Dear Gramps,
My husband is a junior professor and we are moving to a new state and a new job next year. I did not finish my studies beyond 2 years at Ricks (sorry, BYU Idaho) and he is anxious that I go to school. We are currently mired in debt and struggle to make ends meet, even with me working. We have 2 young children and are planning on a 3rd after the move, as we feel it’s what the Lord would have us do. With his new job is a great opportunity for me to go to school full time for about 1/3 the tuition it would be normally. My kind husband thinks we should “go for it” and take out student loans, to take over some of our bills, and have me go to school full time and still have little one #3. I actually like the idea, and am not afraid of hard work and sacrifice for the betterment of our family. I don’t have a dad or a granddad to ask for sage advice, so I’m asking you. Is this fool hearty?,
Jennifer, from New Mexico

Dear Jennifer,
If you feel that the Lord would have you bring a third child into the world, what are you going to do with him/her and your other two children? Abandon them to some day-care center? What could you possibly learn in two more years in the university that would enhance your ability to nurture, care for, train and enable your children to become productive citizens of the United States and worthy, faithful members of the kingdom of God? Your children have been born into perilous times! And during their lifetimes it’s going to get worse, much worse! If they do not have a firm basis of security in the home, and of prayer and testimony in their hearts, and an unimpeachable devotion to the concept of truth and righteousness, and an intimate acquaintanceship with the Savior of mankind, they will be thrown to the wolves. None of that is taught or can be learned in day-care centers, or by teen-age baby sitters.
So, as an apparently surrogate grandfather, let me respond, “Yes, this is fool hearty. Leave it alone.” If you’re really not afraid of sacrifice for the betterment of your family, that’s what I would suggest that you do–sacrifice a university degree of very questionable value for the greatest and most important calling and profession that a person could have in today’s world–that of being a caring and training mother to young children.
Gramps