Family Relations catch-up

I've been asked to do a blog for my FAML 160 class about something we learned that week and some insights we have had. So I have been a little behind in my weekly updates. I can honestly say that life has been a little crazy this semester. So far I have learned quite a bit in my classes though. I thought I would just do a quick catch up on some of the things I have learned in my FAML 160 class so far in this post. From here on, I will be doing a weekly update, like I'm supposed to be doing. :)

Introduction week:
I was only able to attend the Thursday class this week because I wasn't added to the class until later. That day we were required to read the talk given by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, "The Challenge to Become". In his talk he spoke about how Christ has challenged us to 'become' something. He spoke about how the final judgement won't be so much based on good and evil and it will be based on what we have done.

"It is an acknowledgment of the final effect of our acts and thoughts—what we have become. It is not enough for anyone just to go through the motions. The commandments, ordinances, and covenants of the gospel are not a list of deposits required to be made in some heavenly account. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a plan that shows us how to become what our Heavenly Father desires us to become."

Like he was describing, it's not enough to just go through the motions and just do what we're told. It's about why we do those things and how our heart is changed. Are we truly converted? Are we really trying to BECOME like Christ? Those are the type of questions we need to be asking ourselves.

Week 1:
This week I was only able to attend on Tuesday because I had my baby on Thursday. But, on Tuesday we were required to read about research methods and cautions. In this class discussion I thought it was interesting how many different ways there are to do research and how most of them are not very reliable sources. It's good to find out what cautions we need to take, so we don't just believe everything that we read or see because it's considered "science". We need to be careful when we are making a decision about something based on research that it's an informed decision and we don't base our decision solely on the research that is "100%" guaranteed.

Week 2:
This week I was also only able to attend on Tuesday because my son was circumcised on Thursday. Hopefully I'll be able to attend everyday for the rest of the semester. I feel like I have really missed out on a lot of good discussions and opportunities to learn so far. This week I thought it was really interesting to learn about the 'family systems'. I thought the discussion about boundaries was especially interesting and made me think about what kind of boundaries I want to have in my own family. I know that I want my husband and I to be one boundary and then us and our children to be a separate boundary. I want to have clear boundaries set up for each other and our children. I think it's important for your children to know the boundaries you have set up in your family so that there is no confusion as to the roles in the family. I also want to have clear set up rules, which I'm sure will change as life changes, but I think it's important to be consistent in keeping up with certain rules.

Well I think I'm all caught up now. I will be making a weekly update each week from now on.