Ok so if you've been reading this blog, you know I'm LDS (otherwise known as Mormon). In fact, most of my family is LDS. We all converted individually, for the most part, starting with me just after I turned 17. My sister, Andrea, followed suit a few years later. My mom, dad, sister Samantha, her then-husband, and my nephew, Christopher, were baptized when I was about 27 or 28. Since then Samantha's other children, Jonathan, Annabeth, and Sabryna have all been baptized and my girls want to be baptized as well, but they have to overcome a roadblock (permission from their dad). But, as usual, I'm off topic.
So I'm LDS and I think I've mentioned that I take my girls to the Portland Oregon Temple pretty frequently. We try to go once a week, but life happens. We've befriended a temple worker there, Brother Rosenbaum (or Rosenbalm). I think I've mentioned him before. Anyway, a couple weeks ago, we sat down for a bit of a chat in the temple atrium. Brother Rosenbaum was telling me how excited he is about teaching in Primary (Sunday School for children ages 3-11). He teaches with a companion and his companion has been teaching most of the lessons lately. Now, Brother Rosenbaum's excitement isn't JUST from teaching a class of 6 or 7-year-olds, but because his companion is going to be gone the next couple weeks and Brother Rosenbaum gets to lead the lessons. They've been learning The Articles of Faith (more to follow on this). You see Brother Rosenbaum is concerned about how these youngsters are learning this important pieces of LDS doctrine. There are the very basic tenants of our faith. It sums up LDS in 13(ish) sentences. Brother Rosenbaum says his companion has just been teaching the children to memorize The Articles of Faith. Well, in his opinion, it's not about the memorization of The Articles of Faith, but understanding WHAT THEY MEAN!!!
We should be teaching our children not only WHAT to do, but WHY we should do it. While, "Because I said so!" is really awesome as a parent. Does it really work? Do you remember when your parents said that to you? I know I would get huffy and upset and pout and storm around the house doing what I was told to do, but didn't like it all.
WHAT IF we said, "Because you're learning to take care of your things. Because it shows respect for your belongings, for your sibling(s), for your parents, for yourself."?
WHAT IF we said, "Because I want you to be able to take care of yourself when you no longer live with me." "Because I want you to know how to dust, vacuum, take out the trash, wash dishes, cook food so you don't like in a sty when you have your own place."?
WHAT IF we said, "Because you're serving your friend(s), your sibling(s), your parents, your community and when you serve others, you serve GOD"?
So "Because I said so" is good, but wouldn't a REASON be so much BETTER? I think it would.
So Brother Rosenbaum wants to teach these little people the WHY behind The Articles of Faith. Now I'm a grownup and I accept these articles, and always have, as a matter of faith. Children don't quite understand faith so it's our job to teach them faith, if at least faith in our abilities as parents. (Because goodness knows the older they get, the less faith they have in our abilities to parent until they're 25 or so.) I've read The Articles of Faith, nodded my head and said, "YEP! I believe all that!" and moved on. I DO NOT have them memorized, but I should. Brother Rosenbaum inspired me to teach my own daughters The Articles of Faith, including the WHY so they can know them AND I can KNOW them. They are important. And isn't it our responsibility as parents to be our children's primary (meaning main) teachers? IT IS!!!
If you're Christian (just like me) or not, give them a read, see if you nod your head to a few of them, then I challenge to ask more. Missionaries and/or your LDS friends will be more than happy to answer your questions. So here they are:
The Articles of Faith of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
1. We believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
2. We believe that men will punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression.
3. We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.
4. We believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
5. We believe that a man must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands by those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.
6. We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth.
7. We believe in the gift of tongues, prophecy, revelation, visions, healing, interpretation of tongues, and so forth.
8. We believe the Bible to be the word of God as far as it is translated correctly; we also believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
9. We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven.
10. We believe in the literal gathering of Israel and in the restoration of the Ten Tribes; that Zion (the New Jerusalem) will be built upon the American continent; that Christ will reign personally upon the earth; and, that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory.
11. We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.
12. We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.
13. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul -- We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.
Now that's LDS in a nutshell. I love the Gospel! I do! I'm so thankful for the happiness that I've found, both in my family and in myself. I know The Articles of Faith to be true and I will be a teacher to my children, not only in word, but by example too. They watch me closer than I think. Yours do too!
In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
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