Isn't maturity supposed to make us smarter?

The scriptures teach that we should be like unto a little child. There is an often quoted phrase, "Out of the mouth of babes." Well, here is one.


Last year, liberal voters in California fought for a change in what was to be accepted as a marriage. The law states that marriage is between a man and a woman. Many voters wanted to change that to allow same-sex relationships to be recognized as legal and binding. This was presented in the form of "Prop 8". The First Presidency admonished all members of the church, one of the very few times I have ever heard the Brethren take a political stand, and fight against this Prop to protect the sanctity of marriage. As you can imagine, this sparked many conversations among the children and especially when there were many liberals, even same-sex couples, at their school. Karsten and I tried to be as open and frank as we could with the kids.

It was amazing to me how the litle ones reacted. Let me clarify.  When I say "little ones" I am referring to the younger ones of the whole clan.  These "little ones" ranged from age 5 to age 10.  They are too young to understand the ramifications of this bill. As far as they are concerned, they see the physical differences between a man and a woman, they have the example of their parents, and what they have been taught. Their understanding of the "facts of life" are very simple and elementary. There must be a man and a woman. No questions asked. Why then do adults, who are supposed to be more mature, have such difficulty with this basic concept? I loved Elder Packer's talk at conference when he gave the example of the child telling the teacher how to tell the sex of the ktiten.  ". .  .  there are those today who not only tolerate but advocate voting to change laws that would legalize immorality, as if a vote would somehow alter the designs of God’s laws and nature. A law against nature would be impossible to enforce. For instance, what good would a vote against the law of gravity do?"

But, I stray from what I originally wanted to write. Logan, my 10 year old, was very confused with the issue. As only he can, he asked, "Mom, if there are two males trying to get married, who decides which one wears the dress?" Very plainly and simply put. As young and naieve as he is, Logan still gets it. Oh that we could all be as little children.

Age, experience, technology, education. All important in their own right. But when it clouds our understanding and makes us question the simple laws of nature, we are the dumb ones. Not the children. They get it!!!