This week has been interesting in terms of what we've discussed. I never before thought of how my gender affects my family and family functions. And discussing same sex attraction is something that is not often done. I am one of those people who strongly believes that we are sent here with a certain gender for a reason. Each person has divinely given roles that is part of who they were in heaven and part of who they will be. We do not need to raise our boys more like girls or girls more like boys, they should be raised the best way for them and not for anyone else. I was raised around a lot of boys but was also introduced to lots of girly things. There is nothing wrong with raising a girl to be a girl. Her feminine roles especially as a mother are more than important. And the role a father plays in his sons life is so important to their well being.

This week has been quite interesting to me. I never really thought about how social class can affect a family's entire outlook on life. I knew social class was important but not that important. I never knew some of the sacrifices that immigrants made in order to come to this country and give their children a better opportunity for education and occupation. I really look differently now at how families operate. I know that everyone is different, but I never understood that things can change so quickly in a family. I also didn't fully understand how different some people grow up. I grew up in a home where if I wanted something I worked my behind off to get it, but many didn't grow up like I did. I appreciate how I grew up, and others appreciate how they grew up as well. Families are much more complex than I ever imagined before taking this class.

I never thought that you could map family relationships. And I had a hard time at first figuring out what exactly that meant. My family for the most part seems like they have fairly normal boundaries but sometimes its hard to know when being the one in the family instead of looking and observing. Family Systems also are very important especially in the eternal perspective. Without those families and working as a unit and everyone having their part in the system is part of the Lord's plan. We discussed a lot about how a family cannot function properly without certain boundaries and rules being in place. I completely agree with that fact. I have seen many families where the boundaries were not clearly set at all and it made all the relationships strained in some way or another. I am amazed at how much I learn in this class all the time! I never expected this class to be how it is but I'm glad that it is more than I expected.

Some of the things that have been discussed in this class so far have never hit me as hard as they have lately! I didn't realize that the fertility rate all over the world is way below where it needs to be. Sooner than we think, there aren't going to be enough people to take over companies, businesses and families. And trends such as higher divorce rates and individuals marrying later just make this issue bigger and bigger. It's no wonder we as members of the church are told to multiply and replenish! Satan is using absolutely every tool he has to make the family something that is not important. I see people often who say that they don't want any kids and I can't help but think that is exactly what Satan wants. He is destroying the meaning of family even within the church. So when studying these trends, it is important to me to know how I can avoid these and also be able to teach others the benefits of avoiding these trends as well. Our future families depend on us being able to break the cycle and do what is necessary to keep family an important aspect of our lives.

Hello! I'm excited for the upcoming semester and all the things in store for this class! I'm from Idaho Falls and this is my fourth semester.