Social Class

Are there social classes in America? This has been the topic of discussion throughout this week and how it may affect the family structure. Whether or not you want to admit it, there are social classes in America. These divides in our culture may not be clearly defined, but they do have an impact in the people we interact with. I often wonder how a different neighborhood, a different money situation, or the displacement into a different culture completely would have changed my family dynamics. The views of those with a bigger income compared to those with small incomes usually differ greatly. This is not to say one is better than the other in any way. But it's interesting to see how families in these different social classes interact with one another, what values are most important to them, disciplinary actions they take, or how they view and treat other people below or above them on the social class spectrum.

I am grateful for the living situation I was able to grow up in. I was blessed with solid parents who loved me and were deeply committed to God. Growing up in Texas provided many opportunities for physical activity outside and missionary work. As a result, we grew to be a very out-going family and interacted with many others outside our own family. But when we moved to Idaho and into an already tightly knit community of the same religion, our actions slowly changed. It was much colder there, so our main source of entertainment was indoors and usually at home. My sisters and I grew much closer because most of our time was spent indoors together instead of with other neighborhood friends outside. We also lived by many extended family members and became close friends with them. Therefore, we became less out-going to others outside our family. It was much harder to play with friends outside our family and there were less opportunities for missionary work. But our family bonds grew much closer as a result of this societal and environmental change.

I challenge you to think of how your own family would compare given a different social or cultural situation. Would it have been better or worse?

Symbols

As I learned about Symbolic Interaction Theory this week, I realized how the principles in this theory have greatly impacted my life, for good and bad. Symbolic Interaction Theory deals basically with our perception of various situations. In plain terms, everything has different meanings or symbols to different people. And sometimes these symbols get mixed up and affect our communication, feelings, and interactions with others. Essentially, we may be easily lost in translation of the same experience! This of course is true UNLESS we recognize there is potential for miscommunication when we do not clarify the symbols someone has associated for a similar experience.

I think an example will clear up any confusion on the matter:     
Every morning, a woman's husband had to leave early in the morning before she woke up. Every morning, this woman woke up to all the drawers in their bedroom left open. She thought this was an extremely rude gesture of her husband to open all the drawers without closing them. She knew he was doing this just to spite and annoy her. Finally, this woman confronted her husband and told him she could not stand it one more morning. She would not have him be so unkind to her anymore. The husband was stunned by this confrontation; he left the drawers open every morning in order to not wake his wife with the noise of closing the drawers.

I believe understanding each others symbols and associations to human actions is huge in our communication with family members, spouses, and with anyone whom we associate with. When we can empathize with and gain perspective of the feelings and emotions of anyone we interact with, our own perspective will change. We will more readily be able to effectively associate and communicate with all those around us. Our families will learn through this way how to interact in a more loving and understanding nature.

I challenge you to understand the symbols of a situation to another person who's perspective on the matter may be completely different from that of yours. Discover why they feel that way about this particular action.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

The Family

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A Proclamation to the World

The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints 

 

We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.

The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.

We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.

Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.

The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

I bear my testimony of the truthfulness of this proclamation. I know the family is central to our Father in Heaven's plan of happiness for His beloved sons and daughters. I am grateful for my wonderful family here on earth and know that I am able to be with them throughout the eternities through the sacred sealing ordinances performed in temples around the world.

I thought it necessary to begin this blog on families by making clear my beliefs on the family. I will continue to quote this proclamation made by latter-day prophets throughout this semester. Can't wait to continue my testimony of family through this public journal!