Watch the video above and talk about it with a friend or mentor.

It takes wisdom and patience to help your children still living at home to make the journey out of Mormonism with you.

It’s hard to leave the LDS Church, but when family members are involved, that’s more challenging still. Many parents make a decision to leave Mormonism when their children are still active. Here are some ideas on how parents can help their children make the transition with them.

[Related: Parents, Take Initiative with Your Kids]

[Related: How to Be a Spiritual Leader in Your Home]

Video Highlights:

  • At some point you have to tell your children about your journey. You’ve been learning about problems in church history and doctrine. You’re discovering a new kind of faith in Christ. At some point, you realize you have to leave the LDS Church. So how will you tell your children? This will be awkward and confusing for them. They may have a wide variety of emotions, from curiosity to anxiety. Of course, they may push back against your decision.
  • Advice for parents making this journey.
    • Be patient. It can be a slow process. Introduce new ideas a bit at a time.
    • Try to gauge where your children are at to avoid plowing them over with too much information all at once. If you don’t move at their pace, you risk losing their hearts.
    • Don’t be harsh or sarcastic toward Mormonism.
    • Be aware of your children’s emotions about their LDS Church involvement. Understand the social costs they may have to pay.
    • Maintain trust and communication with them above all else. Make the effort to repair anything that might be strained in the relationship.
  • Advice for children on this journey.
    • Trust your parents. They love you and want the best for you.
    • They also have more experience with Mormonism and can see the problems better than you do. Find out for yourself whether the things your parents are saying are true.
    • You may feel like the family is being divided, but use the time to connect with God.
    • You will lose some friends, but God promises to provide new friends.
    • Matthew 19:29 And everyone who has given up houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or property, for my sake, will receive a hundred times as much in return and will inherit eternal life.

To make the faith journey as a family can be very challenging. But be encouraged. There are ways to help your family make the transition together.

[Related: The No-No List for Communicating with Your Junior High Kid]

[Related: Parents, Transfer Your Values to Your Kids]

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Key Points:

  • At Some Point You Have to Tell Your Children About Your Journey
  • Advice for Parents Making This Journey
  • Advice for Children on This Journey

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Talk About It
  1. Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
  2. What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
  3. How have your children responded to your journey away from Mormonism?
  4. Considering the advice in this video, what principles have been the hardest for you to implement? Explain.
  5. Why is it so important to do everything you can to maintain trust and communication with your children?
  6. Why is it important not to be harsh or sarcastic toward Mormonism around your children?
  7. What are some mistakes you have made in talking to your children about your journey? What steps can you take to rectify those mistakes?
  8. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.

This is part of the Relationships After Mormonism series.