Who created God?
The other night David (5 yrs) asked his Daddy: “Who created God?” (The appearance of parental omniscience is certainly hard to maintain when faced with questions like that!) David later told me that he thinks there are some kids who don’t believe in God. He said: “I don’t usually ask people about what they think about God, but it’s good to believe.” He asked why some people don’t go to church and expressed concern that they wouldn’t be able to learn about God if they didn’t go. Daniel and I explained that some people learn about God outside of religion and some people who believe in God don’t go to church. I think we’ll wait to explain agnosticism and atheism for at least another six months. . . .
Rebekah (3 yrs) jumped into bed with us Sunday morning and cheerfully announced: “I would be really happy if I could live with Jesus! So would you, you would give him like, a big hug!”
April 17th, 2007 19:57
With my son, it was “Who is Heavenly Father’s Father?” Gotta love it.
April 17th, 2007 22:59
Wow…deep question. So, what did you say?
April 18th, 2007 23:22
My daughter, age 5, is one who likes to ask questions like the above. I am getting good at saying, “We don’t know.” (I actually think it’s important for children to learn early that we don’t know everything, and that is OK.)
I’m worried that this child might be the one who questions everything along the way….
April 19th, 2007 19:18
Keri and Michelle,
I told him that I didn’t know. I think my son has started to understand that there’s a lot that I don’t know. I agree with you Michelle that it’s good for kids to know that we are not perfect and that it’s ok to not know everything. Although I must admit I don’t mind it when my young children expect parental omniscience and accept my anwers as “truth”.
April 20th, 2007 09:33
Why not tell him that “our” Heavenly Father was created by his own Heavenly Father? That’s what Joseph Smith taught, quite clearly. Are simple teachings like this really becoming so unknown?
April 21st, 2007 09:19
Kirsti, you have such delightful children! I am enjoying hearing about them and reading your posts.
April 21st, 2007 10:31
I actually did tell him that Heavenly Father has his own Heavenly Father, but the follow up question was: “Who is His father?” and so on. When my son asked who how the first Heavenly Father was created, I had to tell him that I don’t know.
April 22nd, 2007 11:50
Nick: to quote our current prophet when asked about that very principle (and with a national audience of “spiritual” children), “I don’t know that we teach that.” Perhaps Joseph’s teachings have been misunderstood for generations.