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As some of you know, a big part of my faith crisis is the fact that I received an incorrect answer to a prayer. The answer felt like a clear answer from God and I received it in the temple, and it felt similar to other answers to prayers I have received. Well it turned out to be false. It has made it difficult for me to know how to trust my own revelations which has been a huge part of my faith for my whole life. So anyways one of the talks at the beginning of conference was by a woman who was talking about teaching children about the Spirit. It struck me that I don’t know how I would teach my children about the Spirit where I am right now. In about a year my son will be able to understand if we teach him about the Spirit. How do you teach your child about the Spirit if feelings from the Spirit can be incorrect? Or the Spirit sometimes doesn’t answer? I have a brother who prayed as a child to feel that the church was true for baptism, but he never got the feeling that it was true. The Spirit didn’t answer him and he struggled with the chur h for a long time because of it. So do you tell a child that sometimes the Spirit won’t answer?
These are some thoughts I’ve been pondering. Any thoughts on this?
My dad taught me to follow my heart and try to do everything that seemed right. He told me not to try to distinguish between the light of Christ (my conscience) and the Holy Ghost, in most cases, but rather to do what I felt was right and let the consequences follow. That approach has worked well for me, and it has kept me from blaming God or looking for answers from God to every question.
I agree with Ray’s approach. When I gave the gift of the HG to my daughter, I framed it as something that would give her passion and direction to fulfill her potential. Many people would try to tell her what and who she should become. Most of them are well intentioned and have good ideas. However, her true joy and fulfillment should not be about just following the path set down by others. Sometimes, her inner light/voice/HG might direct her to chart a new path. My hope is that she will grow into finding her own voice and sense of self rather than struggling to always meet the approval of others. That is the sense of “spirit” that I want my children to have. P.S. I also hope that my children learn to live by society’s rules and be good friends, neighbors, and citizens. There is a balance to finding your own voice but not using it to shout against everyone else.
Always Thinking wrote:How do you teach your child about the Spirit if feelings from the Spirit can be incorrect?
This is such a great question. I have been questioning if I have ever felt the Spirit. I can’t say I have and I can’t say I haven’t with 100% certainty. How can I teach my 5 year old about the Spirit? I wish I could be of more help, but I mostly wanted to just thank Ray for his very clear answer, so thanks Ray.
Always Thinking wrote:How do you teach your child about the Spirit if feelings from the Spirit can be incorrect? Or the Spirit sometimes doesn’t answer?
1) I believe the Spirit can never be “incorrect”. If the outcome wasn’t what I thought it should be, then there is something wrong on my end of interpreting things. The Holy Ghost is a member of the Godhead, he, the Father, nor Jesus can be wrong.
2) I don’t always know how to express it simply to my kids, but I try to teach them it is not about getting the “correct answer” … it is about asking the right questions. Sometimes I really really really wish there was one answer that was “right”, and all other answers are “wrong”…but I find that is not the case. I move my kids away from dichotomous, black and white thinking. Whatever answer they are trying to seek, I help them frame it differently than to expect absolute answers….unfortunately. They don’t usually like those lessons from their dad. But over time…they see it as wisdom.
3) I ask them what they can learn when things don’t work out or they don’t get an answer. What does that tell them? (Mostly it is what Ray’s dad taught…follow your heart).
Roy wrote:Sometimes, her inner light/voice/HG might direct her to chart a new path. My hope is that she will grow into finding her own voice and sense of self rather than struggling to always meet the approval of others.
I also agree with Roy’s wisdom. Prayer and the spirit is about finding the inner voice, not the outer approval, including dependence on God.
If you would like examples…feel free to post the types of questions you might have in this thread and we can discuss…but…what I tell my kids is usually not about the answer…it is the question that is important to teach.
Always Thinking wrote:As some of you know, a big part of my faith crisis is the fact that I received an incorrect answer to a prayer.
But really, was your answer wrong, or was this world wrong in failing to conform to it?
@night my answer was wrong. I received deadlines basically. The answer was these things will happen by these specific dates. Both things went past the deadline when I was told they would happen before those deadlines. I think it was a miscommunication between God and I. But the answer was so strong and felt similar to other revelations that I’d been given before so my trust in prayer answers took a big hit.
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