Kids These Days

It has been my observation and experience that kids these days are so far ahead of previous generations in matters of spirituality.  My nine year old daughter came to me yesterday and said that she didn't really think that the church was true.  She told me that she had stopped saying her prayers and that she just didn't know what to believe anymore.  We had a long talk about faith, prayer, and obedience.  We talked about how you gain a testimony and how you don't need to know everything all at once.  I don't know if she really understood what I was saying.  But, I do know that she sets her alarm for 5:45 every morning to get up and read scriptures with Dad.  She loves that time with him and is an active participant in those discussions.  I guess I am surprised by how deep she is thinking about this at such a young age.  I didn't really even think about it until I was much older.  She is barely nine years old.  I'm not really worried about her finding a testimony.  I think that will come with time.  I think this may even end up being a good thing in the end for her to be searching for a testimony at such a young age. 

My 11 year old some is going through the same thing.  He used to get up in Sacrament Meeting nearly every month and bear his testimony.  It has been quite awhile since he has done that because he says that he really isn't sure if the church is true and doesn't feel like he can get up and testify.  Once again, that goes to show me the spiritual maturity in these young kids.  He understands that a testimony is a witness of God, and realizes that he shouldn't get up and give a testimony if he is unsure.  But, the fact that he is seeking after a "REAL" testimony at 11 years old shows me how far he is ahead of me when I was the same age.  I believed that the church was true at that age, but I didn't have the burning to find out for myself like he does, and like my daughter does.  Kids these days have to be so strong.  They need that testimony in order to safely navigate the halls of their schools and the influences of the world that are all around them.  I believe they are so much more sensitive to the spirit than the children of other generations.  You can feel the strength of their spirits in their sincere desire to learn about spiritual things and then live them with conviction amidst opposition from the world.  I am grateful for the example of my children.  I try to teach them, but sometimes I feel like they teach me so much more.