I'm finally meeting with missionaries! Also, need some advice.

[marshac]

I feel for you and your situation. We're commanded to honor our father and mother, but you are 20 years old and able to make decisions for yourself. Reconciling these two, I'm forced to come to the conclusion that until you move out though, it's still their roof and their rules.

Having said that, you ARE 20, and hopefully you have a mature enough relationship with your folks that the three of you can sit down and have an adult conversation- your father can discuss what he doesn't like, and you can share what your own thoughts. Others might think this is a bad idea, but you might consider watching the second part of the PBS Frontline episode about the Mormons- it covers essentially how the church is run today, how families are involved/perceived, etc. In my opinion (not shared by all here), it's a pretty balanced piece of journalism- it might give you guys a starting point for a family discussion. Having read the 'anti' sites, I know what kind of half-truths and distorted facts are discussed, and it's a real shame that they are your father's introduction to the church- quite frankly, if my daughter was involved with an organization that's like the one that's talked about on exmormon, I would be the first one looking in the yellow pages for a 'deprogramming' agency.... so I can empathize with your father as well.

Ultimately it is your decision and your salvation, but i'm not going to advocate for a position that could fracture your family.

[melissa23]

I feel for you and your situation. We're commanded to honor our father and mother, but you are 20 years old and able to make decisions for yourself. Reconciling these two, I'm forced to come to the conclusion that until you move out though, it's still their roof and their rules.

Having said that, you ARE 20, and hopefully you have a mature enough relationship with your folks that the three of you can sit down and have an adult conversation- your father can discuss what he doesn't like, and you can share what your own thoughts. Others might think this is a bad idea, but you might consider watching the second part of the PBS Frontline episode about the Mormons- it covers essentially how the church is run today, how families are involved/perceived, etc. In my opinion (not shared by all here), it's a pretty balanced piece of journalism- it might give you guys a starting point for a family discussion. Having read the 'anti' sites, I know what kind of half-truths and distorted facts are discussed, and it's a real shame that they are your father's introduction to the church- quite frankly, if my daughter was involved with an organization that's like the one that's talked about on exmormon, I would be the first one looking in the yellow pages for a 'deprogramming' agency.... so I can empathize with your father as well.

Ultimately it is your decision and your salvation, but i'm not going to advocate for a position that could fracture your family.

Yeah, I'm thinking that I may have to wait until I move out as well.. idk. But my mom is supporting me even though she did say she's not for it or against it, but she said if it's something that makes me happy then she's fine with that.

At the moment there's no way a mature discussion will be able to happen with my dad, sadly. He isn't listening to anything me or my mom are trying to say. I went and talked to my mom about what he said to her and I guess he said "i don't like that they sought out to find her" when I clearly told him before that I had called them on my own, that I found them. So, we might just have to wait for a family discussion about it.

And I do understand where he's coming from, in a way. He wants the best for me and I understand that. But he doesn't really even know anything about the church, so he can't really judge it in my opinion.

But thank you for all of your advice. I'll just keep praying about it. Hopefully he'll eventually start to try and understand where I am coming from and start listening to what I have to say.

[marshac]

I'll just keep praying about it. Hopefully he'll eventually start to try and understand where I am coming from and start listening to what I have to say.

That's a good idea. Quite frankly, he simply might not like the idea of not being able to attend his little girl's wedding and is looking for other ways to rationalize it... my girl is only 5 months old, and it would break my heart not to be able to be there... At some point though, i'm sure your right- the feelings he's having will subside and perhaps then you guys can talk about it. In the mean time though, as you said, summer doesn't last long.