When Children Wander(and why…)

www.kevinhinckley.com

Ahhh, Attorneys…ATTORNEY:  Now doctor , isn't it true that when a

person dies in his sleep , he doesn't know about it until the next morning?

WITNESS:  Did you actually pass the bar exam?

ATTORNEY:  She had three children , right?WITNESS:     Yes.ATTORNEY:  How many were boys?WITNESS:    None.ATTORNEY:   Were there any girls?WITNESS:      Your Honour, I think I need a different

attorney. Can I get a new attorney?

ATTORNEY:  ALL your responses MUST be oral , OK? What school did you go to?

WITNESS:     Oral...

ATTORNEY:  Do you recall the time that you examined the body?

WITNESS:     The autopsy started around 8:30 PMATTORNEY:  And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?WITNESS:     If not , he was by the time I finished.

Now, some things to chew on

How about our society?Traditional SocietyBased on competitionWinners/losersConsistent PatternRights and wrongsOne “right way”Leads to wars and

conflicts

Progressive SocietyBased on cooperationEveryone is a winnerDiversityNo rights or wrongsMany “right ways”Leads to moral decline and

societal breakdown

Gospel Society of Zion

Based on cooperationEveryone is a sinner

Rights and WrongsDiversity of Spiritual Gifts

Leads to Zion Society

Now it came to pass that there were many of the rising generation that could not understand the words of king Benjamin, being little children at the time he spake unto his people: and they did not believe the tradition of their fathers.

They did not believe what had been said concerning the resurrection of the dead, neither did they believe concerning the coming of Christ.

And now because of their unbelief they could not understand the word of God: and their hearts were hardened.

And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God.

And now in the reign of Mosiah they were not half so numerous as the people of God; but because of the dissensions among the brethren they became more numerous.

Mosiah 26Did not believe

Could not understand

Would not call upon the Lord

Hearts were hardened

Dissensions among the brethren

Elder Bednar

… parents are not simply to teach their children. Rather, they are to teach them to understand.

And understanding is a gift from God.

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelSocially

inadequateTrying to fit in….

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelGood kids, bad

friends

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelOverindulgedLife is about

‘having fun’Buffered from

having to make difficult decisions

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelBelieving they see

hypocrisy at home.

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelUnaddressed

emotional trauma

Reasons Kids Wander/RebelIt’s my job?

The Family Circle

Mom Dad

The

Black

Sheep

The

White

KnightThe Joker

The Brazen SerpentAlma 33:19-21

Final Warning

Beware of what works!!