dedgel

Thank you everyone for all of your advice. Currently, my boyfriend and I only get to see each other on the weekends because we live in two different cities. We are both ready to take our relationship to the next level and the plan was for me to move to him next month. This is why I brought up the discussion of religion and raising children because I know if I move there he will be mine forever. I am definitely trying to take the right steps. It would be a lot easier to realize a marriage wouldn’t work because of this before I moved rather than after. Due to the great advice you all have given me and much pondering, I have decided I am going to move for sure. I have no intentions of trying to change him. He is an amazing man and why let him go because we have differing views? I see this now and I know we will make it work. Thank you again!

No, he has never questioned my beliefs because I am inactive in the church. He and I both understand you can still be a very spiritual and religious person and not go to church. For example, he considers himself to be a spiritual person even though he does not believe in God as an actual being. I am not going to go in depth with my children about the teachings of the church. What is important to me is my children having a general understanding of the teachings of Jesus Christ, the creation, and the afterlife. After having grow up in such a strict household where my only choice was to go to church until I was older really confined my life. I do not regret it or have any hostility towards it because I believe the teachings of the LDS church. I still consider myself LDS and always will. I believe it is the true church but I do not believe I have to go to church to spiritual. My children will have the choice to believe what they want. I will teach them general gospel principles and share my personal spiritual encounters. Then I will leave it up to them to decide what they want to believe.

Thank you for the response and advice, I do appreciate it. First off I must say I am not interested in him converting as I am inactive in the church but still believe the teachings. I am also very aware that science and the gospel do not have to clash. I am a science guru and when I teach individuals about the gospel I also involve science as well. God is a scientist; it is obvious in many ways. My reasoning for posting my thread was to seek advice if a marriage and bringing children into my situation could work. You have helped me see that it can, it just takes both partners respecting and understanding each other’s beliefs. I respect his beliefs as I keep a very open mind about anyone’s beliefs. However, I do want my children to know the teachings of Jesus Christ which is why I have discussed this with him now. Our future with marriage and children is years down the road but our relationship is so strong, it is bound to happen eventually. I never want a divorce and I was just taking the necessary steps to avoid such an unfortunate event from happening. Thank you again…

I was born and raised LDS and I still affiliate myself with the church although I am inactive. I have written this forum seeking help as my boyfriend and I have differing beliefs. Our relationship is becoming very serious and marriage and children are definitely in the future. However, with that being said I have some concerns with brining children into this world with him. I know my duty as a parent on this earth is to be an example to my children and teaching them about the gospel. My boyfriend and I have had very long discussions about religion and where each of us stands and he has more of an agnostic view to the creation of the world. He views God as not a being but as the universe in whole. This sparks concern to me because I do not want our children hearing mommy teach about the gospel and daddy teaching about scientific facts, “the power of a belief”, and “not to take the bible literally”. My boyfriend keeps a very open mind and I know if I had the right things to say, he would listen and take them into consideration. He understands the teachings of Jesus Christ and has read the bible but does not take it literally due to the fact that it was written by man. If any of you have ever been in a similar situation with a family member, a friend, or a significant other and would be willing to give me some advice I would so greatly appreciate it. I would take anything right now-recommended scriptures to read to him, a book, a website, or even your own personal words you feel I should tell him to make him see the importance of my belief I would be so grateful. He is the man of my dreams and I do not want to let him go because of this. I would rather have the opportunity to make him see the light.