Family Relations Class - Joslyn Mortensen

Monday, February 4, 2013

Week 1/28/13

I do think that all cultures are equal in terms of being right and wrong as far as their own beliefs go. I agree with some of the earlier comments that I read through – that culture is similar to our religion. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not say that any other churches are necessarily wrong or that they are sinning. Instead we know that they are worshipping in a way that they believe to be right and it is just that they do not have the whole truth. Perhaps some cultures just do not have all the resources or necessary information to know that the things that they are doing aren’t especially correct. The American culture can learn several things from other cultures as well. For instance, we can learn from Latin cultures the greater importance of families or the friendliness of Brazilians or the honesty of the Japanese culture. These are all things to consider and to be aware of when judging other people. Cultures are different and thus, it is not a wise thing to say if someone is doing good or bad because we don’t know their situation, beliefs, or values.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Week 1/21/12

This week I was impressed at the family mapping we did. I try to be aware of my family relationships, but it was interesting to see what the relationships in my life look like when I have to write them down and categorize them. Also, the interactive class discussion of the married couple at a therapy session was intriguing. I realize it if I think about it, but it was interesting to bring to light the fact that when a therapist focuses on negative emotions and asks about the emotions that draw their clients away from their family - the patient ends up being more attached to the therapist. This puts the therapist in a heroic view that is wrong but makes sense in therapy because its good for business in order to keep clients coming. Something that I want to try to apply in my life is this concept when I speak to my friends and family. I want to be sure to ask questions that are positive and point people in the right direction instead of planting seeds of contention down as separation. This is the same concept that applies to a couple when having problems, a mother or friend can act as the 'bad therapist'. Even if this is by accident, it is important for couples to communicate to each other and not necessarily involve others.

Friday, January 18, 2013

1/18/13 Class Reflections

Before this week I didn’t think that the number of children I have made much of a difference – I was indifferent about the matter. I know that eventually I will have children but I never thought too much about how many. However, this week’s research has greatly influenced my thinking. There is so much affected by the fertility rate in the world. The lack of incoming children is creating an economic demographic for the future that current societies are not aware of. The social security and retirement is falling to pieces because the population is dwindling, which means that fewer people are going to have to work harder to put the elderly into retirement. Where we currently have 3 people working for every 1 elderly person, soon it will be only 2 for every 1 elderly and eventually only 1 on 1 if we continue with the economic decline we are in. Economic turmoil isn’t the only thing that lurks in our future. Children who don’t have any siblings have a greater chance of social hinderment and loneliness which increases chances of depression. The demographic consequences of having more children fully support everything that our prophets have to say to us. The fact that our church is centered around the family and that is the basic component that lies at the root of so much economic turmoil only strengthens my testimony in my beliefs and in the fact that the prophets are men of God who are inspired to give us the revelation that they do.