newbirth

I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. I appreciate you commenting on my post, however, I don't see how the BSA has aligned with the Church teachings. From what I read of your post, the Church already allows openly gay youth in the scouts. That I never knew, having been a scout leader in the church for well over 20 years. Never had the 'gay' discussion ever come up in all my years as a leader. I have never heard the Church leadership specifically address the 'gay' agenda within it's membership. Now I may have missed that memo, however, I thought I was pretty well connected and in the know. The BSA is not a spiritual or religious organization, therefore I can not understand how you can suggest they have aligned itself with the teachings of the church. That's kinda like the tail wagging the dog. My opinion.

Thank you for your input. It is easy for members to so easily suggest, as you do, that it is better to follow the prophet and the apostles, and the other general authorities, blindly, and without pause. As a parent of 9 children, spanning over 30 years, I have come across this statement numerous times and have had considerable pause in my decisions. Let me give you an example: The bishop decided to make my neighbor the seminary teacher for the year. I strongly opposed, and told him so, however, due to the fact that she was a neighbor, and since my spouse was strongly for the idea, having suggested it to the bishop in the first place, I decided to let go and follow along. 2 months into the seminary year, the FBI raided the house at 7am during seminary, because her sons were drug addicts and have been consistently in trouble with the law, their dad being in jail as well. The seminary class was disbanded, and the seminary instructor was terminated. My boys were traumatized by the event and never attended seminary again. Long story short, sometimes it is appropriate to follow the Spirit as a parent and as an individual, regardless of what anyone else says. The story above is just a real example of my experience in the church as it applies to following blindly. I couldn't tell you why I was opposed to it, I just knew deep in my heart it was wrong, and, 2 months later it was proven. Had I followed my heart, my children never would have had to endure the trauma of an FBI invasion of a household. It was my fault for not protecting them. With that said, this idea of openly gay boys in a scout troop is fine, for the scout troop, however, as a parent, and wanting to surround my boys with positive role models, I would never consider putting them in such moral harms way. How can I teach my boys to choose good moral friends when their scout troop allows openly gay boys? Has gay become the new moral? Do I want my children associating with youth that smoke, drink, profess being openly gay, or immoral? I think not. Would the prophet, the apostles, or even any of the general authorities put their grandchildren in a scout organization that is open to openly gay youth? Would they actually allow such a situation to happen, knowing that some of the youth are openly gay? What would they tell their grandchildren when the kids start telling the stories of what goes on at camp, or what the discussions are at the scout meetings? Are they going to tell them to just ignore it? Are they going to explain it away? Why go there in the first place? How would they feel if their grandchild brings home a gay friend who is proud of discussing their same sex date, etc? Isn't it normal for youth to brag about their girlfriends or boyfriends? What would the general authorities say to their grandkids when they hear about the same sex friendships, dates, etc? There are plenty of other youth activities in the community where the youth of today can find good, morally sound friends without the confusion of the gay agenda. Again, why go there in the first place??? My opinion, again.

Greetings all. I would like to add my opinion to this forum. I have been taught that the Church 'teaches true and correct principles, and let the people govern themselves.' As well, according to the Proclamation to the World, written by the Church to the world, it has been made clear we believe the family is the eternal unit, mother/father/child. The final statement calls upon "all responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society." It is my opinion the BSA does not fall in the category of responsible to promote measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society. Unless of course: The Church decides the eternal family unit includes eliminating either a father or a mother in exchange for another same sex parent, then the BSA is within the boundaries. The world may call a family any unit of 2 or more individuals, however, the Proclamation to the World spells it out according to God's definition. Otherwise, with the Church continuing to support the BSA, using BSA programs as a foundation for it's youth programs, the Church is sending a mixed message to the very impressionable youth. As well, to use the BSA program alongside an Aaronic Priesthood program undermines the very meaning of the Priesthood. (Remember, the Priesthood is the Power and Authority to act in the name of God.) In conclusion, if the church leaders have decided what the BSA has done is ok, then who am I to question it, right? Wrong. I have been taught true and correct principles, and I have the moral obligation to speak up and disagree. I would never put my boys in either the BSA or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints youth program, ever.

We have decided to try out this coming Sunday, thanks to all the encouragement here. I would never even think to consider my child as 'repulsive'. I don't have much faith in people, considering what we've been through already. I think people's negative attitudes and behaviors towards special needs people are repulsive.

I appreciate your input. I find it much easier to use parameters than to just open myself up to anybody's comments. I understand what you mean about being open to other's insights, however, I have learned too well that unless I have actually walked in someone else's shoes, though compassionate and understanding I think I might be, there is more to an empathetic response if I actually did walk in their shoes. My son's special needs have opened an entirely new scope of compassion I never had before towards other people with special needs. And I thought I was compassionate already. I wasn't as much as I thought. I apologize if you took my post offensively in any way. It wasn't made to offend.

