July 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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16 PROTECTING YOUR CHILD FROM GANG INFLUENCE BY DENNIS J. NORDFELT On 11 February 1999 the First Presidency began a letter to Church members throughout the world with the following statement: “All about us we see evidence of the corrosive elements targeted to injure our youth.” 1 When I served as the police chief of West Valley City, Utah, I discovered that one of the most corrosive elements in the world today is the influence of gangs. By definition, a gang is any group of three or more people who form an allegiance to the exclusion of others and engage in unlawful or criminal behavior. The impact of gang influence is reflected by recent studies that show two crime trends moving in opposite directions: adult crime is decreasing while youth violence is increasing. The most common denominator in the commission of violent crime by young people is gang membership. Since young people who join gangs come from every neighborhood, race, religion, culture, and economic level, parents need to know how to most effectively protect children from this menace. The following are signs that might indicate your child is identifying with or has become part of a gang: • Wearing of gang-style clothing. Styles change often; police or local antigang organizations can help you
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT CASEY, POSED BY MODELS know what is currently in style. • Gang-style doodling on homework, notebooks, bedroom walls, or personal property. Look especially for a “moniker” (a gang nickname). • Significant changes in behavior and attitude, including withdrawal, secrecy, and disrespect for authority. • Association with a new group of friends and rejection of relationships with longtime friends and acquaintances. • Use of hand signs and monikers and a different style of language. • An interest in gangster rap or heavy metal music. • Increased contact with law enforcement officers, beginning with truancy, curfew violations, graffiti marking or vandalism, or possession of drugs or alcohol. If you suspect your child is a gang member or in danger of becoming one, don’t make the mistake of denying your suspicions. Your feelings are probably right; you know this child better than anyone else. Talk with your child, and express your love. But don’t feel you have to deal with the problem alone. Let your bishop or branch president know, and ask him to solicit the help of youth leaders. Take advantage of community agencies, There are positive things YOU CAN DO to steer your child away from gangs. groups, and school programs that can offer you and your child support, encouragement, and even gang intervention. You can begin while your children are small to protect them from future gang involvement by strengthening your family. In their letter, the First Presidency urged “parents to devote their best efforts to the teaching and rearing of their children in gospel principles which will keep them close to the Church.” In fact, everything you do to strengthen the family can help protect your children against the influence of dangerous groups. Every individual has a basic need to belong. If the family—the basic unit of society—isn’t fulfilling that need, something else will. Sometimes, even in strong families, children will make poor choices. But if parents do everything possible to make the family the most attractive option, most children will use their agency wisely. Efforts to educate your children about gang problems may need to start earlier than you think. Experts advise letting your children know as early as their preschool years that there are people who are not good for them and that gangs are bad. With older children, discussing issues surrounding gangs and violence can be vital to preventing their involvement or to intervening if they are already ENSIGN JULY 2004 17
Page 1 and 2: THE ENSIGN OF THE CHURCH OF JESUS C
Page 3: 16 43 56 68 Protecting Your Child f
Page 6 and 7: 4 which was taken with a palsy: and
Page 8 and 9: 6 like growing up in a household wi
Page 10 and 11: 8 It has been my experience that th
Page 12 and 13: 10 warfare that rages over individu
Page 14 and 15: 12 yourselves and turn to Them, the
Page 16 and 17: 14 It is not watching television, b
Page 20 and 21: 18 involved. If you are not sure ho
Page 22 and 23: 20 explained, “The very thought o
Page 24 and 25: CHART 2: ALMA THROUGH MORMON AND MO
Page 26 and 27: BOOK AUTHOR JUDGES DATE NEPHITES AN
Page 28 and 29: BOOK AUTHOR JUDGES DATE NEPHITES MA
Page 30 and 31: 28 No. Reference Principle 1 Alma 1
Page 32 and 33: dinner. And now I understand why th
Page 34 and 35: Scheduling As the ward activities c
Page 37 and 38: PHOTOGRAPHY BY DON L. SEARLE, EXCEP
Page 39 and 40: Opposite page, left to right: Amali
Page 41 and 42: RIGHT: HISTORICAL PHOTOGRAPHS COURT
Page 43 and 44: it is their temple. They have made
Page 45 and 46: ILLUSTRATED BY CARY HENRIE I never
Page 47 and 48: women who work together to be frien
Page 49 and 50: their rights or he would take the b
Page 51 and 52: PAINTING BY ROBERT T. BARRETT of Jo
Page 53 and 54: PAINTING BY GREG K. OLSEN group arr
Page 55 and 56: Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent can w
Page 57 and 58: Submitting through Service Latter-d
Page 59 and 60: Sending out an SOS Leaders in the e
Page 61 and 62: OUR FATHER’S WORK “There are te
Page 63 and 64: DETAIL FROM CHRIST AND THE RICH YOU
Page 65 and 66: “Was it in Asahikawa that you hel
Page 67 and 68: Reaching Spencer By Emma Jo Anderso
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LEFT: ILLUSTRATED BY JOE FLORES; RI
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songs left, then one. Then the prog
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75 YEARS OF MUSIC AND THE SPOKEN WO
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cold in his bed. The couple and Sis
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Brazil Campinas N. Eugene Shawcroft
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numbers and depth of information co
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PHOTOGRAPH BY JULIE RICH GREER Full
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COURTESY OF WALT AND KATIE GASSER,
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July 2004 Ensign - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

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