Communication can mean everything.

    Communication is a huge part of everyone in this world. Words, languages, feelings and symbols can have meaning when we talk to others. The word communicate means to share or exchange information, news, or ideas and feelings. Language creates a shared meaning.the root word commune means to come together. Communication can be used for good or for bad, and it has an impact on those who are in discussion.
    When I was growing up,my communication with my mom was very hard. Most of the time we argued and fought all the time. This really affected how we felt individually and the rest of the family struggled helping us. Over time it has gotten better. This is something that we have both worked on and a major factor that has helped is realizing its okay to disagree. Everyone has their own opinions, but from what I have been taught, Christ doesn't want people to argue and hurt others.
     Communication is so important because, when you have a certain feeling or thought, you want people to listen and think about what you want to tell them. When you yell or try to force your ideas upon someone, the chances of them listening to you are very slim. Being a missionary, they taught us never to bible bash or argue with other people. we needed to represent Christ, and we are there to invite not force.  At the beginning of my mission, I struggled with this and after a while I came to realize they weren't ever going to listen and we weren't going to change what we taught.
    Communication of a baby,to a toddler, to a teen, and to an adult changes over time. As a baby most know when they need something they lay there and cry. as a toddler most will either say a few small words, or just point at something. At a teen most guys will either grunt, and girls love to talk about drama. As adults, starting to work in businesses and talking to other adults, they are mostly better at expressing what they want to say.
    Two of my sisters have children. My nieces and nephews are all under the age of three. I have gotten to watch as they communicate to others. An example I want to share is about my niece. As she is growing up and learning words, she practices sign language to help her understand the words meaning. she is getting better and it is very cute.
    Communication is so important in our lives. Some like me have a hard time expressing our feelings through words. and there are others like my brother and dad who can just walk up to anyone and start a conversation. No matter if you are really good, or bad at communicating, there is room for improvement, and Christ will help you. I know this to be true, because I have seen people who serve missions in a different language and country learn and have meaningful conversations with the native people.Keep your head up and keep working at your communication.

Is stress a good or bad?

     Stress is the physical pressure, pull, or other force extorted on one thing by another;strain. In our world everyone deals with some sort of stress. Our leaders in ways have stress from trying to balancing schedules to working on a situation that affects other people.Our cops in a way have a lot of stress when a fight breaks out or someone is trying to run or shoot at them when they are caught breaking the law.
    When I was in the MTC(Missionary Training Center) they taught us about stress. They said there were levels of stress. Good, okay, bad, and very bad. They talked about which level you were by how you would react to stress.From Church leaders, they have said the stress levels have increased due to not being able to work hard,  sins they hadn't fixed before they came out, and not having technology to turn to when it gets hard etc. Our world has changed a lot just even with the effects Technology can have on us.
     In families stress is defiantly a huge thing we have to deal with. some of the things that can cause stress is: different family members schedules, what people like to eat, the personalities like if some like sports, or some like dancing and drama, or arguments over chores. I know in our family we have dealt with some minor stress to some major stress. No matter what was going on, what kept us together was we never gave up on each other. Just as an example when my brother and i got in a heated argument I decided to run all over town. This caused tons of stress on my parents even to get neighbors and a helicopter looking for me. I have grown up a lot since then, but what I did wasn't fair to my parents and we worked through it together.
     There are people and families that when stress comes they can handle it, but sadly this inst the case with everyone. There are some that when it gets hard, they turn to abandonment, divorce or just even treating others worse. I heard of this car accident where a teenage boy was out drinking and decided to gt behind the wheel. He had a head on collision with this family where most died.Can you imagine getting the phone call of what your son did, or that your relatives passed away in a tragic accident? This puts tons of stress on more than just those involved and it is very real.
    There is also good stress though as well. Work,school work can be a good kind of stress to teach you things that will benefit you as you grow up. I know as a kid i would go out for some weeks and help work at my uncle's store and even though it was hard, the feeling of finishing a task, making something better was a great accomplishment. There is a scripture 1 Nephi 3:7 where it talks about the Lord wont give us anything we cant handle.

