sayers to the church's website *haha...that was great!*
I take my two older boys to Seminary by 6:15am. On MWF, I drive back home after drop off to pick up my 10 year old to take him to band by 7am. I then go back to Seminary where I take my boys and 3 other kids to their school. I drive home, kiss my husband goodbye and then play with my daughter. On Tuesdays thru Fridays, at 11am, she goes across the street to grandma aunties. At this time I do my own homework, write, do house chores and management. The kids start coming home in intervals (3pm, 3:30pm, 4pm, 5pm). Depending upong the day, I have at least 2 boys in soccer practice (during the dinner hour), two days a week the boys are in scouts (different age groups), Mondays we have FHE, 2 days a week my son who was in a bike accident a few months ago goes to the chiropractor, etc. It feels like a chaotic organized schedule, if that makes sense. On any given day, everyone is home by 8:30pm. Bedtime is at 9pm. But there are showers that are needed, help with homework, chores needing to be finished, etc. I try to start my homework by 9pm. We do have a devotional at night (about 8:30pm) which includes family prayer and sharing of scriptures, but it doesn't feel like much.
I share this schedule with you (and anyone else reading) because I need ideas on how/when/where to fold in family scripture study time. I am strongly feeling that I need to do better in this area, but I really don't know how and I can't see what needs to change.
The energy it takes to deal with teenagers is staggering. They have to deal with a lot, as well. The best way I have found is to be non-emotional, but that is OH SO HARD. So I feel the great pull to teach them better and I feel it all rests on my shoulders. I am looking for ideas, changes and options. I want to be a better mother for the benefit of my children.
Thank you so much for your posts. I read them all the time (mostly daily, sometimes I play catch up). They are uplifting to me. They inspire me to make little changes here and there. Thank you for sharing your beautiful family with so many.
Un abrazo, chica! :o)
Thank you so much for your message. I thank God that you are feeling uplifted. After reading your message, I do have a few thoughts:
Delete1st and foremost, I am no expert by any means. Oh my goodness I'm making tons of mistakes with my kids! Amongst my mistakes, I thank God HE shows me the great things that are happening in our home despite my mistakes. I believe you are doing GREAT things with your family. God sent your children to you because HE knows that you have gifts of the Spirit necessary to uplift them to their greatest selves.
2. We all feel like it rests only on our shoulders, but it really doesn't. As parents, we do ALL that we can. I'm sure you've seen the surprising influence of good of many around you. I'm often surprised at what my children teach me from lessons they've learned from others who are fulfilling their duty to God to uplift as well.
3. My children are not ALWAYS happy. :-) They definitely have their days. None of them get to the point of no return though because I firmly discourage drama in the house:-)
4. You are doing a family devotional including scripture study every night. That is marvelous!! We were doing one in the morning, and it also didn't feel like enough. We returned to doing our scripture study and family devotional WHILE WE ATE BREAKFAST which gave us more time. What we have added to our schedule is a little extra time in the morning to discuss the principles involved on a deeper level. When we had a teenage foster child living in our home who had to leave earlier than all the rest, I woke up alone with her to study the scriptures while she ate. We had some nice discussions about Christ's love for her before she left each morning.
5. Everyone's schedule is so different because of our different stages of life. Like you, we do a TON of driving back and forth. My kids take several elective courses at the public school which are dispersed throughout the school day. (I think we need to make some changes there as well.) We value our gospel conversations on the principles of the gospel WHILE WE DRIVE. It definitely takes a concerted effort because often I just want to relax and listen to music while my little ones are strapped in a car seat (not able to break anything!) Like you, I muster up my energy remembering I am raising future fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, and missionaries.
So, I guess to wrap it up... it uplifts me to hear of other families doing such wonderful things with their children. We never feel like it's enough because it never is unless we turn it over to God. God inspires us to make the small and simple changes in our lives which will produce great miracles in our lives and in the the lives of our children.
Te quiero mucho. Eres muy inteligente, spiritual, cariñosa, y tienes gran pasion para tu familia. Yo se que estas haciendo cosas biensisimas con tus ninos porque aun tus palabras me han ayudado muchas veces... Estoy mandandote muchos abrazos fuertes!! Te quiero. :-) Que Dios nos bendiga como mamas de ninos maravillosos.
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Delete***Note: I deleted the last post because I made too many mistakes. Here is the same post, just with LESS mistakes! Haha!
