From Deseret News archives:
'Out of the mouth of babes'
The things kids say in and about the church
Probably not. But if you have children or grandchildren, or your church calling involves working with kids, you can likely guess how such terms originated.
As children grow up in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gospel-related words don't always register accurately, and what translates to those little ears can make for heartfelt humor and lasting memories. Whether the result of a misheard hymn, where parents are "kind of weird," or an innocent interpretation of a gospel concept, like "slow Sunday," stories about children in the church tend to endure.
And they should be shared.
Last month, we asked readers to send in their stories about the humorous things kids say. We received e-mails not just from Utah, but from around the world. Some happened just last month, while others were decades-old memories. And judging by the number of responses we received, these accounts can be counted as a shared experience among parents, grandparents and teachers in the church.
The following are some of our favorites:
Sterling R. Provost
Sandy
One of our family's favorite activities is playing a game after our Family Home Evening lesson on Monday nights. This particular evening we were playing a board game that I had made where gospel questions were asked, and if you answered correctly you got to move ahead. It was my 4-year-old daughter's turn. I read Emily the question: "Name three of the 10 commandments." She immediately answered, "Thou shall not steal and thou shall not kill." Then there was a long pause as she sat thinking, trying to recall a third commandment. Suddenly, Emily's face lit up with a big smile and she shouted out, "Thou shall not drink and drive!"
LeAnne Eller
Calimesa, Calif.
Recent comments
While teaching children about Moses and the children of Israel I...
mo | July 24, 2008 at 9:36 p.m.
I read the "Help me Bishop" story in the Improvement Era in the late...
Phil | July 24, 2008 at 3:00 p.m.
When my daughter Jami was about three, we were sitting outside the...
Mona Lee | July 24, 2008 at 1:18 p.m.
- Paula Hawkins laid to rest 12:14 p.m.
- Music, smiles at Christmas show 12:14 p.m.
- Institute has Christmas tradition 12:14 p.m.
- Showcasing reason for the season 12:14 p.m.
- Enjoying Christmas creche display 12:13 p.m.
- Stronger retail boost stocks 11:37 a.m.
- A dozen ways to save money 11:36 a.m.
- A shining tabletop for the holidays 11:35 a.m.
- Arrests in Riverdale ammo theft 11:30 a.m.
- Dr. explains Mitchell review change 11:28 a.m.
- Disappearance called 'sususpicious'
- LDS to emphasize helping needy
- Defense witness goes on offensive
- Unga might enter NFL draft
- Jazz manage a magical win
- Few details on missing W.V. mom
- BYU football: NCAA awards
- Nude bathers cited for lewdness
- Pitta doesn't win award
- Construction worker injured in jump
- Letters: Global warming a lie
260 - TCU to play Boise in Fiesta Bowl
206 - BYU football: Bronco weighs in on Hall
193 - Palin signs books, chats with fans
167 - Utah/BYU rivalry can be more civil
151 - Cougars going back to Vegas
150 - Andersen apologizes for Jordan hoax
142 - Nude bathers cited for lewdness
130 - Max Hall wants to look ahead
127 - Jazz fall apart late at L.A.
110
ESPN's Mark Schlabach ranked the Las Vegas Bowl as the seventh most...
Q: What does the Terrorist Arab world, Nazis, and...
figures coming out of health and human services says this bill will break the...
The husband had a job right? He didn't bother to call to say he wouldn't be...
Is the church trying to get individual LDS giving to take the heat off what a...
What's next, witch trials? Cutting off hands for stealing?? Stoning for...
Pitta is a very good tight end, not the nation's best. He did not deserve the...
To the writer of the letter - humans will not stop until the world is dead.
Starting one senior (actually two) means that LP is rebuilding a little bit,...
Cut the fat. Start with administrators.
I don't care if he is "sane/compentent" or not. He should pay for his crimes...


