For over a year now I’ve had a strong feeling that we needed to teach our children about these controversial church issues that so often leave people feeling like the church must be false. “Vaccinate” them so that when they encounter these ideas on their own they won’t be shocked/frightened/repulsed/surprised. They will still get to make their own decisions about how they feel, obviously. But they’ll be able to do it on their own time and having both sides of information.
Here are some of the topics on our agenda & resources I plan on using or have already used. I’m really grateful that in the intervening months the church has published a lot of information on some of these things!
Topics (no particular order)
Different versions of the first vision
https://www.lds.org/topics/first-vision-accounts?lang=eng
Blacks & the priesthood
https://www.lds.org/topics/race-and-the-priesthood?lang=eng
women & the priesthood
the book of Abraham
https://www.lds.org/topics/translation-and-historicity-of-the-book-of-abraham?lang=eng#2
polygamy
https://www.lds.org/topics/plural-marriage-and-families-in-early-utah?lang=eng
mysticism in Joseph Smith's time (seer stone, etc)
"I know the church is true"
Chapter from “No Weapon Shall Prosper: New Light on Sensitive Issues” by Robert Millet
Book of Abraham
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865608559/BYU-professor-speaks-on-unnoticed-assumptions-about-the-Book-of-Abraham.html
http://www.ldsmag.com/author/12095
imperfect prophets/leaders
mountain meadows massacre
gay marriage
anachronisms in the book of mormon
This might be interesting: the new D&C church history manual--
https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-and-church-history-seminary-teacher-manual-2014?lang=eng
Other resources:
http://www.ldsmag.com/author/michael-r-ash
“Shaken Faith Syndrome: Strengthening One’s Testimony in the Face of Criticism and Doubt” by Michael Ash
Other possible topics:
Being offended
Abortion
Politics
US Constitution
Temple
Peer Pressure
Laziness (service in the church)
Balance between family/church
Trials (not more than you can bear, but sometimes you can't bear them)
Mental health vs. simply relying on the scriptures
WOW!!! These sound awesome. Will you tell me about them after you have them??? BTW, on the trials point - recently a friend said something to me on Facebook that I've been thinking of ever since. She said that she doesn't believe when people say "the Lord never gives more than you can bear," because she thinks that He intentionally DOES give us more than we can bear so that we will need to turn for help to those around us and to Him. I really like that idea and it's changed the way I think about that issue completely.
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