Missionary Age Change - Practical Consequences For Me

[_KevinSim]

It may be uncomfortable for you at first, like changing jobs or moving to a new home, but we are always better off living our lives free and clear from the lies of Mormonism.

Dude, what lies are you talking about?

[_KevinSim]

This change is all about getting young men out on the field before they can be distracted by anything (in this case it just happens to be their father).

Tim, you think it's more likely that those young men would be distracted by things they would find out in their own home than they would be distracted by things they find out in the mission field?

[_The Dude]

It may be uncomfortable for you at first, like changing jobs or moving to a new home, but we are always better off living our lives free and clear from the lies of Mormonism.

Dude, what lies are you talking about?

For starters, the LDS scriptures are lies because they purport to be ancient. You know what I'm talking about.

[_Aristotle Smith]

Why is it better for your kids to believe lies for a longer period of time?

It's not. My point was not to suggest that it was.

This age change provides a powerful rationale for you to renegotiate the truce and reach terms that are ultimately better for your kids. It may be uncomfortable for you at first, like changing jobs or moving to a new home, but we are always better off living our lives free and clear from the lies of Mormonism.

Yes, things may end up turning out better than they would have otherwise. Or maybe not, I can't predict the future.

[_sock puppet]

Now that's no longer an option. I now have to have that conversation earlier than I wanted. They will be minors which means I won't have the luxury of talking to them as adults. They won't be as mature. There will be more possibilities for conflict between my wife and myself.

This pisses me off.

I find it heartening that someone like you would be so discomfited. Of course the only real and rational solution for you is to regain your testimony.

The only rational solution is to return to a state of irrationality?

Only from you, bcspace, only from you.

[_sock puppet]

Why is it better for your kids to believe lies for a longer period of time?

It's not. My point was not to suggest that it was.

This age change provides a powerful rationale for you to renegotiate the truce and reach terms that are ultimately better for your kids. It may be uncomfortable for you at first, like changing jobs or moving to a new home, but we are always better off living our lives free and clear from the lies of Mormonism.

Yes, things may end up turning out better than they would have otherwise. Or maybe not, I can't predict the future.

Hey, AS, make lemonade out of lemons. LDS makes mission eligibility up to a year or two years earlier, then that alone should be the driver for you to be entitled to accelerate your own time table by that much.

[_The Dude]

Why is it better for your kids to believe lies for a longer period of time?

It's not. My point was not to suggest that it was.

This age change provides a powerful rationale for you to renegotiate the truce and reach terms that are ultimately better for your kids. It may be uncomfortable for you at first, like changing jobs or moving to a new home, but we are always better off living our lives free and clear from the lies of Mormonism.

Yes, things may end up turning out better than they would have otherwise. Or maybe not, I can't predict the future.

Then it seems the only sure practical consequence is some discomfort for you. Beyond that it may turn out better, worse, or no different for your kids. All things being equal I would say it is best to teach them the truth as soon as possible - this is most likely to lead to the better result for them. Hence, I think you can look beyond the short term discomfort with a positive outlook.

Lemons out of lemonade, like Sockpuppet said.

[_Aristotle Smith]

Up until now my plan was to hold off on telling my kids the real facts about LDS history and doctrine until they were older. I didn't have a firm time frame in mind, but 18 years old seemed like a good time to tell my sons.

Aristotle, were you planning on just telling them "the real facts about" LDS history and doctrine, or were you planning on also telling them the real facts about Biblical Christian history and doctrine?

Both.

[_sock puppet]

At Holland and Nelson's press conference after the 1st Saturday Session, Nelson in particular assured the press that the COB correlated teaching materials (new) are geared to preparing the youth for missionary service by age 18.

If a parent, this would have me very concerned that the LDS Church has just ratcheted up its efforts to program the youth into making a positive mission decision. If you want your kids to make an informed decision for themselves, you'll have to not only become involved sooner because of the reduction in age to begin a mission, but you'll need to take greater effort to provide your children the countervailing evidence and options, so that they may actually make a decision for themselves, free of the pressure (institutional and peer) of the LDS Church.

[_Aristotle Smith]

At Holland and Nelson's press conference after the 1st Saturday Session, Nelson in particular assured the press that the COB correlated teaching materials (new) are geared to preparing the youth for missionary service by age 18.

If a parent, this would have me very concerned that the LDS Church has just ratcheted up its efforts to program the youth into making a positive mission decision. If you want your kids to make an informed decision for themselves, you'll have to not only become involved sooner because of the reduction in age to begin a mission, but you'll need to take greater effort to provide your children the countervailing evidence and options, so that they may actually make a decision for themselves, free of the pressure (institutional and peer) of the LDS Church.

Are these new materials available now or is there an ETA?

Oh, and good advice on making lemons out of lemonade. I definitely will have to accelerate the information process, that was already a given. But these new materials may make it happen even sooner if they are really atrocious.