[cocotbo]

I'm not a Latter Day Saint, but I know several people who are and I can't help but marvel at what amazing young people they are raising. Their children are all happy, secure, intelligent and accomplished little people who conduct themselves perfectly in public.
What is the secret?!

[babydawn]

I have to say first off....we are not perfect, in any way. Our children can make poor decisions every bit as much as the next person. I say that, because I have the perfect LDS parents, perfect parents period. I still strayed and so did several of my siblings (I have 8 brothers and 2 sisters), all but one of us are leading productive, happy, good lifestyles now. I have to say that I am not really sure what the secret is. I know that the family unit is a huge part of our religion. We are strongly encouraged to be stay at home mothers if we at all can afford to do so, meaning, that we might have to give up some luxuries in order to stay at home. We are encouraged to spend time together as a family. Every Monday night is designated "Family Home Evening." That is a night when families all get together and do a number of things. We, as parents, teach our children on a gospel principle, we sing, pray, have a special treat and what not. My kids LOVE it. When they get older, we will probably also discuss any family matters that may need addressing. It varies with each family, but we are strongly encouraged to have it every week, and to make it a spiritual, meaningful night. Our church has several resources to make this night quite easy. They put out three magazines. One for kids who are 3-11, one for youth from 12-17, and one for adults. We use the magazine called "the Friend" to do our Family Home Evenings. We pick a story, read it, and talk about what we can learn from it. For small children, it is perfect, as it only takes 5-10 min. We are also encouraged to read the scriptures with our families each day, and to have prayer with our children, morning and night. Most of all, we try our best to teach our children to act as Christ would, and to set the example, which is not always easy, and I am the first to admit that I have many faults. I am not sure how much those things differ from what other churches believe, but that is what we do.

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by babydawn

I am not sure how much those things differ from what other churches believe, but that is what we do.

I grew up Catholic and all that actually meant to my family was that we went to Mass every Sunday morning. After my grandmother died, it didn't even mean that anymore.

There is no training program for parents and, unless the Socialists take over, there never will be, so new parents have to hope that they've managed to pick up the skills and knowledge that they need to raise good people. That is, if they are good people and even care. I like the fact that the Mormon Church at least recommends a number of things that you should do with your children and as a family. It seems to me to be the closest thing to parenting training there is.

I especially like the fact that the LDS has put these resources on the www for anyone to download. It is, of course, centered around the LDS community but there is a lot of information there that anyone, from any religion or no religion at all, can still use.

* If anybody happens upon this post and is curious, you can find these materials at: http://www.lds.org/hf/welcome/0,16744,5-1,00.html

[Tsunshine]

I am also a member and agree with things Baby Dawn said but would also add that every Sunday we go to church for 3 hours. There is a meeting where everyone is together and we partake of the sacrament. Then we divide into age groups. The children go to different classes where they are taught, youth have their classes, and adults have their classes. We also have an organization for the Youth that meets every Wednesday. We do different fun and sometimes spiritual activites. For example I am a youth leader over the 12-13 year old girls we just made Christmas candy together. One of the biggest things is that we stress the importance of maintaining moral and public standards. The document The Family: A Proclomation to the World states our belief that parents are commanded to teach their children true principles as such we try and teach our children these principles.

[babydawn]

I also thought of something else that I left out. Usually the adult sunday school class that we attend is called Gospel Doctrine, which is pretty self explanatory. But in the past two years, I have been asked to go to two different smaller sunday school classes, which we are encouraged to each take sparatically. One is Family Relations, the first half of the class sessions are focused on building a stronger marriage, the second half of the sessions are focused on how we can be better parents. The other class, which I am taking now, is called Teaching the Gospel. It is a 12 week class that teaches us how to teach the gospel to others, others in church, home, where ever. I think that classes like these, also help us to become better parents.

[Tsunshine]

Our church also publishes a guide book for youth called "For the Strength of Youth", which outlines the values that we want them to possess and gives them guidelines on things like morality, drugs, modesty, profanity, and others. You can read the guidebook at the link below.
http://www.lds.org/youthresources/pd...Youth36550.pdf

[choppy]

wow. three hours of church for little kids? how does that work? what does the screaming 1 year old do? what do the parents do?

[babydawn]

!!! It can by trying with small children. The three hours are not all together. After the first hour when we all meet together, the children who are 18 m. - 3 years go to nursery for the last two hours, where they play, have a very small age appropriate lesson, sing songs, color, play with playdough, puzzles, books, and have a snack. The January after a child turns 3, they start primary, in which they are divided into age groups. All children that will turn 4 that year are all in the same class and up the scale till adults. That way the lessons can be geared and made very age appropriate for them. There are often coloring pages and other activities for the kids to do in class, other than just listen to a teacher. They are also taught songs and put on a big program once evey year. As far as a 1 year old and church, often I spend my time roaming the hallways, or my baby is playing on the floor in my classroom, depending on her mood. I still get bits and pieces and often my husband and I will swap on who goes to class and who takes care of her when she is really tired and won't cooperate.

[cocotbo]

Originally Posted by babydawn

One is Family Relations, the first half of the class sessions are focused on building a stronger marriage, the second half of the sessions are focused on how we can be better parents.

Again, WOW!
And to think that people pay millions of dollars every year to marriage counselors. If everybody who got married and/or had kids had a class like this to help them out, our society might be just a little bit stronger (in relation to families). Personally, I think that the general standards for families in our society have taken a serious dive.

[Tsunshine]

You're right families are being destroyed. But after all isn't the family the core unit of society and if the family is destroyed then society as a whole is destroyed as well. As LDS we believe that Satan is working overtime trying to destroy the family because if he can get husbands and wives to not love each other and not teach their children basic values and the 10 commandments then he is winning the war for human souls.