What is Love anyway?

In the text book we learned about the different kinds of love: agape (unconditional), storge (between parents and children, eros (passion), and philia (friendship). So what is love when there are so many different apects and combinations of it. M. Scott Peck said, "I define love thus: the will to extend one's self for the purpose of nurturing one's own or another's spiritual growth."  I agree with Peck's answer, however I think it can apply to other aspects of an indivdiaul such as emotional, intellecutal, personal growth. We can also look to our Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ as perfect examples of love. According to the Bible dictionary, Charity is the highest, noblest, strongest kind of love, not merely affection. It is the pure love of Christ. I think that this kind of love relates well with agape in that it is unconditional and that one doesn't expect anything in return.  When we are exhorted to pray for charity in the scriptures I think this is the kind of love that God wants us to develop for ourself and others.

Satan is cunning...

In Brother William's video on same-sex attraction he mentioned a woman who said that for every gay couple there are two women without a man to marry. That really hit me because I never thought of it like that before. The family is central to God's plan and that is why Satan is doing everything that he can to destroy it.  I also thought that is was interesting that often people who feel that they are different or feel lonely tend to go down the path of same-sex attraction.  I think the key to combat this is knowing our identity, that we are children of a loving Heavenly Father and that our gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose. (The Famly: A Proclamation to the World).  If we truly knew our identity as children of God we wouldn't be deceived by Satan's tactics.

How do you define "family"?

I think that it is sad that social scientists have a hard time defining the family.  Growing up I always thought that a family had a mom, dad, and children.  According to the Family: A Proclamation to the World a family consists of a mom and dad who are married and have children.  The family is central to God's plan of happiness and this is how God intends families to be, but unfortunately the nuclear family is becoming less and less common.  What can be done to stop this trend? I think one way would be to encourage people to marry first. A family starts between a man and a woman and if they get married and are committed to each other than they can provide a good home for future children. 

Importance of Strong Marriages

This week Brother Williams said something in class that really hit me.  He basically said that a family can only be as strong as the marriage.  I aslo believe that is true because I have seen that in my own family as well as other families.  If the marriage is struggling then the rest of the family will be effected. I'm also taking a Marriage class and hope that the things I learn will help me have a strong marriage in the future.

The Gospel is True!

As I was reading the first chapter of my textbook this really stuck out to me: "It is important to note one thing more: married sex is more satisfying both emotionally and physically than is sex between the unmarried." Our Heavenly Father knows what is best for us and what will bring us true happiness.  Being chaste is very important to our Father in Heaven and that is why he has commanded us to live the law of chastity. He knows that breaking this commandment only leads to pain, sorrow, regret, and unhappiness.