DeleteThank you so much for these helpful and inspiring words. I truly have been feeling like I needed to make my children's spiritual development a priority. After I read your words, I decided to make a change in our family's devotional. Instead of having one child share a scripture passage that they chose, I decided that we are going to use that time to read the Book of Mormon, as a family (or study) and discuss what we read. I chose to start in my favorite book, Enos. So, that is what we did (started Sunday evening), and it went VERY well and it was really what I had been wanting for our family. A true discussion and study of the words. So this is how and where we will focus these efforts and I hope that me and my children will feel a difference.
I also decided to TRY to be less controlling ...well, business-like is more like it. There is so much information that needs to be exchanged that I realized that I am probably causing my children information over-load so I have tried to loosen things up by talking about the scriptures. Doesn't that sound funny to say? The best way I have done it is to make a guessing game and I will begin to describe a Mormon Ad to them with small details. They try to guess which one it is and then we talk about it. A year ago, I purchased all 3 sets of the Mormon Ads for my kids. I then let them pick the ones they liked and, of course, they each got 3 that Mom wanted them to have. Then I gave them some pins and they got to put them up in their room. So, it's kinda fun to see how well they are paying attention. For my older son, all I have to say is "ice cream" and he knows which one I mean.
So thank you for your example and your words of encouragement. As I talk to other people sometimes I feel like saying, "you have know idea how difficult it is because I have 4 kids and you have 2", but then I look at others and I tell myself to quit complaining because I have it pretty good! Come what may, and love it!
Gracias chica. Te espero aun mas milagros en tu vida y ojala q' sepas q' eres un angel en viva aqui en la tierra. Que bendecida es tu familia y aun los demas de nosotros que disfrutamos de los milagros de tu vida. Un abrazo muy fuerte! :o)
I LOVE your ideas! I also love your confidence as a mother to see and do the things that your children need at the moment you feel their need. I know the Spirit is always speaking to our hearts; you're a hero to make those changes. God bless you in your efforts as they continue to progress.
DeleteJust this morning my 9- year old told me that the kids in school are talking about sex a lot before their classes. Wow... the world we live in... all the more reason to provide more strength and understanding of this world and of spiritual things in the home.
Gracias por tus palabras que me dan tantas esfuerzas. Gracias por tus abrazos y amistad de lejos. :-)
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ReplyDeleteI took the time to watch the first few minutes of your video that you posted, but I did not appreciate the tone of the interviewer. I choose to fill my heart and mind about those things that uplift me to Christ. I would suggest that you spend more of your valuable time doing those things instead of searching out videos to prove your cause against The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints... of all the causes... we're good people trying to live good lives- trying to love and help others- trying to live like Jesus...
DeleteThat is really too bad you only watch a bit of it. It is a an amazing non confrontational interview. I really think this LDS man puts his point across quiet eloquently and is not put down by the interviewer. He makes no excuses for doctrine and defends it quite well. He really gets to the heart of mormonism. I really quite enjoyed his candor, honesty and faithfulness. I thought this would help support your right to be called Christian.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I could not watch the whole thing- maybe it turned out to be better in the end. It was over 2 hours long. The interviewer rattled off many of my sacred beliefs in a disrespectful tone, so my husband and I decided it was not something we needed to spend our time watching. As you said in your previous post, your purpose for sharing it was to state why "Mormons should NOT want to be called Christian."
DeleteI accept my Savior, Jesus Christ, as my personal Savior. I am a follower of Jesus Christ... the same Jesus Christ of whom I learn about from the Bible.
I agree with Rachel. I find it difficult to spend over 2 hours watching a video where in the first 5 minutes the interviewer says that it's as if Stephen King and Alfred Hitchcock fornicated and the offspring was the Mormon church. Then, he begins to delve into the fringe mysteries of the church instead of focusing on the core beliefs that we have. In my opinion, the core beliefs that we have about God's plan of salvation for His children and the central figure in that plan, Jesus Christ, are a far more important and appropriate topic for discussion about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. So, that's why I didn't watch it any further. I'll tell you what though. I will gladly watch it, if you agree to watch at least 2 hours worth of talks from our General Conference earlier this month. It would give you a better idea of what the church is really about from the worldwide leaders of the church. not the Elders who have acne and no gray hair in their beard (another thing the interviewer from from your video commented on). I would be happy to put together the links for you.
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