Am I in Denial?
I think your option for 'yes, he/she is still lost' best fits my situation with our son, BUT, he is not lost. He still attends church sporadically and knows that is where he will be happy. But he does not have a recommend and is not living the principles of the church. He is straying, but not lost. Am I in denial? Maybe, but I know someday he will be back in the temple. He knows, just can't yet face what it will take to come back.
--Name Withheld
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Unconditional Love
I actually fit in another category. I have 4 daughters and 1 son. 3 of my daughters strayed for awhile but came back but one left again after a bad divorce with a member (temple marriage). One daughter said that even when she was doing things wrong, she knew we still loved her and that is what brought her back. I think that is very important...that unconditional love we know we should have. It does make a difference.
--Marlene Stevens
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Promise Helps Us Never Give Up Hope
For a long time all of the children were active in the Church and many of them even served missions. Now, due to one reason or another—mainly the encroachment of the world, I think, some have gone astray. We always have great hope that they will return—ALWAYS. We think about that quote from Elder Orson Whitney that said: “ The prophet Joseph Smith declared–and he never taught a more comforting doctrine–that the eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the cause of truth, would save not only themselves, but likewise their posterity. Though some of the sheep may wander...Either in this life or the life to come, they will return.” There is not a day go by that we do not think about that, so we never, ever give up.
--Name Withheld
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I Remember Who My Daughter Was in the Pre-Existence
I have 2 adult children with families of their own. They both have a testimony of the gospel and live many of the principles. Our daughter was sealed in the temple and had 5 children. Her husband broke covenants he had made, she tried to go on but he kept slipping away.
I think the church leaders handled her in a way that was hurtful and after the divorce she just pulled away to not go through anymore pain. I do not blame the leaders as they really did not know the whole story, only that he had transgressed and went through a hearing. They did not know the mental and emotional abuse she and the children were under.
I have not lost hope because the Spirit has shown me at various times who she was in the pre-existence, who she is now, and what we are to each other. That has given me courage. When she first pulled away she was angry and lived a totally non-worthy life. To get through this time someone gave me the book by John Lund, "The Art of Giving and Receiving Criticism." This book gave me the steps to know what to do and the Spirit freed me to love her.
Our son is partially active, his mate has been difficult for him but he is trying to raise his family with our principles. We have faith and love. We have helped many young people find their way back in the gospel. If Satan could do anything to make us less functional it would be to attack us where it hurts the most, our children. I trust in Heavenly Father and OUR Savior, Jesus Christ. I trust what Joseph Smith said when he told us the real blessing of the temple will affect our children. I love each Prophet who reminds us to never give up. There is much more to the scheme of things than we know.
--Name Withheld
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I Have Hope
When I married my husband, now deceased, he was a member of the Church, as well as his two sons. Of my own family, only I and my youngest child, a girl, became members. My second daughter moved out when she was 16 and was never a member. Although she came to Church one Sunday, she was ignored and snubbed by the then group of YW, something that I think affected her opinion of the Church ever since. I, myself, became active in YW for 13 years, and during my time, we never had a YW group like that one, nor have I seen another one like it.
Of our 3 (his and hers) who were/are members, one is deceased and had quit coming to church after he left home. One is married, living in California , not attending church and I have not asked him if he is still a member. One is still a member but not active. Her husband was blessed when a baby, but never became a member because his mother was not a member and had no interest in the Church.
I have hopes that the inactive child will return and that perhaps her blessed husband will become a member.
--Name Withheld
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