Threats to the Family

In almost all of my classes this week we have been discussing threats to the family. Does this make me nervous? You bet! Honestly, even though I'm not even remotely near the point where I'm close to having a family, I still think about these threats and how they'll affect my future family. It's scary. It's almost overwhelming how difficult their lives have the potential to be. However, in my parenting class we were talking about temperament, and this girl in my class said that even though her son is very strong willed and knows his own mind, perhaps that's a blessing for him. Perhaps it will help him to stand firm in his life when he's faced with opposition. I thought that was a very interesting and unique point of view. I thought to myself, children born in this next generation will need special help in order to stand firm against the ever strengthening forces of evil. So maybe they'll be given different personality traits and special gifts to help them stay strong.

In discussing specific threats to the family, I had to read an article for class.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/02/27/ethicists-argue-in-favor-of-after-birth-abortions-as-newborns-are-not-persons/

This is one of the articles we had to read for my child and family advocacy class. This article talks about after birth abortion and how if fetuses aren't considered people that newborns shouldn't be considered people either. Oh let me tell you, this article made me furious! I couldn't BELIEVE that there are people out there who could look at a living, breathing, beautiful baby and say, this isn't a person. If a child isn't a person what is?! By that same justification could you not then say that a teenager isn't a person, an adult isn't a person? If what constitutes a person being a person is subjective, you can justify killing anyone at any age. And THAT more than anything else scares me. What is this world coming to if what is considered "human" varies from person to person? Does nothing have meaning anymore these days? Family is being re-defined, marriage is being re-defined, but why are people being re-defined? I don't believe that God gave us the right to give life to His precious spirit children, just for us to deny that privilege for selfish and stupid reasons. If you were un-careful enough to get yourself into being pregnant, I think you should be willing to put up with the consequences. Honestly, I can't see what's so hard about the consequence of being pregnant. Okay, that sounds really ignorant. What I mean is that there are worse and much more harsh consequences to face, than that of bringing a new life into this world. I believe that only in the case of incest, rape, or threat to the mother's life should abortion even be a remote option. Even then only if the mother decides that this is what she wants. I think that would be a very hard decision to make, however, in the case of unplanned pregnancies, I don't think abortion should be an option. Especially because there are so many good and wonderful people out there who want more than anything to be parents. Why not show your child that you loved them enough to let someone else love them? I understand that it would be hard, however I feel that it would be in many many ways, the most beneficial thing a person could do for their child if they are not ready to raise a child.

I have a confession to make. In case you couldn't tell, I LOVE children. I'd love to work with children in my future career, whatever that may be. It is also one of my greatest desires in life, to be a mom. I want to have children and love them and squeeze them and teach them to know and love Heavenly Father. I realize that this is a huge responsibility, one that I am not yet ready for. However, I feel that if I rely on Heavenly Father, the teachings of the Family Proclamation, and the teachings of the prophets, that I will be guided in the ways of how to raise my children in the ways that are best for them. Another thing that stood out to me this week was reading the talk, "Teaching the Doctrine of the Family." This was a powerful and wonderful talk, if you haven't read it yet, I suggest you do. One thing that stood out to me was this quote, "Many don’t see forming families as a faith-based work. For them, it’s a selection process much like shopping." I was so blown away by that quote. How many mutual activities have I spent thinking up qualities I want in my future husband, how many times have I thought oh it would be nice to have this in my future. But, how often have I paused to think of what the REAL significance of all of that is? The point isn't what you want in a husband, although knowing that is important. The point is after you have your husband and your family, what are you doing to build up Zion? What are you doing to strengthen your family? What are you doing to teach your children? What ARE you teaching your children? One thing the LDS Church talks a lot about is progression, in this life and the next. So what am I doing in order to progress? Right now, I'm learning. I'm learning all I can so that I can get a degree, a good job if I need one, and so that I can teach my children things that are really important. Things that could be of eternal consequence. I believe that Heavenly Father has placed me here, at this school, in this time for a specific purpose. I just hope I learn whatever I'm supposed to so I can help him accomplish His goals for His kingdom, and for me.