The In-Laws (FAML)

   This week for our reading we talked about financial things and the in-laws. Lets be honest here, many of us know what we are supposed to be doing when it comes to money (the trick is applying what we know) so I will focus more on the in-laws.
     Did you know that it is proper for the girl to ask her soon-to-be in-laws permission to marry their son? I had no clue, and I probably wouldn't have been brave enough to actually do that when it came down to it. Its moments like this when I am so grateful I am a girl.
   The most part of what I remember from the reading was about cleaving to our spouses and not to our parents. There is a verse in the bible that says "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and shall cleave unto his wife." A lot of times there are problems in marriages because the wife and her mother have too close of a relationship. Its ok to be close to our parents but we wives need to make sure that we are not giving our moms every detail of our married lives. It seems small and harmless, but Its actually really interesting what kind of damage that can do to a marriage.
    A friend once told me, and I think I have told you this before, "keep your marriage in your marriage." She said, there will be times when he bugs you. You get over it because you love him. When you tell your mom or dad the things that are wrong with him and how it bugs you, they won't forget it. The sad thing is that I can definitely see this being true. My friends have come to me and told me things about their boyfriend or husband and I have a lot harder of a time trying to let it go and see this guy the same way. We want our parents to see our spouse in a good light always.
     The other important thing to remember is that when we do talk to our parents or ask for advice, they are not the first people we should turn to. We are supposed to talk things out with our spouse and try to figure things out that way. If together that still doesn't work, then if you both feel ok about it you can talk to the parents and get their input.
    I think the main purpose of this reading was to teach us to love our parents still but to make sure that we are turning to our spouse first in all things.

Receiving Answers (FDREL)

What Holy Ghost Does:                                                 What Disciples need to do to have Holy Ghost:
1) Comforts                                                                        1) Bear Witness of the Truth
2) teaches                                                                           2) Keep His commandments
3) Helps you remember                                                     3) Be worthy
4) Gives Heavenly Peace                                                  4) Love the Lord
5) Testifies
6) Reprove the world of sin
7) Guide in all truth
8) Gives testimony of the Savior
9) Purifies us



How did the Holy Ghost Help the Apostles after Christ's death and Resurrection?
      The Holy Ghost was the one who taught the apostles after the Savior left the earth. He helped them remember the teachers of Jesus and helped them to convey His gospel with power and authority. The Holy Ghost touched other's hearts so they could know that what the apostles were saying was true. He was the reason the apostles could be in different places and still teaching and testifying of the same things.

     The Holy Ghost has been an amazing help since I have been baptized. For those of you who are not members of the LDS we believe that when we are baptized we are blessed with the gift of the Holy Ghost, which means we can always have Him to help us and have Him by our side as we are worthy. Before baptism we believe that He can still touch us and help us but he cannot be with us constantly until after we are baptized.
     It has been 14 years almost to the day since I have been baptized. So there are 14 years of experiences that have really shaped who I am, because I have the gift of the Holy Ghost. One experience that stands out to me is when I was nannying and I was asking what to do next with my life. It was a strange question for me to ask because I knew I needed to go back to school and continue my education. But for some reason I asked what was next. I went to the Salt Lake City LDS temple to worship and receive answers. I didn't feel like I was getting any answers while I was there.
     Afterward I came home and sat down on my couch. It was quite in the room and I had time to sit and think. After just a few moments I had a very strong feeling that I needed to serve a mission for my church. So I called my church leaders and sent in my application. After just three months, I was in California serving the people of Ventura. I loved it all and I know that I needed those experiences. It was because of the Holy Ghost that I went. I would have never thought to go on my own. But my life has been changed because of it.

Gimme Gimme Gimme! (FAML)

      All growing up my friends had many more toys and expensive things than I did, like the ipod nano or a “razor” cell phone. I always wanted what they had. Even then though, I always noticed a difference in how those friends treated their friends and family. They were not respectful and always had to have things their way. Those were the friends who I never wanted to hang out with outside of school because they were not fun to play with. They were selfish and rude more often than not.

    “As Dr. John Rosemond counseled: “Give your children regular, daily doses of Vitamin N. This vital nutrient consists simply of the most character-building two-letter word in the English language––‘'No’ . . . Unfortunately, many, if not most, of today’s children suffer from Vitamin N deficiency”

  This quote sums those kids up perfectly. They were very deficient in “vitamin N”.  Even in Elementary school I could see the difference in how they acted. That doesn’t mean I stopped asking for things or didn’t complain a little when I didn’t get something I wanted. It did however help me to see the reasoning behind everything my parents did. I saw that it wasn’t just because they wanted to be mean to me. They wanted me to be the kind of person that others would enjoy being around.

    I love how Dr. Richard B. Miller says in a healthy family “there is a clear heirarchy between parents and children.” Our kids can be our friends, but they are first our children and our responsibility. We are supposed to raise them and teach them what is right and wrong. We can’t do that if we are just a friend who gives them whatever they want when they want it.

    I am grateful for my parents not giving me everything I want. It has really helped shape who I am. I can go without now. I know the difference between what I want and what I need. It saves me money, time, and energy. I think that is something everyone should learn before they are out and living in the world without their parents around. It makes a big difference.