Gender Roles and Same Sex Attraction

So for the last two weeks I have neglected to make any posts. That is why I have decided to give a re-cap now. two weeks ago we discussed gender roles and same sex attraction. I felt the lesson was very enlightening and changed my perspective that I have held for a very long time. We discussed in class the idea that our role as men and women is divine and that men and women are born with natural tendencies that help them to fulfill those roles. It helped me see the importance of raising children who know and understand who they are in God's plan, as a son or daughter. We then brought up the issue of same sex attraction and talked about some of the different reasons one might come to the conclusion that they are indeed attracted to the same sex. It was interesting to hear Brother Williams share examples that he had seen in his practice. He shared with us that many  people who have this problem just accept it because it is what they have been told all their life, or because they at some point, look back on their life and see evidence that to them proves that they were always different.

Speaking of these differences, between men who declare themselves as gay and those who do not, not all of them are negative. In class we pointed out that increased sensitivity, and creativity in a male do not have to be considered negative in any way. These qualities that some people call "gay" when seen in a male are actually traits that make for a wonderful friend, father, and husband. But some people will see those traits  and choose to label people very quickly , thus creating the problem that we are experiencing in our society today.

Our roles as men and women are divine. We have a responsibility to help others see that as well. There are so many in the world who feel trapped in this problem and are lost. But with the knowledge we now have we can make a difference, even it is is just by making righteous judgments. I know that Satan will try anything to strip us of our eternal blessings and that we have to fight for the family, because it is the only way to eternal progression and joy.

Family Theories

In class this week we discussed some interesting theories constructed about the family. The four main theories covered included the conflict theory, the symbolic theory, the exchange theory, and the family systems theory. Through reading and discussing these various theories I feel that I am most drawn to two of them, the symbolic interaction theory and the family systems theory. I think I associated with the symbolic interaction theory most because I realized how often I rely on symbolic interaction to communicate with others and to understand others. I realized that, as hard as it may be to accept, not everyone interprets, or uses the same symbolic interactions that I do. I think that now that I have discovered this I will be able to improve my existing relationships with my close friends and family, but also keep an open perspective when meeting new people.

I also found the family systems theory to be very interesting and helpful because it helped to explain some interactions that exist between the members of my family. One of the main points of this theory is that " the family as a whole is greater than the sum of parts." I can definitely see this being true in my family, as when one person is separated even for a short time from our home, there is a different feeling to the entire atmosphere, it feels incomplete. I have discovered since leaving home, how drastically things can change when one family member is absent. After returning home to visit in between semesters I found that the dynamic of my family had changed slightly. My younger siblings who I had cared for my whole life, had become more self sufficient and had stepped up to make up for my absence. Not to say that I had been keeping things running all on my own before I left, but I held a lot of responsibility being the oldest. I find it very interesting to see this family systems theory at work, and hope that I will be able to continue to learn about it in more depth.

A Changing World

I neglected to post last week so this post will be covering information from last week. In class we discussed societal trends. The specific trends we focused on included, the drop in birth rate, the increase in delaying marriage, the increase in births to unmarried women, the increase in cohabitation, the increase in employed mothers, the increase in people living alone, the increase in divorce, the decrease in household size, and finally, the increase in premarital sex. After studying these trends, my eyes were opened to how hard the adversary is working to destroy families. He is attacking from all angles. Once I discovered this I realized how important it was for me as a member of the church to make sure that I am prepared to raise a family the way the Lord has commanded. In an ever changing world, his gospel remains constant, and so should we. Some might be fearful or hesitant to start a family in this world that is growing increasingly dark, because they feel that failure in the family is just an inevitable part of living in these times. But I would strongly disagree, I would say that we as a people have only failed when we give up hope in a better world, when we give up faith in God. We must remember that when we have God on our side we can overcome the world.

Classmates Blog list

Family 160-05
Names	Blog
Adame, Shawn	shawnadame.blogspot.com
Woodbury, Bryea	http://myfamilyshappilyeverafter.blogspot.com/
Ayles, Nikole	http://nikoleayles.blogspot.com/
Baccile, Chris	http://chrisandheatherbaccile.weebly.com/families-are-forever.html
Bennett, Rachael	http://familiesthrougheternity.blogspot.com
Black, Marisa	http://eternalblacklove.blogspot.com/
Campbell, Braden	http://bradencampbell.blogspot.com/
Carpenter, Camette	LINK NOT WORKING
Chismar, Erin	http://thechiz-family.blogspot.com/
Coffin, Justin	http://justinputshisfamilyfirst.blogspot.com/
Davis, Erin	http://erinjdavis.blogspot.com/
Doty, Makenna	xoxokenna.blogspot.com
Erickson, Alysha	http://whatalybelieves.blogspot.com/
Hansen, Ashley	http://ashleyandtyhansen.blogspot.com/
Hanson, Katie	http://hansonkm.blogspot.com/
Jackson, Lindsey	http://lindseyloo93.blogspot.com/
Jacobs, Marty	LINK NOT WORKING
Jankiewicz, Bailey	EMAIL ADDRESS
Johnston, Becca	http://myeternalfamily101.blogspot.com/
Judd, Stephanie	No Post
Keel, Catharine	http://catharinekeel.blogspot.com/
Kelley, Jessica	EMAIL ADDRESS
King, Emily	https://emikking.wordpress.com/
Krout, Kristin	http://kristinkrout.blogspot.com/
Allen, Derek	http://successfulfamilysguide.blogspot.com/
Madsen, Lauren	http://laurenmadsen35.blogspot.com/
Manwaring, Vanessa	manwaringpajamas.blogspot.com
Marsh, Kathy	sokalmarsh.blogspot.com
Merrill, Candice	No Post
Moore, Karly	karkarmoo19.blogspot.com
Morris, Mckenna	http://morrismckenna.blogspot.com/
Moser, Logan	http://logansfamilyeternity.blogspot.com/
Parks, Michael	http://familyeverlasting.blogspot.com/
Perez, Amy	http://amyjasmineperez.wordpress.com/
Pierce, Brittany	http://myfamiliycanbetogetherforever.blogspot.com/
Powers, Sarah	http://spowers6.blogspot.com/
Roncallo, Alyssa	http://alyssakateroncallo.blogspot.com/
Sherrill, Mary	http://mybeaglethelovelylilly.blogspot.com
Simmons, Kathryn Joy	http://familyforalways.blogspot.com/
Skillings, Shayla	theskillsgirl.blogspot.com
Skinner, Mckenzie	mckenzieskinner.blogspot.com
Snell, Talia	http://taliasnell.blogspot.com/
Steinmetz, Rebekah	www.beckajosblog.blogspot.com
Tavernier, Tashara	www.tasharasforeverfamily.blogspot.com
Tekare, Meileah	No Post
Thompson, Maddi	http://madditfamilyrelations.blogspot.com/
Tucker, Addison	http://agirlandaseagull.blogspot.com/
Vasquez, Jessica	http://arollarcoasterofemotions.blogspot.com/
Lassen, Rebecca	beccalassen.blogspot.com
Beck, Stephanie	http://stephaniebeck.weebly.com/
Marsh, Cassidy	http://cassidyannmarsh.wordpress.com/about/

Introduction

Hi everyone, my name is McKenna Morris. I am from Mesa Arizona and this is my second semester here at BYU-I. I am a marriage and family studies major, with an emphasis in home and family living. I have had an amazing experience here so far and am excited to see what blessings and knowledge this particular class will bring into my life. One of my greatest desires in life is to become a great wife and mother in an eternal family. I know the things I learn in this class will help me to do that.