Posts

For my final post I wanted to talk about aging a little bit, but I also wanted to end with a reiteration of why these posts have meant so much to me. First off, aging seems like a strange topic to be writing about right? I personally try not to think too far ahead because the future can seem quite daunting and overwhelming. However, sometimes it is good to think about the future and what you want yours to look like. It is important that we make decisions now that will benefit us later on in our lives. Typically, there seems to be a fairly negative connotation surrounding the principle of aging. Maybe the first thought that comes to mind is getting old, becoming dependent, and less capable. This sort of lifestyle surely seems less than desirable, yet many elderly people are even happier than they were in their younger years. Why might someone who is older, actually be happier than when they were younger? It could be a number of things, but really depends on how they lived their live
Last week we talked a little bit about fathers and this week I wanted to focus more on parenting. More specifically, I wanted to discuss how important it is to develop a relationship with your children where you both can feel comfortable coming to each other, as well as posses a mutual respect and understanding. So what is the purpose of parenting? I believe it is to help children become disciples of Christ. I believe it is a very sacred and important calling that Heavenly Father has graciously trusted us with. It is very personal. Each child in each family is very different, and as such, requires different parenting techniques. In other words, your parenting style may have to vary from child to child. It is also essential to teach of Christ not only by word, but by action. This means showing your children how much you love Christ by the things you do each day. Transmit your righteous values and standard onto your children, so they may adopt similar Christlike behavior. Furthermore
This week I wanted to discuss the importance of fatherhood. In today’s world, the role of a father can be a little undermined.  We have talked in previous blog entries about the different, but equally essential roles, both mother and father have in a family unit. By claiming “it does not matter who does what,” it significantly undermines the way Heavenly Father created male and females, mothers and fathers. For this post I wanted to solely focus on fathers, but do recognize the role and duties of a mother are just as beautiful and essential. By design, males were created to possess certain attributes that will help them become the best father they can be for their family, if they put forth the effort. There are also specific duties that fathers must fulfill, while relying on Heavenly Father and their wives whenever they need help. I would like to recognize some of the most important attributes of a father based on a few articles I have read, as well as my own personal experience. F
We discussed a little on communication last week but as I have said previously, I believe communication is one of the most important elements of any relationship. Therefore, I wanted to convey its importance even further, as well as describe some techniques that can significantly improve a relationship. A lack of communication can lead to misunderstandings, unsaid feelings, or contention. I have witnessed in my own family a fairly significant lack of communication which has driven some family members apart, making it difficult to feel the Spirit in our home. Sometimes people just do not want to talk. So what do you do when someone refuses to communicate or open up? Let us begin with another valid question: what are the reasons for someone to not open up? Perhaps he or she has a fear that the other person will not understand where they are coming from, or maybe fears being judged. Perhaps the person does not feel they can trust or feel comfortable around the person they do not want to
Sometimes life can get extremely stressful. It happens for anyone and everyone. It can happen at anytime. It is essentially inevitable. However, how we deal with the stress that inevitably comes is important for the well being of ourselves and our families. Whenever I experience stress, which I do quite frequently, I have found that my immediate reaction is to try and distract myself. Turning away my attention from a stressful situation or a current or future stressful event is in fact not the most beneficial way to cope. Instead of communicating my concerns to someone I trust and care about, I would just go hang out with friends, watch a show on Netflix, or something along those lines. It seemed like I was just avoiding my problems, rather than solving them. I am sure my family and friends noticed in times where I was more stressed because it came across in my behavior and my manner. I was less patient with myself and others, was in my head more and less focused on those around me,
The topic I am going to write about this week may seem a little odd coming from an 18 year old who has never been married but I wanted to discuss the importance of intimacy and fidelity. Intimacy is dictated by God. It is not just a desire of the natural man that people should treat lightly. God has given us the gift of intimacy for us to be united with our spouse as husband and wife, and to bring His spirit children to this earth. It is one of His sacred gifts meant to bless our lives, and we must treat it as such. It is selfless, considerate, spiritual, an opportunity to work together, to be vulnerable, to grow. It is meant to be exclusive, set aside, for husband and wife. During marriage is it essential that they covenants they make with God are upheld and that they treat each other and God with immense respect and love. Getting to experience intimacy with solely the person you love more than anyone on earth is much more worth it than not reserving this physical and spiritual bond.
Last week, I discussed dating and its importance. It allows you to get to know many different people a little bit and lets you figure out what types of things you are looking for in a relationship. This week, I wanted to talk about marriage in its preparation and beginning stages. As dramatically portrayed in various movies, it is assumed that the bride-to-be is essentially supposed to plan the wedding with the help of a wedding planner, her mother, or other friends and family members. However, usually the groom is not really involved. Why might that be? Does the groom not want to participate in the planning? Does the bride not want him to? I never really thought twice about how there is such an assumption that its the bride's day and her wedding and her job to plan. Although it would make much more sense to involve the other half of the relationship. It is their day, their wedding. Perhaps planning this incredible, life changing event together instead of separate, would start of