Mr. Bish.

After several discussions with my son __, who turned 8 last autumn, I have determined that I give my permission for him to be baptized. His choice is not exactly based on belief, but out of convenience to avoid conflict with family members. I support that because the conflict he experiences is not healthy.

Understand that I feel that very very few children of 8 can possibly understand the decision of assigning themselves to a theology. We would never expect a child at 8 to determine her life-long political affiliation, college major, career choice, marriage partner, permanent house of residence, etc. And yet the LDS church teaches the significance of baptism is far reaching, as the door to the Celestial Kingdom. Just imagine if Joseph Smith had been compelled to be baptized at 8 into methodism or some other church, and told that doubt & fear are of the devil, that to wait till he was adult put his soul at risk. Ask, would he have questioned enough to go to the woods to pray about which church to join? Shouldn't we let our 8-year-olds have a chance to mature before deciding for them? Instead the indoctrination and conditioning at an early age to dispose children into a life-long commitment is pursued with vigor from the very top leadership. Why would that be?

Please ensure that any interview you have with him is in accordance of the policy I have sent previously.

Regards
Father

Meh, it's passive agressive. You're the parent, the kid is only 8 and it's your decision. If you don't want him baptised, say that and own it.

The bishop only cares that the kid gets into the cult. He's not going to find your reasoning for why the kid shouldn't get indoctrinated into the cult terribly compelling if you don't find it sufficiently compelling to stop it.

Having been there myself, I can tell you that there are probably a lot of factors behind all of this. For example, in my case, my TBM ex is primary custodial parent and creates hell for my kids when they don't attend and participate happily in church.

I refused to let my son get baptized and he takes a lot of crap for it still at times. Fortunately, he didn't want to and still doesn't want to get baptized.

I don't think the OP is being passive aggressive. I think he is saying, I support my children (the son did want to get baptize the OP said), while having a difference of opinion, so don't take my permission as equal to agreement with doctrine and policy.

To me that is being clear while being supportive of the child's situation and needs.

Ironic that TSCC thinks and eight year old is mature enough to make the decision to be baptized but a thirty-eight year old isn't sufficiently mature to make the decision to leave TSCC.

We all have our own reasons for doing things and I can never really know what your life is like, but I absolutely would NOT let my child be baptized if I didn't agree with it, which I don't. I feel that you will be teaching your child to "just go along to appease others".
That said, I have no idea of your life situation, so you have to do what you feel is right.

The letter seems appropriate enough. The bish won't give a crap about any part of it and will likely completely disregard the whole thing, other than that he is getting baptized. That's all they care about anyway.

+1

The bish will read this as a case of talking out of both sides of you mouth. Some time in the future, our child is likely to see it the same way.

Kids find out how much they mean to a parent and learn moral fortitude and clear speaking/thinking from real life parental examples which impact the life of the child.

"Instead the indoctrination and conditioning at an early age to dispose children into a life-long commitment is pursued with vigor from the very top leadership. Why would that be?

Please ensure that any interview you have with him is in accordance of the policy I have sent previously."


Father.....you NEED to be in the room with your 8yr old for that interview.

Be a parent and protect him if he needs protection

She didn't understand it, but only knew that her siblings were baptised and got a party, etc. So I baptised her, confirmed her, had a party, etc, and never went back - not even the next Sunday. She's 13 now and has no desire to even go to a mormon activity. She has friends from church, but knows that church is not the place to hang with them.

You don't agree with it yet you allow it. Just don't understand a person doing that. I feel badly for your child. I would reconsider.