Mormons Expect More of the Next Generation. Why Don’t We?

[Nofear]

Any interesting op-ed in Christianity Today. It echos one of the thoughts that I sometimes express that often the most important convert a missionary can make is oneself.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/september/mormons-expect-more-next-generation-youth-mission.html

[InCognitus]

4 hours ago, Nofear said:

Any interesting op-ed in Christianity Today. It echos one of the thoughts that I sometimes express that often the most important convert a missionary can make is oneself.
https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2023/september/mormons-expect-more-next-generation-youth-mission.html

That's a good article, and this closing quote leads in to something else I think is important:

Quote

The biblical model of the church is one body with many members—and a critical aspect of membership is the use of one’s gifts to build up the church (1 Cor. 12). Too many of our young people are seeing a flawed vision of Christianity, not because they’ve concluded that they don’t need the church but because they’ve concluded that the church doesn’t need them. We need to communicate to our children that we will not only train them to carry on the faith but also trust them to do so. Our expectations for the next generation are just not high enough for these “latter days.”

The other factor I had in mind that the article doesn't mention (and I don't know how much of it, if any, goes on in other Christian denominations) is our lay leadership and the way we involve everyone in the functioning of the church and the work of salvation.  All of the ward calling positions at every level contribute to building up of the kingdom of God on earth.  We all play a part and we are needed for it to happen.

[Nofear]

17 hours ago, InCognitus said:

The other factor I had in mind that the article doesn't mention (and I don't know how much of it, if any, goes on in other Christian denominations) is our lay leadership and the way we involve everyone in the functioning of the church and the work of salvation.  All of the ward calling positions at every level contribute to building up of the kingdom of God on earth.  We all play a part and we are needed for it to happen.

Quite agreed. I think your comment gains a great deal of theological justification in the context of this article: https://benspackman.com/2023/07/covenant-and-law-grace-works-and-faith/

We are to be good patrons clients of our patron, of God's grace.

edit: might as well get the terminology right... /sigh

Edited August 16, 2023 by Nofear