Many children of God will suffer greatly because we aren't willing to invite them into our homes.  When we limit the amount of children we want, we could be denying those spirit children to enter into a worthy, safe, and Gospel home.  The spirit children could end up in less fortunate homes.  We talked about this in class at the beginning of the semester and I think it's an important subject.  Many woman today either don't want children at all or they only want a certain number.  Isn't it a commandment to multiply and replenish the Earth? Weren't we women given this amazing gift to bring children into the world? In my opinion, I think it is kind of an insult to not use this great gift we have, and to succor only the needs of ourselves.  Not only is it selfish, but it is against the will of God.  There are those that are physically unable to have kids, and if they do their lives could be in jeopardy  but for those women who are able and don't, i think it is really sad.  Those who want children but can't have them, are more blessed than those who can have them, but choose not to.

In class, we talked about feminine and masculine tendencies.  This was an interesting topic. Gender is an essential characteristic in The Family: A Proclamation to the World.  We talked about feminine tendencies which include: express emotions, verbalize more, more observant, relationship oriented, cooperative, and able to be aware of many things at once. And Masculine tendencies include: upper-body strength, spatial oriented, protective and instinctive, more aggressive, more physical, competitive, and very focused on one thing.  We also talked about how opposites attract.  I believe that opposites do attract, because when we find someone that is opposite of us, they kind of fill that void.  Of course if you don't have anything in common, obviously that probably wouldn't work out, but I think it's good to find someone that has strength where you are weak, and vice versa.  Thinking about all of these tendencies and things, why are these things ordained of God? Why do you think gender is an essential characteristic?

In class today, we talked about how someone's attitude towards a family crisis can affect the outcome.  I believe in that.  We can look at things in good ways and in bad ways, and I believe that the more good we see in things, the better our lives will be and things will have a better outcome.  Even though it is hard for families that go through crisis, I believe it is important to try to look at things in an eternal perspective, and try to see things the way our Heavenly Father might see them.  A lot of people ask "why is this happening to me, to us?" but maybe our Heavenly Father has a special purpose for why things happen to us, and I think it is important to keep Him in our thoughts and remember that there is a greater purpose, even if we don't see it.

I find it interesting how families can actually become stronger when they go through a crisis.  When we are faced with a big problem, we pull together to get through and to try and solve whatever is going on.  Most people would think that family crisis would pull the family apart and tear them down, but it's just the opposite.  Through hard times is really when families come together the most.

In class last week, we talked about the different trends happening in the world today when it comes to relationships.  Some of the trends are: increase in divorce, increase in premarital sex, decrease in marriage, increase in cohabitation, and a decrease in the amount of children people decide to have.  I found it amazing how all of these tie into each other.  Increase in cohabitation would essentially lead to increase in premarital sex, not getting married, not having as many kids if any at all, and if they did decide to get married, there's a higher chance of them getting divorced.  Studying all of these in class has been fascinating to me, because one decision, like cohabitation, can lead to all these negative effects.  I think it's very important to have moral values and stay away from the dangers of what could happen by succumbing to these trends.  One point that really hit me is the trend of not having as many children.  It was a big discussion in class, if we decide to have only a certain amount of children, like having only two instead of more, are we depriving the spirit children from obtaining bodies?  What are your thoughts?

This is my first blog ever, and I'm excited about it.