Teaching Chasity

[SCcoug]

Last night the EQP called to ask me to teach this Sunday. He said it was lesson 39. Turns out it is on the law of chastity. Instead of reading the manual and asking for comments, I think I want to talk about teaching it to your kids, having age appropriate conversations with them and not just having an awkward two minute talk with them when they are 14. Seems like in many (most?) LDS households any mention of sex is taboo and in a negative context.

Any suggestions?

[pellegrino]

I'd ask the class who taught them and how it was done.

[jay santos]

You're in an adult class teaching adults about chastity. It would be a fine line between classy and pervy, but I think it could make for a powerful lesson about why sex in a committed relationship is a beautiful thing and why chastity is vital to preserve that.

[Sullyute]

Last night the EQP called to ask me to teach this Sunday. He said it was lesson 39. Turns out it is on the law of chastity. Instead of reading the manual and asking for comments, I think I want to talk about teaching it to your kids, having age appropriate conversations with them and not just having an awkward two minute talk with them when they are 14. Seems like in many (most?) LDS households any mention of sex is taboo and in a negative context.

Any suggestions?

I like your approach. I think you could just take your last sentance and ask why is this taboo, how can we change it, should we change it, etc. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[TheAzzuri]

You're in an adult class teaching adults about chastity. It would be a fine line between classy and pervy, but I think it could make for a powerful lesson about why sex in a committed relationship is a beautiful thing and why chastity is vital to preserve that.

Were it me, I'd steer the discussion towards appropriate vs. innappropriate rather than good vs. bad. In my opinion, appropriate-ness (is that a word?) has little to do with the act itself, but rather how it's carried out.


With the youth, I used the example of basketball. There is nothing inherently wrong with it--in fact, it's a good thing. On Saturday mornings, it's perfectly fine to use the church gym. On Sundays during sacrament meeting, it's not. And then we talked about how proper and judicious use of "good things" (not just sex) is one of the most important things we can learn. It wasn't a perfect lesson, but it went over pretty well.

[Moliere]

Last night the EQP called to ask me to teach this Sunday. He said it was lesson 39. Turns out it is on the law of chastity. Instead of reading the manual and asking for comments, I think I want to talk about teaching it to your kids, having age appropriate conversations with them and not just having an awkward two minute talk with them when they are 14. Seems like in many (most?) LDS households any mention of sex is taboo and in a negative context.

Any suggestions?

We (MJ and I) had a discussion with my then 8-year old and we used a book that was very helpful. I think the author was lds but you wouldn't have known it just by reading the book. I'll see if I can find the title when I'm not posting from my phone.

Basically we did kind of an introduction to chastity and reproduction and we'll likely follow it up with other age-appropriate discussions as he nears his teenage years.

FYI, I do like your approach but it would best be handled by someone with the right qualifications or experience. I'm not sure of your background, but a baseless discussion centered around teaching chastity/sex to kids might not be as beneficial as one taught by a licensed therapist or counselor.

[TheAzzuri]

We (MJ and I) had a discussion with my then 8-year old and we used a book that was very helpful. I think the author was lds but you wouldn't have known it just by reading the book. I'll see if I can find the title when I'm not posting from my phone.

Basically we did kind of an introduction to chastity and reproduction and we'll likely follow it up with other age-appropriate discussions as he nears his teenage years.

FYI, I do like your approach but it would best be handled by someone with the right qualifications or experience. I'm not sure of your background, but a baseless discussion centered around teaching chastity/sex to kids might not be as beneficial as one taught by a licensed therapist or counselor.

Yes and no. There's certainly merit to professional counsel. But in its absence, there is a lot to be gained by having open, frank discussions (among the quorum, I mean).

Sometimes the membership is portrayed as stupid on here, though I'm not suggesting that you're doing that now. At least in my EQ, there are some really bright people. I think there is value in allowing people to ask questions and share experiences. People can always take what they want and leave what they don't.

There is always the danger of having these discussions follow down the same old path, but I guess that's the job of the instructor.

[Sullyute]

This might not be the exact angle you are looking for but here is the church policy on Sex Ed:

21.4.11 Sex Education
Parents have primary responsibility for the sex education of their children. Teaching this subject honestly and plainly in the home will help young people avoid serious moral transgressions. To help parents teach this sensitive and important information, the Church has published A Parent’s Guide.

Where schools have undertaken sex education, parents should seek to ensure that the instructions given to their children are consistent with sound moral and ethical values.

Here is the guide book that they mention:

A Parents Guide: Teaching Adolescents from 12-to-18