Marriage Intimacy

      Intimacy is very common in our world today.This topic can be hard to discuss sometimes just due to how personal and sacred it should be. In our world today, Intimacy has been defined and used in many different ways that can be to horrific to talk about.It has been used for selfish desires that tare souls apart. When we misuse this it effects them and those around them. Pornography is a huge part of it being misused and sadly it is more accessible then it was some years ago. When it is used for selfish desires, it creates a dark feeling and always leaves those feeling empty and they lust for more.
       If people new that it is meant to be with a special spouse when married and only to that person the meaning of intimacy would be more sacred.In our world we find it happening without side the marriage bonds and it can cause heart ache more than they realize. There are those who do save themselves for marriage the blessings of true love and children come and have more meaning.The bonds of trust it can create between spouses can make them happy.
       The things that happen between husband and wife should be kept between them. There are some who talk about it with others, and they don't realize that it is starts to put a strain between them. Many also take what they see from movies and expect it to be perfect and be just as romantic. This is a folly way and couples should talk to each other and be patient.They should tell the other what feels good and what doesn't and  keep that just between them.God made this sacred and special. If we follow his counsel then we will be more happy and true love between a husband and a wife will grow stronger every day.

First years of marriage

    In the first few years of a newly wed's life, what do you think goes on? Do you think work will be easy, chores at home just happen, there are no problems or trials that come along with bills or callings? It is insightful to talk, and to realize just because you are now married that things will be happy and easy for both you and your spouse. When growing up as a child marriage is the farthest from our minds. I never really payed attention or understood till I had grown older. Some  may have the attitude of because they are really in love, everything will be smooth and be happy all the time.Getting married isn't always easy.  When you move in, there are many little things that you learn about the other that possibly did't come up when dating. Some example can be like cleaning habits, sleeping habits, do they snore, do they have a type A personality or type B personality, pet peeves and more. I have heard how a husband was a morning person and his wife was a night person. When he wanted to do things in the morning he struggled being quiet and when it was night time, his wife wanted to watch TV while his husband was trying to sleep. This would cause arguments between them.Three important topics I believe that will help any marriage work is  One: trust each other,Two:  work together, and Three: involve God.
      First, trusting one another may be different from when you were dating and when you are married.A lot of people depend on themselves because when they were single.They just depended on themselves and didn't really have to answer to someone else. Once you are married, letting your spouse know when things come up, where you will be going can ease the other and shows you can be trusted.There are times when an activity come's up.There are some husbands or wives that would just leave without telling the other, and it could cause the other to wonder if they are cheating on them. This can cause problems and the trust between them can be smothered out if they aren't careful.
   The second is to work together. Looking back on my family, I can remember each Saturday mornings after my parents would get back from the temple, it was cleaning and yard work day. Those were some of the happiest memories I can remember. I would watch as we all worked, Mom, Dad and the kiddos. If  something didn't seem right with my mom she would talk to my dad and they worked together till both were happy with the results. I never saw them try to make the other do things their way,They would talk about it and I saw how happy it made them.
     Third is to involve God.In the world today, there are many couples who aren't religious, and don't try to involve God in their marriage. They just don't understand how much God does for them or what he can do for them. My parents are a great example to me when it comes to involving God. Every Saturday mornings, they go to the temple early. My dad has told me since being married in college at BYU, their first calling was to be regular Temple attendees. He has told me even with how busy they were and trying to balance classes, jobs, taking care of kids, they picked a time every week and they went. To this day my parents are still regular Temple attendees. Another example that i have witnessed from my parents evolving God is their prayers. Every morning and night they will say one together, and then say their own after scripture study. I remember if I had a question for one of them and they were praying, I would wait quietly till they were done.
    Marriage can be a great thing. It never was meant to be easy, but it is possible, and worth it. At the end of the day, if you truly love someone for eternity, there is no argument, no trial, or task, that cant be worked out and fixed. Even though i am lucky to have great examples in my life, I can't turn a blind eye when I know that every marriage doesn't come out on top. It is simply because of sin's, they give up on each other and their attitude changes and becomes selfish. An important question to ask yourselves before you propose, or get proposed too is : Am i ready to not be selfish and to really give everything when I have nothing to give because we will lean on each other and God?

