Parenting

Read Robert Millet inspiring response to a widow who had been told doing her late husband’s temple work would be a waste of time.

When we tell our children they can’t play with certain children anymore, we may be unintentionally teaching them that there’s no space for forgiveness and no place for change. As I’ve thought about this, I've learned three truths that I hope can guide parents in similar situations.

These gifts might not be on your missionary’s packing list, but they sure will come in handy in the mission field!

Courses are taught by experts in their fields and range from how to improve your scripture study to overcoming doubts to talking to your kids about tough topics like pornography.

“In a world where the adversary wants the youth distracted, discouraged, and discontent it is more crucial than ever for our youth to understand their divine identity and their purpose in Heavenly Father’s plan.”

It is our privilege and responsibility as parents to plant and to tend the seeds of faith and goodness. But if we become impatient, if we try to force growth or maturity before its time, we may end up hindering the beautiful, natural process of growth.

Kathryn Davis recently asked her seminary students a simple question: “Do you think your parents know what you face when you walk down the halls of school?”

Do you have questions about patriarchal blessings? After writing a book on the topic, Keith Erekson might have some answers for you.

The training allowed me to understand the topic of abuse with a gospel lens, and I was able to apply it when an incident occurred in Primary.

On July 10, 2015, 16-year-old Cory Swapp took his own life. Here’s why Cory’s mom has been dedicated to teaching other mothers what she wished she would’ve known.

Millennials are now grown, starting families, working, and settling into their lives as adults. It’s time to focus on learning about a new generation of Church members—Generation Z.

In our home, “Bluey” reigns supreme as the favorite TV show. Here are 15 gospel-centered lessons we found on this fun and uplifting program.

One of the greatest principles the Church teaches us is to be more self-reliant, which includes increasing our education in all areas of life.

My toddler makes it hard to have time for spiritual things, but a recent Instagram video helped me feel more confident in my role as a mother and how I’m spending my time.

It’s not realistic to think your Nursery-aged child will sit still and listen intently for an entire Sacrament meeting. Here are a few ways to help them learn.

“I knew it would be challenging to raise my daughters without my wife. But I soon found out I wasn’t really on my own.”

Whether your teen is headed to the school scene, the MTC, or the world of the working, use this list of 10 important skills to make sure they're adequately prepared to fly solo. 

My 10-year-old pitches a different excuse every week to convince us it’s impossible for him to go to church. And while I want him to be there, the resistance is draining.

“Best of all were the funny stories they would tell about their parents—the kind of stories I know parents would not want their children to tell.”

“Your strategic plan is guiding you through major decisions instead of ‘my wants, your wants.’”

In their new book, Tad and Kathryn Callister share gratitude for their parents, who were their prime gospel teachers and examples.

This "His Grace" video is a touching complement to our study of Noah and the Flood this week in Come, Follow Me.

We can approach conversations about serving missions with both encouragement and understanding—even when someone decides not to serve.

“What are you going to teach your children?” President Nelson told Saints in Bolivia. “I would like to suggest you do what the Savior did.”

The birth of Cameron and Rebecca King’s second daughter isn’t the birth story that most young parents imagine, but it is a story of how the hand of the Lord is always visible, even during hard times.

This article was originally published by LDS Living in May 2019. Find more from Elder Craig A. Cardon in his new book Growing Up Unto the Lord: Recognizing and Responding to the Voice of the Spirit, Living in Peace, and Blessing Generations.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would have my long-awaited newborn in the middle of the largest global crisis our generation has ever known.”

A new feature on ChurchofJesusChrist.org makes it easier for Latter-day Saint parents to create and manage their children’s Church online accounts.

There is certainly a lot to teach a child during their most formative years in the home. Here are ten simple, but important, gospel lessons to help parents along their way.

When my pre-teen son asked for a phone, I wondered if President David O. McKay had imagined the small devices we all carry around each day when he prophesied of scientific “discoveries latent with such potent power, either for the blessing or the destruction of human beings, as to make man’s responsibility in controlling them the most gigantic ever placed in human hands” (in Conference Report, Oct., 1966, 4). Could I hand my innocent son a little phone with more power than the first supercomputer, with all the knowledge of millions of books and world-class entertainment to put in his pocket? Would this bless him? It could. But it could also destroy him.

Editor's note: “Resources to follow Him” curates study resources, teachings, and thoughts to deepen your study of this week's Come, Follow Me.

If you have read or had a lesson on the New Testament, chances are you encountered something related to the Pharisees and their rigid adherence to 600+ rules based on the Law of Moses. We often talk about the religious leaders’ unwillingness to accept a higher law and how their litany of laws interfered with their ability to truly live the gospel. But as emeritus General Authority and former Sunday School General President Tad R. Callister points out in a recent article for Church News, Pharisees didn’t just exist in the time of the Savior. Even today, we are at risk of becoming Pharisee-like in our lives and especially in our parenting, when we become too focused on rules instead of principles and don’t give others an opportunity to exercise agency first.

When children find shiny pennies on the street, they likely aren’t thinking of applying it to their mortgage payment or rent for next month. So how do children learn about financial principles needed as adults?

Editor's note: This week's Come, Follow Me study includes 2 Nephi 9 which teaches about the Atonement. We wanted to reshare this article from our 2015 archives that gives more insights on this important topic.

As someone who has been observing the development of the curriculum for the Children and Youth program, I have been impressed with its focus on transitioning children into responsible adults. I believe all parents want to see their children evolve into responsible adults, though there are as many varied opinions as there are parents on how best to accomplish that goal. Achieving the goal of transitioning youth into adults appears further complicated by the fact that children with different personalities may actually require a parenting approach tailored to their unique strengths and weaknesses. Sister Joy D. Jones, Primary general president shares, “Leaders and parents, keep in mind that you help children and youth best when you support their efforts instead of tracking them.” It’s my hope that all parents will be able to see how the new program encourages children to take personal responsibility for their development and can be easily adapted to the specific needs of each individual child.

Indeed, as the popular catchphrase says, “porn kills love,” but let’s also remember that love kills porn. That doesn’t mean that our love for someone else can change their addiction or even their behavior. But love can motivate us—how we prepare, how we respond, how we listen—particularly with our children. If we are going to have any hope of eradicating this plague from the world, love must be both at the forefront and the foundation of all our efforts.

For daily, gospel-based relationship insights, join Jonathan’s Facebook group. To submit a question click here, or schedule a consultation here.

“No matter how much I do for my children, no matter how much I give, they always want more. They’re demanding and rude if they don’t get their way. There’s no gratitude.”

The following story originally ran on LDS Living in September 2012.

I have a sweet 20-year-old son who has low-functioning autism. Two years ago, when many of the boys from our ward near his age were opening their mission calls, I remember attending one "letter opening" with mixed emotions.

For more resources to help individuals and loved ones impacted by pornography use, visit ChurchofJesusChrist.org/addressing-pornography.

For more resources, videos, and tools to help you speak to your children about pornography, visit the Church's website ChurchofJesusChrist.org/addressing-pornography.

While the following excerpt addresses understanding children and their motivations for pornography use, many of these principles apply to other loved ones. For more resources, videos, and tools for individuals, spouses, and families, visit the Church's website ChurchofJesusChrist.org/addressing-pornography.

For daily gospel-based relationship insights, join Jonathan’s Facebook group. To submit a question click here or schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation here.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a series of powerful videos about overcoming pornography, supporting loved ones with a pornography problem, and finding healing from pornography or betrayal trauma. We will be highlighting these valuable resources over the ensuing weeks.