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Hello, one and all. My name is Jessie. I'm 14 years old, and I live in Oregon. I am a proud member of the church of Jessus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and I have been my entire life. I have two sisters, one 16 and the other 7, and I have two parents living under one roof.

Then comes the complication....

Daddy hates the church.

It all started out when my mom, was about 20. She went inactive for a few years, and while she was working a a chocolate factory in San Fransico, she met my Dad, and before long, well, they kinda messed up. Mom was now a mother, and she didn't know what to do. My dad didn't truly love my mom, but he offered to take the girl and raise her. My mom said she wante dto be a part of Katie's life, and so they got married.

Well, fancy this: my mom found the gospel once more, and guess what my dad thought of it! Well, he wasn't all that happy, but he decided that church is good for kids to grow up in so they have good standards and all that jazz.

Well, I came along about a year later, but mom and dad soon found out that they really didn't get along that well. Dad was always out blowing our cash on beer and casinos (L.A. is where we lived at the time), and we actually had to call the cops on him once. Life was a nightmare, and I wish that those years would just disappear.

Well, Katie wanted to get baptized. Dad freaked out, and him and my mom had this big old row about it, but Katie was baptized just the same. The same happened when I was baptized. My dad said that the church was too controlling, and mom had brainwashed us with this maddness.

Well, mom wanted to go to the temple, and he freaked again, but recently, she went for the first time, and she finally has her endowments completed. I haven't seen her that happy in a long time.

I have a little sister like a mentioned, and my mom and dad get along worse than ever. My older sister hates the church, and though my dad thinnks she's a brat, he says at least she has her priorities straight with not beliving in the church, and I'm just down-right insane for listening to anything my mom has ever said. He said my little sister isn't allowed to be baptized, and she loves him enough that she said she'll do whatever he says when it comes to religion. "I won't go to church anymore," she told my dad. "I want to make you happy."

Well, my parents haven't said it to the kids, but I can tell they're getting a divorce. What do I do? My mom will try to get full custody, but my dad is very persuasive, and he'll take my sister and I because he has a job and such. My little sister will never have the gospel, and I won't be able to go to church until I move out. I've prayed, I've fasted, but things are just getting worse and worse. If my parents don't divorce, my mom said she'll simply just leave because she can't deal with him anymore.

Now, don't go off and say sorry or anything like that. Although it would probably help, I just need advice, that's all.

Just the divorse itself is insanely stressful. It's probably going to get worse before it gets better. My parents almost got divorced for similar reasons. Not fun.

My only real thoughts and advice is that you should encourage your younger sister to go with you as much as possible. Encourage, not force, drag or bribe, just encourage. Let her make the decision. Talk to your mom about it. Voice your concerns. Often repeated, but tried and true- Talk to your bishop for guidance. To be honest, there isn't a lot that you can do for your dad and older sister that I can think of that wouldn't push them away more. Perhaps you can ask your dad why he hates the church so much?

I myself can fully say that i know what you are saying. My best friend had this same problam a year ago and i was told everything. all you really can do is stay strong to your testimony. Bet true to yourself and jesus christ and teach your little sister all that you can. As for your parents i can't much help you with that but i can give you some comfort. If you stay strong and endure to the end it will all be okay. in Alma it talks about how he is morning for his destroyed city. it says how the people were taken away captive and killed. Then God tells him not to fear because he is doing god's work which is stronger and greater then any other work on the planet. If you believe that you are doing god's work by being a strong member of the church then you can do anything. you can getthrough this too. Remember this too shall pass. I was told all of this at one time or another by my Young womens leader. If you need to talk i am here.
My deepest apologies,
A helpful Morman Friend

Unfortunately, she has, and my dad abused herthat night.... sad

If he's abusive, you and the rest of your family shouldn't be there. Is he like that often, or only on occasion?

GET OUT! No one deserves to be abused, even verbally.