The Work of Angels
As we work to reclaim our wayward children, we are not alone. Often angels are dispatched to help us.
By Larry Barkdull

Offended and Deceived Wayward Children
Some scriptures hint that our wayward children’s premortal righteousness will be taken into account when judgments are pronounced.
By Larry Barkdull

Parents Becoming Redeemers to Their Children
Parents, who increase their level of sanctification, proportionately increase their ability to partner with the Redeemer to redeem their children.
By Larry Barkdull

Parents as Saviors on Mount Zion
Despite what we might view as evidence to the contrary, parents are uniquely endowed to become saviors to their wayward children.
By Larry Barkdull

The Awakening of Spiritually Asleep Children
Wayward children are spiritually asleep, but the Lord is equipped to awaken even those who seem the most lost to the light of redemption.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Children Who Are Far Away
Why would God inspire Mormon to write about the rebellion and conversion stories of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah? Is there not a last-days’ message that we parents can glean from these accounts?
By Larry Barkdull

Getting the Eternal Perspective on Wayward Children
If you are a parent with a wayward child and feel the associated pain and guilt, maybe you should step back and go a little easier on yourself. This world is a hard place; in fact it is the hardest place. This world is the most wicked in the universe, and we are living in its most wicked age.
By Larry Barkdull

The Shepherd Will Find His Sheep
Despite our best efforts, one of our children may pass away having never abandoned his wayward ways. Is he lost? Have we failed? Not necessarily. The Lord also anticipated this eventuality, and the work of redemption goes on.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing a Wayward Child through Love and Example
Within the Plan of Salvation is a personal plan of salvation for each of us. Two things are certain: the plan is in place, and the Maker of the plan is working the plan. Here are letters from parents, who attest to the reality of God's plan of salvation for their children…and have seen it work!
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Wayward Children—Quick Answers to Difficult Questions
Parents of challenging children ask the same difficult questions with common themes.  Here are some answers.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Wayward Children
Mormon foresaw an epidemic of latter-day wayward children. Few families are not touched by the prevailing sickness.
By Larry Barkdull

Power in the Marriage Sealing to Rescue Wayward Children
A marriage sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise holds incredible power to rescue wayward children. When the provisional seal that was placed upon a couple at the altar is made a “welding link” by the Holy Ghost, powers are unleashed beyond our ability to calculate.
By Larry Barkdull

Tapping the Power of Obedience to Rescue Wayward Children
A man from Pennsylvania remembered his seminary teacher's extraordinary example of obedience. Her persistence in the basics eventually drew back her wayward sons.
By Larry Barkdull

The Frightening Reality of Sin
Why does Satan tempt us to commit sin? To make us miserable is the quick answer. But if we dig deeper and gain understanding of how misery is produced, we will unearth Satan's sinister strategy.
By Larry Barkdull

The Power of Testimony
Because Christ is totally reliable, we do not hesitate to commend other people, including our wayward children, “to seek this Jesus of whom the prophets and apostles have written.” The seeds planted from our sincere testimony will grow in the hearts of the hearers and help to rescue the ones we love.
By Larry Barkdull

The Parable of the Wayward Olive Tree
Zenos's allegory of the tame olive-tree gone wayward in the Book of Mormon is clearly symbolic of God's nourishing and reclaiming the House of Israel. But Israel is also individual people and therefore can be applied to God's dealings with his individual wayward children.
By Larry Barkdull

Hope for a Wayward Spouse
How do you rescue a wayward spouse, who started out loyal to the Church and then lost her testimony?
By Larry Barkdull

Wayward Children—Remembering Who God really Is
To rescue a wayward child spiritually, we must begin with basics. It is one thing to believe that God and His Son, Jesus Christ, exist, but it is quite another to believe in who they really are.
By Larry Barkdull

Wayward Children—Balancing Justice and Mercy
Rescuing wayward children is a balancing act, the efforts of juggling Justice and Mercy. In the following correspondence, a father wrestles with dealing with offense, yearning for more priesthood support, and trying to maintain control while showing love—no easy tasks, and common struggles of faithful parents.
By Larry Barkdull

The Redeeming Effect of Personal Sanctification
Many parents have asked for scriptural proof that personal sanctification has a redeeming effect on the person for whom they are praying. Here is a correspondence that lists that proof.
By Larry Barkdull

Wayward Children who are Spiritually Asleep
Often, because of their fallen nature, children do not arrive at the testimony of Jesus Christ and his redeeming gospel easily. They may struggle with spiritual concepts and more readily adopt portions of the prevailing anti-Christ philosophy. They are temporarily asleep and in need of reawakening.
By Larry Barkdull

Working with the Lukewarm Child
Low commitment level, hurt feelings, misunderstandings—a variety of issues lend to a child's becoming lukewarm to the gospel. Here is a letter from a mother who is trying to help her lukewarm son.
By Larry Barkdull

Wayward Children: Love, Example and Sanctification
Love and example have the power to rescue a child, but coupled with this is the unequalled power of personal sanctification. Here are two stories from parents: one in the process, and the other feeling the sweet fruits of success.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Wayward Children from Deception and Offense
To the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed an astonishing doctrine that speaks to the far-reaching effects of the Atonement. It also hints that our wayward children's premortal righteousness will be taken into account when judgments are pronounced.
By Larry Barkdull

Why Does There have to be an Organized Church?
The business of rescuing wayward children calls for us to partner with the Holy Ghost and strike when he presents an opportunity. We are not privileged to see his plan, but we believe that he has one. The day will come when he will crack open a door and we must be prepared to walk in.
By Larry Barkdull

“The Lord Must Trust You”
Have you ever become so frustrated with your wayward child that you wondered what would ever wake them up?  Here are two letters and stories from parents of wayward children.
By Larry Barkdull

Letters from Parents of Wayward Children
As a parent, do you ever feel like you are alone, filled with guilt, hopeless, overwhelmed and without answers? Here are stories from parents who have responded to Larry Barkdull's column: Rescuing Wayward Children. They are in various stages of success, but all have made the common discovery: Every sanctifying effort you exert to sanctify yourself has a sanctifying effect on the person for whom you are praying.
By Larry Barkdull

Wayward Children—Who are they really?
Our children were not placed on earth, at this time, and in their familial relationships by a cosmic roll of the dice. Countless ages of premortal obedience and righteous living determined our children's mortal placement, which, beyond every other consideration, was meant to reward them and to magnify their opportunity to advance toward exaltation.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Wayward Children from Extreme Distances
Why would God inspire Mormon to write about the rebellion and conversion stories of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah? Why would he inspire the compilers of the Bible to include the conversion story of the young, vile and sinful Paul? Is there not a last-days' message that we parents can glean from these accounts?
By Larry Barkdull

Perspective — The Most Wicked Age of the Most Wicked World
If you are a parent with a wayward child and feel the associated pain and guilt, maybe you should step back and go a little easier on yourself. This world is a hard place; in fact it is the hardest place. This world is the most wicked in the universe, and we are living in its most wicked age.
By Larry Barkdull

Rescuing Wayward Children
The prophet Mormon foresaw an epidemic of latter-day wayward children, and he had an answer. We parents need not stand by and wring our hands. We can actively attack this problem and win. The Book of Mormon, modern-day prophets and the Lord have promised!
By Larry Barkdull