Marriage

    Marriage in our society has changed dramatically over many years. It can be different for many families. Reading the bible and other scriptures, from Adam and Eve they were married man and wife. We don't practice this now but at times there used to be polygamy. As the years have come and gone if you pay attention, the meaning of marriage has changed dramatically. Even just talking with parents, and grandparents, they tell how much marriage has changed. In the Year 1995, The church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints came out with a proclamation called " The Family: A proclamation to the World". Talking with my dad and other leaders, who were old enough to remember really didn't know why or understand what the purpose was. They claimed that they never imagined what is going on now to ever happen. Just in a few years, the family and marriage has been attacked and changed in so many ways.Some examples of dramatic change is: they just move in without getting married, divorce and  gay/ lesbian marriages. In our society today the attitude is do what you want and you shouldn't tell someone how to live their lives.
     When you stop and look at which marriages are more happy, you can realize the standards God has set provides the most happiness if you follow and keep his commandments and standards that he knows will bless your lives. I know iv'e heard and seen how much differences from a man and wife to single parenting or non existing marriages have. They may be able to work with what they can, but they really don't ever get to experience having someone else there by your side to help provide, protect, nurture and raise children. The children can notice as well.
    We sometimes forget that even when they are married or not what choices they make just doesn't affect the individual, but everyone else in the family. Some examples of bad choices are not going to work, not doing homework, not cleaning up or doing yard work, drinking, doing drugs, cheating, watching pornography and many other choices. These choices can destroy a family and marriage. We all know someone who has gone through this. This is what Satan wants to happen and he encourages individuals to participate in these actions. But God is completely different. he wants you to make good choices, because he cares and he knows when you chose to be responsible and be a good person, it will make you and your family stronger and happier.
    Marriage is meant to be something special and sacred between two people.  If everyone understood this, most of the deaths, wars tragedies would drop and our world would increase in happiness. We need to do our part to inform and help other's. By saying something can make a huge difference. God loves us and knows Marriage is to make us happy. We need to listen and make better choices.

Boys and Girls.

    The topic of boys and girls has been a huge discussion in our world today especially when it comes to people changing their gender or their likes towards gender. We see more in our world in the past few years of either guys  becoming more like girls and girls becoming more like guys. Its both acceptable by some while others it is looked down upon. In our world today, if a person feels like they aren't a boy and want to change they have their rights to become the opposite gender. Its more likely to hear of a guy or a girl having a body change to have the same body parts as the opposite gender now then it was like 5-10 years ago.
     While God does give us  a path to follow, he also lets us use our agency which either a good consequence or bad consequence follows not from man but from God. It has been said that these kids changed because of  how they behaved and were raised as young kids. As boys the general observations was that they were into guns, cars, always being adventurous, picked fights, played sports etc. Girls on the other hand were more into like playing with dolls, reading, acted more of the nurturing type of person. In a way maybe its just me these can be some of the roles either a father might play, or a mother might play.
      For me growing up, in our family I had  one brother and three sisters. I was more of the adventurous kind. I like to play sports, go camping and just be outdoors. But at the same time my parents taught me important lessons. I remember being taught to do chores first then play after. I was taught to show manners to women because one day I would marry one and maybe have daughters of my own.When I was a teen  my parents have been trying to teach me the roles of fatherhood and as for my sisters they were taught the roles of motherhood.
    At the same time not everyone is raised this way. There are so many different situations where either the kid is raised with a dad and or mom, the parents leave, or the dad or mom is abusive or drunk. There has been studies that says if  the boy is raised by a mom the chances of them growing up feminine is high.The same goes if a  girl is raised by a dad and has the chance of growing up masculine.By theses behaviors in a way they use this to make them feel like they can change there bodies from either a girl to guy or a guy to girl.

Family

   Since Adam and Eve, the family has been a key topic in society. It has especially evolved and there has been changes like polygamy, divorce, single parenting, gay, lesbian parenting, or the parents aren't married but have kids and live together. In 1995 the LDS church came out with the Family proclamation to the world. I have read it and it really gives the guide lines and law of what God expects from us.
     The family is very important, and with the world we live in today it as been attacked and we know Satan is the one behind it all. Some of the ways that the family is being attacked is the roles of Fatherhood and Motherhood.I know I have heard from my grandfather that in his time and before the husbands would be the ones to go to school, get and education and go to work to provide and protect his wife and family. The mothers were staying home, raising the children, doing laundry, cooking, comforting their children and teaching the kids.
      In just a few generations, the family roles have changed.You find more often the mother's going to work and it really changes the kids lives growing up. you find the kids more often distant from their parents and siblings, wanting to do what pleases them, and they tend to get into more trouble.
       When I was in high school, I went to this camp where many other guys came from different states and even one from Australia. Each night we would all sit around the campfire and talk about our lives and hearing the experiences were stunning and hard to hear. I kid you not when asked what their parents did most to all said they both worked and would hardly ever be at home. It was hard to hear peoples life stories of broken homes,and how blessed I was.As some might not know, I was an orphan the first year of my life in Tula, Russia. I had no parents just a crib and other babies in the same situation as me. But it was a miracle that my brother who was adopted from a different orphanage and I were brought to America and sealed into an LDS stable traditional family. Not many get that opportunity but I hope one day that I can help the families who have broke homes and help strengthen them
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