Jeralee Renshaw, co-founder of the Bridges Facebook group, shares some of the wisdom she's learned moving from fear to faith as 3 of her 4 adult children have stopped participating at church.
RESOURCES
To join the Facebook group Bridges - Support for Latter-day Saint Parents of Adult Children, use this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BridgesLDSParents/
Please be sure to answer the membership questions to be admitted to the group.
David B. Ostler's book Bridges: Ministering to Those Who Question, The 2022 edition has a new chapter on mixed-faith marriages and families.
https://www.amazon.com/Bridges-Ministering-Those-Who-Question-dp-1589587596/dp/1589587596/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
3 Practices that are helpful for dealing with difference:
- I'll be unusually interested in others
- I'll stay in the room with difference
- I'll stop comparing my best to your worst
To join a 3Practice Circle where you can practice these skills, go to https://3practices.com/
Or read about them in the book 3 Practices for Crossing the Difference Divide by Jim Henderson and Jim Hancock
https://www.amazon.com/3-Practices-Crossing-Difference-Divide/dp/1712206427/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2EMR7LOADWK1M&keywords=3+practices+for+crossing+the+difference+divide&qid=1705176352&s=books&sprefix=3+practices%2Cstripbooks%2C88&sr=1-1
QUOTES
“I want you to be sure that you understand how I feel about diversity. I love differences. They make us interesting and challenging and delightful. What they don't make us is good or bad, and I think we forget that sometimes. And whenever we do, then any difference, no matter how small, can become an object for judgment and condemnation.”
~ Chieko Okazaki
M. Russell Ballard speech at BYU on November 14, 2017:
https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/m-russell-ballard/questions-and-answers/
"Question: If I have family or friends who are less active, how far do I go in my attempts to bring them back?
My answer is please do not preach to them! Your family members or friends already know the Church’s teachings. They don’t need another lecture! What they need—what we all need—is love and understanding, not judging. Share your positive experiences of living the gospel. The most powerful thing you can do is share your spiritual experiences with family and friends. Also, be genuinely interested in their lives, their successes, and their challenges. Always be warm, gentle, loving, and kind."
You found me! If what you heard on the No Empty Chairs podcast gives you hope for more help, please schedule a free Conversation with Candice. You can also visit candiceclarkcoaching.com for more information about how coaching tools can help you keep your relationship with your children and your faith. While you're there, be sure to pull up a chair and sign up with your email to be the first to know about news and events for moms whose kids don't come to church.
It's going to be okay, and even better!
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