tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post4689100163954651705..comments2023-09-05T20:54:42.242-04:00Comments on A Latter-day Voice: My experience as the father of non-believers (Part Two, in which the atonement works)Paulhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-75863589487270061662012-02-29T16:04:20.674-05:002012-02-29T16:04:20.674-05:00Anonymous, this is a great (and difficult) questio...Anonymous, this is a great (and difficult) question. My kids are indifferent at best (now), though they were pretty openly rebellious when they were younger. Still, they did not pick fights.<br /><br />The Savior taught us to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, and yet not to cast our pearls before swine. A good friend of mine simply avoids the discussion wherever he can. That's a sad state, since the church occupies such a large part of active members' lives, but it works for him.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-37851215660362200662012-02-29T15:22:31.413-05:002012-02-29T15:22:31.413-05:00How do you handle it when someone in your family (...How do you handle it when someone in your family (child or brother-I've had both) doesn't just leave the church, but becomes an enemy to the church--mocks and redicules what is sacred to us. I suppose I could handle it if they just said, "I just don't beleive it anymore." But to then strive to undermine the church using mean tactics, puts a different slant on it. How do you keep loving while the knife is being twisted?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-21506679599438108122012-02-14T13:57:39.908-05:002012-02-14T13:57:39.908-05:00Thanks for the comments, MMM & Becca.
Becca...Thanks for the comments, MMM & Becca. <br /><br />Becca, one of my greatest learnings was the role I play in helping my "departing" family members (not just my kids) to feel comfortable.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11294214866282354575noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-67898712943972017232012-02-13T16:17:47.375-05:002012-02-13T16:17:47.375-05:00"it occurred to me that I needed to do what i..."it occurred to me that I needed to do what it took so that my children (all of my children) could be comfortable in my family, even if they were not comfortable next to me on a bench in sacrament meeting."<br /><br />This. Yes. This is what I want with my siblings who have left the Church. And <i>all</i> people who have left the Church - I want them to feel comfortable in God's family, regardless of whether or not they feel comfortable on a bench in Sacrament meeting.<br /><br />Well put.Beccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01667724269493668949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8266009681076554415.post-24576385244362566442012-02-13T10:57:04.123-05:002012-02-13T10:57:04.123-05:00Paul: Thank you for adding this second piece. The...Paul: Thank you for adding this second piece. The live wire analogy is a wonderful visual - one that I will remember.Middle-aged Mormon Manhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06250594175961381412noreply@blogger.com