Converting children to Mormonism???

Question

Ok, here goes..... My husband has two daughters from a previous marriage. They are 7 and 4. His Ex is a catholic and his 7 year old has been babtized catholic when she was a baby. My husband is not a religous person but his EX-WIfe is.
He is fine with his ex taking his daughters to catholic church. The problem is that his ex now has a mormon boyfriend who is living with her. She is now going to Mormon church and taking the kids. My husband has talked with her stating that he does not approve of his kids being taught the mormon religion. She basically told him too bad and she is going to take them anyway. So he has no say in his daughters religous upbringing? We are very upset by all this and don't know what to do? We get the kids every other weekend and the ex also made a comment that it is a shame that they don't get to read scriptures at our house.
any advice would be appreciated.

We are not very religous, spiritual but not religous. We do not attend or belong to any church and don't plan on it. we just think the Mormon church is a little extreme.

This is to the girl who said that we need to stop fighting over it. First of all, we all have a very good relationship. We all get along and there is alot of communication. the children do not see any of this religous conversation. believe it or not the whole divorce and aftermath has been nothing but friendly, this is just something that has come up in the last few months

Answer 1

Legally, he probably does have a say in their religious upbringing. That should be spelled out in his custody agreement.

But, in actuality, by the time he would be able to make any impact on their religious upbringing by taking it through the courts, they will have already been involved in the new church for months, years.

You don't say what your religious beliefs are or if you have room in your own beliefs regarding allowing the children to make their own religious choices. But, as an agnostic, myself, what I'd do is go ahead & let her take them to the Mormon church (since you can't stop her from doing so, anyway, in any reasonable length of time), but... Also teach the kids, when they are with you, about other world religions, encourage them to question their spiritual beliefs until they come to one that feels right for them. Do encourage them to be respectful of their mother's (and others) beliefs, but let them know that they don't have to follow blindly.

Answer 2

Yes, your husband does have rights in relationship to what their children are taught and what religious teachings to which they are exposed.

He needs to seek legal advice and if necessary get custody of the kids.

If his ex-wife is "living with" this boyfriend then she already is not setting a good example of "moral living".

He needs to be able to say what he is doing in relation to the kids moral upbringing and teaching.

If the children have been Catholic since birth then it was understood when they divorced that that would remain the case. I believe he would have a good case at possibly getting custody.

Just my opinion.

Answer 3

They may have to go to temple but Mormonism is a cult. Get a book or better still a video called The God Makers. It will blow you away and his ex wife too. There is no cross in Mormonism, the Temple at Salt Lake City has a table with vegetables on it (see Cain and Able - ie Cain's sacrifice). It is one of the most bizarre cults on earth. Anyway some people think Catholicism is too but let'sd not go there. The Mormons will be so nice they will absorb anyone thru kindness but not people with s strong knowledge of the Bible. You can't directly change their habits but you CAN give them enough information to challenge the Mormons and when they start skirting around answering them you all may wake up to the reality of the deception beinmg played out. I had Mormom friends and they were lovely people but their doctrine is that of the anti Christ.

Answer 4

Wow, the Ex's new boyfriend must not be very devote. Living with someone who is not your spouse of the opposite sex is a HUGE no no.

Take the issue to court. Both parents have equal say in how the children should be brought up religiously. If all else fails call the bishop of the ward they are in to pull the couple aside about their sinful co-habitation. If the BF has a Temple recommends he doesn't deserve it.

Frankly the best retaliation is to take them to the Church of your choice when they are with you.

Answer 5

my question to you is this.

why does it really matter? Is one religion all that better then any of the other millions of religions out there?

I've found this to be very true...Your parents can give you as much religious guidance as they can but the majority of the time it's the child who makes the decision when they become old enough to truly realize what it is they feel they believe in.

I grew up catholic but did not believe in their dogma so I decided to find a religion that was more in tune to my own beliefs. That's no different then what those children will go through later.

Think of it this way... Better Mormon then Scientologist

Answer 6

Most people will choose what they want to believe when they reach adulthood. No one can be forced to convert. There is nothing that we teach in our church (at least, not supposed to be) that will stop anyone from choosing what they want to believe when they are adults. Our oldest son is trying to decide what he believes, and if he should go on a mission or not. I do not pressure him and I am trying to keep his dad from pressuring him. This is something he needs to figure out on his own.

Also, the church leaders have told local leaders to start weeding out those elders who WANT to go on missions from the ones who are going because of family or peer pressure, or any reason other than that they WANT to spread the gospel.

It's better to bring up children in SOME church than in no church at all. I fully credit my loving parents for bringing me up as a Christian woman, and even tho my mom at least is not really all that happy with me joining the LDS church, she is realizing that we aren't nearly as evil as painted. She and dad even attended my daughter's baptism, and then the open house when the temple opened up here.

I would, if I were you, make sure that when you ave them, you take them to the church of your choice, and go with them. It won't hurt them, I don't think. When tey are older they will decide for themselves.

Also, as far as I know, they can't be baptized without your husband's permission, unless he has absolutely no parental rights whatsoever.

Answer 7

Why do you feel Mormonism is extrema?

I have been raised Mormon and there is nothing extreme about it. If you are not religious then really why do you feel that you have a say in what religion your girls are. It is not like the Mormon religion says ever one that is not a Mormon is going to hell ( like some of the other ones). Talk to your kids and ask them how they feel about the Mormon religion and go from there.

Answer 8

dont concentrate to any of the ones feedback which might be placing down mormons b/c mormons are best humans. however you ought to discover a few missionaries and begin taking uh like categories kinda at the ideals of the church and stuff.i suppose when you desire to check out it then you definately must opt for it. you ought to pray to god and ask him actually if that is what he needs you to do. well good fortune.

Answer 9

You need to stop fighting with each other about it. Find some sort of a compromise. He really has no say over what happens at her house, just as she has no say about what happens at your house. You really need to start getting along with each other for the sake of the children.

I feel sorry for your children. Their parents can't act like grown ups.

Answer 10

Each parent has the right to expose the children to any valid religion, and mormon is a valid religion. Your husband is welcome to take them to his church when he has them, as well as tell the kids, "your mom believes X, but I believe Y."