Monday, April 29, 2013

Student Choice Assignment- A Tower to Reach Heaven

For this week's assignment I chose to discuss the tower of Babel. The purpose of building the tower was for the people to reach heaven because they wanted an almost easy way out. This angered the Lord because they were trying to cheat His plan and this was not what the Lord wanted or intended of us. He decided to scatter the people by creating different languages so, that those who wanted to build the tower could not communicate with one another to do so.

An example of this to me would be when a student decides to cheat on a test or assignment. This is not what the teacher wanted from the student and has given clear directions and instructions not to do so. However, some individuals disregard what they have been taught and also what they have been told and choose to do what will benefit them, but only temporarily. In the long-term they are only cheating themselves and are disrespecting themselves, others (teacher, classmates) and also Heavenly Father. He wants us to reach our full potential and we can only do this if we are honest, obedient and work toward the ending goal righteously and correctly.

This relates to the tower of Babel and reaching heaven because even though their intentions might have been good, their actions and desires were not. Just like cheating, we have the motivation to want to do well and receive a good score, but that's not the way to do it. In today's world it seems people are becoming more greedy and selfish and want things right away, instead of patiently waiting or working hard toward goals. People are focusing too much on the name they make for themselves and not enough on what the Lord thinks of them or truly wants for them. We can take upon the name of the Lord by obediently following his commandments and loving him enough to want to always strive to make Him happy and pleased with what we do and how we live our lives.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Divorce and Remarriage

In class this week we discussed divorce and remarriage and the effects each has. One of the questions asked was "How are boys affected more (negatively) by divorce? Some of the answers were that sons miss out on the fatherhood role model and they act more aggressive. There was a study done that said kids ages 12-15 who had experienced their parents getting divorced had fathers who lived 400 miles away. Some of these possible reasons were because of work, a new relationship, and wanting a new start, which usually comes from the mother. It also said that 70% of males re-married 2 yrs after a divorce and 70% of Americans said that they could've and should've saved their marriages. This is a powerful statement and I think if couples remembered why they fell in love with each other and worked through problems effectively and with compassion and understanding, then they would be more forgiving of one another and be able to keep a happy, healthy marriage.