Why I Take My Toddlers to Church

When you have a toddler between 12-18 months-old, trying to enjoy church is like trying to clean your house while wearing muddy boots–it’s pretty much impossible.

During Sacrament Meeting, you’re either trying to pull their legs so they don’t climb under the bench in front of you or feeding them Goldfish four at a time and hoping they don’t stain their Sunday clothes with orange drool. And you’re also secretly praying that the man in front of you enjoys bending over to get your child’s crayon that keeps rolling under the bench, again, and again.

In Sunday School and Priesthood/Relief Society, where classes are a lot smaller and comprised of only adults and kids under 18-months, you’re lucky if you can even stay in the classroom. By that point you’ve probably run out of snacks and your toddler is already bored with the books and toys you’ve brought, so the majority of that time is spent chasing after your wee one in the hall.

Going to church with toddlers is hard. And yes, it can be a challenge to feel the Spirit, let alone listen to the lessons and talks that have been prepared. But I am going to continue to take my toddlers to church for three hours every Sunday, because of what it does for them.

When we take our children to church starting at a young age, they learn the important of Sabbath day worship. They learn that the priority on Sunday is to attend church, and they learn that it’s just what we do. It becomes a habit.

But more than that, taking young children to church helps them learn to keep the commandments from an early age. It sets the stage for them to “form feelings, attitudes, and opinions that will remain with them the rest of life—about God, about church, about family and friends” (source). It gives me as a parent an opportunity to teach them about reverence, even if it only lasts for 30 seconds. We have to start teaching them sometime, and what better time than when they are young.

President Henry B. Eyring said that “we help God’s children best by providing ways to build faith in Jesus Christ and His restored gospel when they are young” (source). And going to church is definitely one way we can provide a way to build faith. Even if they aren’t listening to the talks or the lessons or the hymns, I know that young children can feel the Spirit, even when we as adults can’t.

And instead of getting frustrated or going into the hallway as soon as I think a breakdown is about to happen, I can try to teach my children why we go to church. I can explain that we are going to eat the bread and drink the water to remember Jesus. Or that Heavenly Father loves hearing us sing songs to Him. I can speak in soft voices and remain calm when my child just wants to move around. I can show her pictures of the Savior, of the prophet, and of our family, or read books about scripture stories.

So no, I may not remember what your talk or lesson was about, or even who talked or who taught, but I am glad I was there, laying down the foundation for my children that will help them throughout their lives. And when you ask me why I take my toddlers to church, I will tell you firmly that it’s because I want the gospel to be a part of their lives from day one.

Why I take my toddlers to church. It can be a struggle (most of the time) but I do it because of what it does for them.

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