I don't even know how to explain how big this GAP really is.
I was born in 1960 - I am currently 62 years old. The other leaders in the Young Women's program are the same age as my children. We are literally a generation + apart. But I feel like the gap is even bigger when it comes to church guidelines and directives concerning 'The Law of Chastity' and MODESTY (or lack of it).
We are currently preparing for girls camp in 2 weeks. I am also preparing for my lesson at the end of the month entitled 'The Law of Chastity'. In some of our communications in text messages yesterday, I asked the YW presidency and leaders if there were going to be any guidelines as far as swimwear and shorts at camp. Several ladies responded - and the overall consensus was, 'one piece or tankini swimsuits, but no 'policing the girls' as far as their shorts, cuz that should be between them and their parents.' Plus, we should 'just be glad that they are coming' so we walk on eggshells and make sure we don't offend them or hurt their feelings so they don't want to come.
Sighs. REALLY big sighs. This is where the generational gap comes in. I was raised in the era of boundaries, rules, guidelines and obedience. The church doesn't mince words - they give the directive, plain, simple, no pampering around God's directive to His laws. And in reading the 'For the Strength of Youth' pamphlet today, the wording is still pretty direct and instructive as to 'the world's views and opinion will forever be changing, but the Lord's word does not change'. And yet, we do not require that of our Youth and we do not hold them accountable for their choices. We are too concerned about LOSING them to the world instead of teaching them how to live in the world following God's law.
Our Heavenly Father has given us our bodies and has made several parts of that body sacred ie; our reproductive area and our breasts. These are to assist us in our divine roll of baring children and nourishing those children. Satan, because he has NOT been given a body, has now taken those sacred parts of our bodies and made them SEXUAL in the eyes of the world, with the concept of 'the more you show, the sexier you are'. So we have short shorts, short skirts, barely there swim suits, low cut tops exposing so much of the breast that many times, it is JUST the nipple being covered - sleeveless dresses and shirts and barely enough material to cover what once was considered sacred. At what point do we allow our youth to follow those worldly trends without objection, for fear of offending them. But it's ok to offend God??? How do we instill in the youth the DESIRE to love God and His commandments and the desire to please Him is greater than to please the world? The Young Women leaders are saying it's between the girls and their parents. But WE are parents too. We have stewardship over them to teach the correct principles - but of course, allow them to govern themselves. But schools have more success in setting dress codes and enforcing them than we do as the spiritual leader of these same youth that have rules at school. The schools aren't afraid of hurting the feelings of the students. Rules are rules. But we back off of God's rules - or laws.
What to do. I'm ranting. Do I remain silent in my calling? Do I try to instill courage in our YW leaders to 'Stand for the Right' by example and teachings? In discussion with some of our older girls, I overheard one of the YW leaders say that ' kissing is fun' and that they should enjoy being young. I was set back on my heels a little, wondering what message she was putting across - that kissing is of no significance when you're so young and dating. No. No. I don't agree. You don't just kiss anybody and everybody. You save those. 'Loose Lips' is what comes to mind when you get two young men in the locker room comparing their dates with the same girl.
This generation of casualness in the way we approach our youth and Heavenly Father's commandments is mind boggling to me. My generation? We were scared spitless to do anything wrong. Today's generation SPITS on those commandments and makes themselves the exception to the rules. I want them to know that they really can be HAPPY following Heavenly Father's plan -
Much prayer and thought in the next few days and weeks. I need to know how Heavenly Father wants me to handle this GAP and unite our hearts for the good of our youth.
