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?