Latter-day Saints: How do you feel about your children participating in other religious organizations?

Question

Like AWANA?

Answer 1

As long as they are in keeping with our family's values, we do not mind. But if they teach anything against our beliefs, attack our church, or attack our children for being members, we will definitely take issue with it.

As a child, I participated in a lot of Southern Baptist activities because most of my extended family is Southern Baptist. Many activities were good clean fun that I really enjoyed. But sometimes, the ministers would verbally attack my brother and/or I when then discovered that we were Mormon.

So while, on the surface, we would not mind, before we allowed our children to participate in anything, we would do some checking as to what kind of people were in charge and how they felt about our faith. I'm obviously not going to subject my children to someone that considers us non-Christian or a 'cult' until they're old enough to defend their beliefs (they are currently 5 and 7).

Answer 2

Not sure what AWANA is, but my kids have participated in other church's programs. My parent's are Methodist and we have don'e many things there. My kids have helped at their vacation Bible school, the bell choir, etc.

The only time I was upset was when my son went to an independant church of a friend and the pastor took exception to having a Mormon kid there.

Answer 3

I don't know what Awana is, but my parents took me to a Greek Orthodox festival once, and we went to the church, a Catholic mass, and my Jewish Aunt invited us all over for a pass-over meal. I myself have gone to an evangelical meeting as well.

My family considers it a cultural learning experience, and, assuming there's nothing blatantly against my religion in the meeting, I've always liked that prospective on it.

Answer 4

I have no problem with it. As a child, I went to a private Catholic school and as a pre-teen I attended youth group classes at my best friends Lutheran church. I've gone to many Jewish celebrations and even once went to a study group for people from the Church of Satan. It's good to have knowledge. It's also important to be able to understand each other.

Answer 5

I lived in New Jersey for my child hood and participated in many other religous activities than just LDS ones. I think that it is good to understand others beliefs because that is the only true way to beable to teach them about ours.

Answer 6

So long it has strong family value, and good virtues ,I am OK with it.