Print or Email

TheDiscipleMD

I remember at times as a youth I would think to myself, “Why did I have to be born a Mormon? I mean, I believe it is true, but couldn’t God have waited to give it to me when I was out of my teen years so I wouldn’t have to be “different from my friends?” Well, now that I am older, I look back on that thought process and I don’t understand how I could have been so foolish to think such a thing, but in the words of Paul:

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

In my case “I put away childish thoughts” not long after I married.  I could see then the value of being raised in a family that taught me gospel principles. So I list at least ten reasons, and there are more, you should love being raised a Mormon, based upon my experience. This list is predicated upon the fact that you live the principles taught.

1) You never make a fool out of yourself, or end up doing something you regret while under the influence of a narcotic or alcohol. You may make mistakes, but at least you are in your “right” mind when you do it, if there is such a thing.

2) By being obedient to the Law of Chastity you never need worry about someone showing up on your doorstep decades later claiming they are your son or daughter. This happens more often than you think.

3) Coming from a loving family is more rare than most think. When you have parents and siblings that adhere to the restored gospel you are raised in a positive environment that nurtures your mind, body and spirit.

4) You develop positive habits that form the basis of your personality and helps you succeed in all of life’s endeavors. and

5) Addictions and bad habits are avoided that can destroy and ruin your life.

6) You are raised with a positive self-image of who you are in relation to deity and that you are of value.

7) At a young age you are taught that your life has meaning because you are given a vision of the eternal nature of your soul.

8) An understanding of the eternal nature of marriage is taught to you and when the time comes to enter into that covenant, you do so with the intent that it will be forever. People say “nothing” lasts forever but knowing that your marriage can, makes you more patient in watching it develop into perfection, which may take more than a lifetime.

9) Being taught as a child of the eternal nature of families makes it all the more special when you hold your first child in your arms for the first time, and you see in him or her the beauty of God’s greatest creation, man.

10) Last but not least, it’s fun to be a Mormon. I won’t elaborate because “fun” is a relative term. But looking back, it was hard being “different” from the other kids, but it was also fun to be “unique” and feel “special.” “Special” to me, doesn’t mean “better”, it just means “distinctive.” And I felt “distinctive” a lot!

There are many other reasons you should love being raised a “Mormon.”So for those of you still raising kids,  you know at some time or another they will be thinking, “Why…why am I so blessed!”Give this list to them. They probably won’t get it, but, who knows, they might be a lot smarter than I was at their age!