My daughter had "New Beginnings" last night for mutual. On Valentine's Day. If I wanted to spend any time with the wife and daughter last night, I had to attend. Here are my thoughts:

I was amazed at the level of brainwashing that was going on. I attend LDS services twice a year in an effort at keeping the wife happy but this was a whole 'nother level of brainwashing.

One of the female adult leaders said a few times in her talk, "our children are being raised in enemy territory [or behind enemy lines]). Wow. Talk about promoting a siege and/or a persecuted mentality. While I don't think the LDS church is a classic cult, this persecution complex really bothers me.

Thank you for allowing me to vent.

I don't know if this is something that can be safely discussed in your home. But it WAS just a YW leader who said that. Not a GA or other infallible person (sarcasm alert!).

Maybe your wife/daughter would be open to discuss that maybe the lady is a bit paranoid? People are just people. Nobody is "out to get" your daughter or your family.

Well . . . actually, the CHURCH IS. They are the only people plotting how to influence and control individual people within their ward. Maybe that's why they assume other people actually CARE what you believe.

Sorry to burst your bubble but LD$ Inc. is indeed a classic cult.
The sooner you deal with this fact the better.

I would talk to W/D and ask them what they thought that means. I would ask them if they thought that was true and why.
Start a discussion if you can, so you can express your thoughts about the topic.
I think the church uses fear to keep people in. That may only be one small incident, but they add up week after week. The next thing you know they have a huge fear and misunderstanding of how the world works outside of mormonism. That's not good for anyone.

Could you tell us more about what the night was all about? Because my concern with the brainwashing at an event like this is that it ties a girl's self-worth to how well she jumps through Mormon hoops. I'd like to know if it's like this all over or just in some places, if you feel comfortable sharing more. Thanks.

Egads! If I were to attend my daughter's SS class, I doubt I could keep my mouth shut and/or my head from exploding.

A few years ago our new beginnings theme was 'live in the world but not of it' and I still have a lovely picture of all of us YW at Seven Peaks wearing mens swim trunks and t-shirts. All the talks we had to sit through made it seem like the whole world wants us to be bad people and we have to rebel against them, that always bugged me.

Oh my word I'll be having to do this in two weeks. FACEPALM!!!