Post #6

I loved Friday's discussion! I have often thought and worried about how my marriage could change after we have our family. It was a huge comfort to me to know that it doesn't have to suffer. I was excited to be able to share these things with my husband. The whole reason why marriage satisfaction goes down is because of perception  vs. reality. It is just another way that Satan tries to destroy the family. When we are tired from a long and stressful day, we are more likely to perceive things negative about our spouse. For example unequal work load. That results in resentfulness and withdraw. Instead we need to understand that life is hard to both spouses. Both are working hard to strengthen the family and no role is greater than the other. Something that I try to do that helps my husband is I am excited when he comes home from work and I greet him at the door. By taking that small moment of time together it lets the other person know that they are important and are appreciated. I am so grateful for the things I am learning is this class. I know that it has made a difference in myself that will hopefully benefit my family. I'm so grateful for the gospel and how we get the opportunity to have strong and loving families.

Post #5

I really liked our discussion on dating. It reminded me a lot of when I was dating my husband. It was interesting to see the connections between protect, provide, and preside and paid for, planned, and paired off. It is amazing to see how we can practice our new roles and responsibilities while we are dating. Protect goes along with being paired off. Provide goes along with the date being paid for, and preside goes along with being planned. And in all those things I can be nurturing. Our Heavenly Father really has provided the way in every aspect of our lives. He is always there watching over us. He cares about the things we care about. "Because He came to earth, we have a perfect example to follow. As we strive to become more like Him, we will have joy and happiness in our lives and peace each day of the year. It is His example which, if followed, stirs within us more kindness and love, more respect and concern for others."

—Thomas S. Monson

Post #4

I have enjoyed this week so much. I have loved all the discussions. One thing that I thought was very interesting was when we were talking about how children model their parents. I never realized that little girls watch what they will be doing in life from the time they are born. I think that is so wonderful. I think it helped me to have a deep desire to be a mother as well because it is what I am comfortable doing and that I love. I also liked learning about same sex attraction. I have so much more compassion for those people. I thought it was so interesting that at two different time I told my husband all about what we discovered in class as well as my parents. I know it made my parents think more deeply about their parenting and about the messages we are sending our children. I love this class and hope to be able to learn more to make my family an eternal one.

Post #3

"[The] gospel culture, or way of life, comes from the plan of salvation, the commandments of God, and the teachings of living prophets. It is given expression in the way we raise our families and live our individual lives." —L. Tom Perry. Since I have been married I have seen how the gospel culture has become the only way to raise a faithful family. I have learned so much about the gospel in the past year. I think when we are young we don't take the gospel as seriously as we should. Not reading our scriptures for a couple day seems to be no big deal, but I think as you get older you begin to understand how real our Heavenly Father is. I am grateful for the testimony that I have. I'm glad that our Heavenly Father has given us the opportunity to become like Him and have eternal families. I love the gospel culture and know that by living it I can obtain true happiness.