Gambling is a destructive, devastating thing. Like any vice, when it comes to helping youth refrain, we can teach them the correct principles and then encourage them to be obedient. I suggest the following:

- Have the Church brochure, "Concerning Gambling: Statements from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints." (This brochure is currently being revised by the Church.)- Remove face cards and games of chance from our homes - out of our cupboards and from computers and into the garbage.

- Teach youth that they have within them the God-granted power to achieve righteous desires without the humiliation of gambling. Help them understand that gambling arouses the vilest of emotions and holds no redeeming value, even for the supposed winner.

- Help youth understand that being honest includes having the courage to do what the Lord has commanded. "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt. 16:26.)

Gambling is a form of theft. One or the other is stealing. Either you are stealing from another, if you win a bet, or you're being stolen from when you lose. There's no such thing as harmless betting.

- Point out to youth that in the media, gambling is glamorized and glorified, as are so many other moral vices. The basic premise of gambling of something for very little or nothing is satanically orchestrated and is wholly without principle.

- Teach youth that gambling is a time waster. It's been said that where we spend our time is where we worship.

- Help young people understand that sooner or later, gambling saps the economic resources of the gambler. It impoverishes his or her family. Gambling is the surest way to throw away all one has ever worked for.

Promoters of gambling have changed the name of gambling to gaming to give it a form of respectability. Gambling is beguiling and entrapping. "And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words." (Col. 2:4.) - John Earl Carpenter, Salt Lake City, Utah

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What we did:

`Just say no'

Those obsessed with gambling - past or present - know the power that betting can hold over them. The idea that somehow, some day, we will control our gambling is a great obsession of every compulsive gambler. The persistence of this illusion is astonishing. Many pursue it into the gates of prison, insanity or death.

The only path to recovery is total abstinence. So advice from recovering compulsive gamblers to young people is, "Just say no!" Just like drugs, gambling is another force that pulls us away from being happy, productive people. - Name withheld, Utah

Set good example

- Talk to your youth; educate them about gambling. Explain to them that the person playing the slot machines and other forms of gambling is losing money and not winning.

- Be a good example. Don't do lotteries or raffles. Churches, schools and city and state governments often sponsor games of chance. Some advertisers for lotteries and raffles try to convince us that we're contributing to a good cause. Gambling is never a good cause. It preys on the weak and gives false hope to those who need strength and hope the most. As members of the Church, it's our duty to not promote or participate in gambling of any kind. Our time could be spent in honest work and appropriate community fund raisers that don't involve gambling.

- Teach children that when we work, the rewards we get so outweigh looking for the easy way out, such as gambling and sweepstakes. We should concentrate on hard work and feel the reward of working hard and earning the things that we get in life. - Trina Harris, Novato, Calif.

Teach lifelong values

The answer simply lies in living the gospel and following the counsel of our living prophet. Faith is at the heart of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is in the family that lifelong values can be taught, and it is at Church that these family values are fortified as our children grow into adulthood. I suppose my teenage son said it best when one night, during a quiet discussion into the early morning hours, he said, "You know, the youth who are the strongest in the ward and those most closely living the gospel principles in their lives are those who have parents who are in Church every week." Therein lies the answer - example, example, example.

If our children see their parents not engaging in games of chance, then they, likewise, with the support of Church programs to back the parents up, will most likely follow the same course. If they never see the father and mother playing cards, buying lottery tickets, betting on horse or dog races, or buying raffle tickets, then by example the parents will have instilled in their children the idea that to do such things is wrong. How do we help our young people refrain from gambling? Simply follow the prophets in doing what they have told parents to do for decades - living the gospel in the home and supporting the Church in its programs so we can be fortified in protecting our children against the damaging effects that gambling can have in one's life. - Randy Bland, Indianapolis, Ind.

No satisfaction

You have to teach your children when they're young. You have to be an example. In this state, it's tough when it comes to gambling. We live in Kentucky, and we have lotteries and the races, etc. In our case, we had one son buy a lottery ticket and then, unfortunately, he won $10. Finally, he learned he ended up losing more than he was winning.

Teach youth that easy money doesn't last. There's no satisfaction from money gained like that. - Kathy Porter, Louisville, Ky.

Value of work

In our state, gambling is treated so casually, demonstrated by the fact that Lotto numbers are drawn on television in a positive setting. As Church leaders, we stress the basic teachings, the doctrine that games of chance are not appropriate. Children need to be taught the value of work, that a day's pay for a day's efforts put forth is fair in the Lord's eyes. Youth need to know that there is no "free lunch," that there is a penalty somewhere by someone or group when there is a so-called "winner" in something like Lotto.

We also point out that gambling is a self-defeating behavior, and is a form of selfishness, greed and disobedience, and that it is contrary to the law of consecration. One of the most important things to teach about gambling is that it is a tool of the devil. It is a distraction that he offers, an invitation in which he says, "Come with me. I'll take care of you." What really happens is that it leads to other forms of disobedience. - Pres. Jullian Kau, Morristown New Jersey Stake

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How to checklist:

1 Teach them gospel principles, such as honesty, selflessness; urge obedience.

2 Be good example; don't be involved in games of chance.

3 Educate youth about ills of gambling; teach them it preys on weak, gives false hopes.

4 Teach the satisfaction of day's pay for day's efforts.

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WRITE TO US:

March 23 "How to mend a relationship in which you have hurt another."

March 30 "How to observe the newness of life on Easter."

April 6 "How to apply the counsel of the prophet in your personal life."

April 20 "How to help children learn tolerance, understanding of those of other faiths."

April 27 "How to practice integrity in one's life."

May 4 "How to show respect, be polite while on a date as a young person."

May 11 "How to take control of, responsibility for your own life."

May 18 "How to make extra money as a youth under 16."

May 25 "How to decorate your home on a limited budget."

Had any good experiences or practical success in any of the above subjects? Share them with our readers in about 100-150 words. Write the "How-to" editor, Church News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110, send fax to (801) 237-2121 or use internet E-mail: Churchnews@desnews.com. Please include a name and phone number. Contributions may be edited or excerpted and will not be returned. Due to limited space, some contributions may not be used; those used should not be regarded as official Church doctrine or policy. Material must be received at least 12 days before publication date.