Ok, ideas and suggestions requested. My 2 year old son has Spina Bifida. Right now he uses a walker, and usually can get about2 feet before he is easily distracted. He struggles to walk with the walker. Without it, he can only crawl. Ok, with that said, Here is my question. Are there any parents on here who have dealt with a child, in church, with special needs? My son doesn't need special attention. He just can't walk like other kids. How do I put him in Nursery with the other kids, and, how do I transfer him to Sunbeams if he can't walk from A to B at the normal rate of other kids? I haven't gone to church for this simple reason. I don't know what to do. I'm afraid the other kids and adults will not respect him as a child with special needs. We do live in a fast paced society, where everyone is expected to keep up with the status quo. Special needs does not conform to this expectation. It can't. And, as busy as people are, our experience is that they don't want to deal with a special needs child. It is sad, but realistic. I know you idealists out there will give me the 'pray about it, trust God' response. Trust me, you have no idea what kind of world we live in if you give me such a response. I am looking for realistic, honest feedback. Our son was born with a hole in his back the size of a doorknob. All of his nerves grew outside of his body, not in the spinal column. He has had countless surgeries, and is still undergoing medical attention on an ongoing basis. He is a happy child, a very strong child. We love him very much. He has a shunt implanted in his head to drain the excess spinal fluid, something he will have the rest of his life. One of his legs is fine. The other has difficulty with the muscle/nerve communication. It needs time to work itself out in order to function properly. I'm only asking for input from people who have been in my shoes. How have you dealt with the ward you are in? How did you deal with the struggles and challenges of the various programs for the children? I look forward to your replies. Thank you in advance.

JudoMinja, I appreciate your kind words. Thanks.

I really appreciate you taking the time to share with me. It is so much easier to be encouraged when I learn I am not alone, and how others overcame. Thank you.

I have a small family, my wife, and 3 children. I was divorced before of 20 years, with 6 kids. I was very active in the church, up until the last few years before the divorce. Though I have tried to go back, I have never felt comfortable being there. I still want to go back. My wife is not a member, however, she is willing to be supportive. I love her for that. Every time we try to go back, it is like the ward is ice cold towards our family, and we feel horribly neglected. They make promises they don't keep, like getting us home teachers and getting my wife a visiting teacher. In the 2 years we've been in this ward, the ht has visited once. I understand all the ins and outs of the people of the church, really I do. I was in it for over 20 years, having been a convert at 22 years of age. Here I am 30 years later, having sustained many significant battle wounds, wanting to go back, but having no idea how to break that barrier of feeling unwanted. Many years ago I belonged to a ward that was loving and embraced new comers as family. My wife went to a cookie baking social last December, and she said she was treated so coldly, it was horrible. She said she understood why I won't take my family there. She also said it would have been easier on our family if they were warm to her, which they were not. I asked the bishop of the ward a year ago if there was a 'do not contact' stamped on my record. He said there was no such thing. Then I asked him how come we were being treated so harshly, so cold? We had been going regularly for 3 months, and were feeling completely shunned. How horrible was that? I did everything I could to be a part, helping where I could, being friendly, going to the meetings, socials, etc, but to no avail. Now I know a lot of you are going to want to give me the preachy answers. I would prefer to hear from the mature adults who understand life and people and relationships, and family, and disfunctional wards. The gospel is true to the betterment of mankind. It's the people who screw it all up. Just because the gospel is true to the betterment of mankind doesn't mean I can put my family in a disfunctional ward and look the other way. I can't do that. My kids are too little to understand, and my wife, bless her heart, is human and gets just as offended as the next person. any suggestions?

Yes, I have used this scripture endlessly over the years. Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately, I don't think guys can comprehend what it is like for a mother to have her children torn from her. I am looking for scriptures, in the Book of Mormon, that could give encouragement to my wife. Believe you me, I can't imagine the depth of anguish she is experiencing, and I've been through hell myself at times.

thanx

Long story short, my wife's exhusband refused to return the children from out of state visitation last summer, using nasty accusations that have all been since proven to be false. An attorney told my wife to go to the FBI. She is too scared to do anything. A year has gone by now, and she is still too scared. She suffers from bipolar. She has the worst mood swings, and the loss of her children, which are legally hers, eats at her. She is not a member, however, she has recently decided to go to church with me. She is really liking it in the ward. She has started the missionary discussions. They have asked us to read the Book of Mormon together. I really would like to know where in the Book of Mormon are there passages that can encourage her and uplift her. The pain of the loss of her children through vindictive and evil means is devastating to her. The exhusband refuses her any contact. Though she sends packages, she has no assurance they get them. They are 6 and 8 years old, stolen from her last summer. Any scriptural passages at all that can be of encouragement and uplifting, please forward them to me. Thanks.

Hello everyone. It has been almost 20 years since I was on an LDS forum. I don't know if it was this one, since the net continuously evolves. Anyway, I was hoping to get some scriptural insight. Last time I was on this forum, I got a lot of input that really helped me out. Maybe you all can be of assistance again. I've got to find the forum where I can post my questions. Anyway, it's great to be back. I look forward to discussing scriptural applications to life's many challenges.