This week in class we talked about same gender attraction, where it comes from, and whether it is right or wrong. It is interesting to hear about different ways that people come to identify themselves as gay. In class we talked about the process of events that some people go through, that eventually lead to their "gay identity." Some factors that can lead a person down a path toward this "gay identity" are temperament, childhood play preferences (typical and atypical), non-specific arousal, and sexualized/romanticized exposure (pornography, molestation, etc.). There are other factors that can contribute to a person identifying as gay, these are only a few possibilities.
This is a sensitive subject, and has become even more sensitive as the LDS Church has come out with a new addition to the Church Handbook regarding it. For more information regarding the LDS Church's stance on same gender attraction, please visit:
I really love this video that was put out by the Church; Elder Christofferson clarifies the handbook change and helps us understand the purpose for it. I love that he starts this video by saying that the handbook change "originates from a desire to protect children," which is God's intent in all that he does, protects His precious children. I urge you to take the time to watch and understand this information.
I stand behind the LDS Church; I believe that gay/lesbian identity is not something that should be acted upon. I believe that gay/lesbian tendencies are a real thing for some people and that it is Satan's only hope that God's children will give in to the ever-present attraction that they are faced with. I also believe, though, that there is a way to overcome and cope with same-gender attraction, and that our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are the way back; they are the light, and they will never leave us or stop loving us.
John 14:6 "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
I have really enjoyed being in this Family Relations class. I love being in college classes because I love having so many people's thoughts and opinions influence mine. I think that a lot of people don't like to have too many influences because they are set in their thoughts, but I am the complete opposite. I love having other people to teach me new things and show me new perspectives. Over the past few weeks, it has been more than the content of the class that has inspired me. Last week we did a couple role plays in class and I really liked them. Something that I loved was Brother Williams, our teacher, and the impressive way that he would handle and lead them. I think that this is something that we can all learn from. He is a marriage and family therapist and I noticed that he does a lot of mirroring feelings. I think that if we all do this that there can be a lot of stress and conflict resolved within familial bounds. I think that as we learn to step back and hear people for what they are saying and not for what we want to say back, it will be much easier to communicate.
My name is Addi.I am
from Mesa, AZ and I love it there.I
love the heat and I would prefer it to the cold, but I have a special spot in
my heart for Rexburg, so I can bear being here in the Winter.I have 3 siblings, 2 little sisters and an
older brother.I had a pug named Presley
for 15 years, and he was the greatest dog.My major is Child Development and I am a Senior!It is exciting to think about graduating, but
I don’t feel old enough to be graduating with a bachelor’s degree…I’m only
20!I would love to become a Child Life
Specialist (CLS), and I hope I can spend some time in Idaho Falls with the CLS there
to gain a little experience and get a better feel for field.I love being in college, I have the greatest
friends, and we go on the greatest adventures.I have a cactus collection that continues to grow.I really do love BYU-Idaho with all of my
heart.
