I know some people who like to rant about those who live "sheltered" lives. Usually those ranting (in my presence) are unmarried or married with no children... and they are almost always talking about others - judging them or being intolerant of them. You don't see mothers or fathers of newborns talking about how they want to expose their baby to as many airborne pathogens as possible to quickly develop antibodies. As they look at others, they see huge character deficits. For whatever reason, they then quickly claim that living a "sheltered" life is the cause of many of the earth's ills - from inadvertently hurting others to malicious hatred, prejudice, and injustice.

I'm not exactly sure what qualifies as a "sheltered" life, but as I've spoken with those ardently opposed to living one, I think I've found some commonalities. A "sheltered" life, regardless of the location or condition of the world outside the home, is often described as living in the ideal home, with parents and family members who are active members of the Church, with parents who successfully create a Christlike atmosphere in their home - children who grow up in a home that looks towards the temple, follows the prophet, has Family Home Evening and family scripture study... and where love, peace, and harmony reign supreme.

From that perspective, I grew up in a "sheltered" home. And when I have kids, I will definitely do my best to keep them unspotted from the world - to teach them the things they need to know to be saved. ...and I join with the Brethren in hoping that every family could have the opportunity to learn about the Savior in the temple that is their home.

For some reason, some people I know equate good parenting with bad kids. But looking at scriptural examples that doesn't make sense. Adam and Eve were chosen to come to Earth for their righteousness and ability to be parents of the entire human race. They taught their children in about an ideal environment as possible - no peer pressure, no media, no outside influences but the prophet and his wife. Then Cain slew Abel. If parenting and childhood environments are directly related to choices, that means that Adam and Eve must have been atrociously awful parents. Going even further, a third of God's children rebelled against Him and left His presence to be devils, damning their progression for eternity. And God is the ideal parent.

I'm not sure why... but some of my friends think that living in an ideal home gives people fewer opportunities to gain a testimony, or fewer opportunities to learn to love others, or whatever... and is the cause of their poor spirituality. If the events of scriptures happened today, they would see Cain and claim that his choice to kill his brother could have been circumvented by "exposing him to the outside world" ... or that the devil and his angels may have been more willing to choose the right had they been nurtured in an environment where choosing the wrong was accepted.

That's bogus.

I grew up in an almost perfect environment - and I and every living being are proof that life will be absolutely miserable, painful, trying, and full of temptations and learning experiences no matter how I am raised.

I can be socially backwards whether or not I am home-schooled. I can be rebellious whether or not I have "strict" rules in my home. I can be apostate in my later years whether or not I was exposed to apostasy in my youth. In reality, it's up to me - not my environment - anyway.

The scriptures teach that positive learning environments have a lasting effect on children... "Train up a child in the way he should go... and when he is grown he shall not depart from it."

I am grateful for parents who love me unconditionally... who apply the gospel in our relationship and don't judge me for my failures. I learned to love others from their example. I learned to study the scriptures and to humbly kneel and pray each morning and night, watching them. I learned honesty and good works and faith and confidence and industry and a love of all things good... 

Someday I hope to be able to give my own children the same kind of home and childhood that I had - a (sheltered?) home that creates and nurtures the strength of faith to overcome all things, to fight suicidal depression, to rise from sin, and to move forward on the path. A home where God is central and the truth is taught by the Spirit. Safe, secure, peaceful, full of faith. Home can be a Heaven on Earth. I hope mine will be.
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