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Big Mormon Families - Page 2

LDS have largest families in U.S. Anyone surprised?

https://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695256406,00.html

Families Mormon Big

Large families is not as it used to be. Large today looks to be around 4 or 5 children, but when I was a child 7 or more was normal.

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I would never think of 4 or 5 children as large although as you well pointed out, society seems to think that anything more than 4 is large. I think 6 and over can well be considered "large".

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I was the oldest of six kids and I found that when I turned about 10 years old I started to have a larger responsibility in helping watch and take care of the Younger kids. This is why mormon families can be big and not overwelm the Parents. I can't tell you how many times my dad told me to go get the kids to clean something up or watch them for a few hours. Its all about delegation (to a small degree),an important lesson for children and parents to understand learn.

Families Mormon Big

Dbackers, I wonder though to what extent is it "fair"? In the past I have seen kids around 11 taking care of their younger siblings in Primary while both parents are sitting down in Sunday School. Kids should be kids, no? My whole point is where this line is drawn to not overwhelm the child?

Big Mormon Families

You are probably right. That is just the way I grew up. I took on a lot of responsibilities myself and lived in a pretty rural area. I was Milking cows on a daily basis at 8 and driving tractor at 10.

Being a kid was relative I suppose, and I did my share of irresponsible kid things. My Parents taught me a difficult but significant lessons about responsibility, and I am grateful for those lessons. This is probably why I have an independent streak in some of my thought.

That being said. I am coming from the view that it is a good thing to allow children greater and greater amounts of responsibility. The older they get, the more they are able to help out in the Family. It is one of the only ways, I believe, that someone can have a larger family, and not lose one of them in the crowd (Just kidding).

Big Mormon Families - Page 2

I see what you are saying. I suppose it all depends on the circumstances. I can understand it more if the situation places the family on a farm ( I would LOVE to live in one by the way). Actually, based on how the world is generally, if you seriously want to consider having a large family, a rural area, a farm seem to be the best options.

Big Mormon Families Mormon Doctrine Studies - Page 2

I think that all of us are kind of missing the bigger picture on why Mormons have large families. It is because we have an understanding of the true gospel of Jesus Christ. The Proclamation to the World on the Family states that

Our Heavenly Father's plan from the beginning was designed for us to be organized into families. It was a brilliant plan! What a great opportunity for all of us to be organized into families where we can learn how to get along with different personalities, to learn how to work, serve, develop love, respect, forgiveness. The Proclamation states that

What a wonderful way to learn all of these principles--within the family. What we learn in our family we then contribute to the church and our community. I think Mormons have large families because we know Heavenly Father's plan. We are preparing to live with God again someday, and we need to prepare ourselves to be part of his large family. I think we learn more from the more people we are associated with. We truly do develop love, forgiveness, respect, service, etc...

I am the youngest of six children, and I know I learned a lot from my siblings--traits I wanted to have and mistakes they made that I did not want to repeat. I also know that the more children I have had, the more Christlike characteristics I have developed. I think I am more patient, loving, and understanding with 5 children than I was when we had 1 or 2. I am not saying that everyone needs 12 children to teach them these qualities, but for me, I have grown as I have become a parent and understand more of Heavenly Father's love for his children. Thus, I am trying to be more like the Savior. When dbackers and I were first married, we were not able to have children for the first three years. It took fertility medication, prayers, and great faith to have children. As I look back now, I see how much our Heavenly Father has blessed us and how grateful I am. I learned many valuable lessons in life. For me, having children has helped me develop more Christlike attributes. My children really have taught me the gospel, and I believe that is Heavenly Father's intention on organizing us into families whether yours is large or small.

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