Cultural Science - Lecture 2

Our culture is directly influenced by the government that governs our countries. A very important election is coming up in American in the November election. While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints encourages it's member's to participate, the church itself has a strict political neutrality policy. This policy is:



The Church does not:


Endorse, promote or oppose political parties, candidates or platforms.


Allow its church buildings, membership lists or other resources to be used for partisan political purposes.


Attempt to direct its members as to which candidate or party they should give their votes to. This policy applies whether or not a candidate for office is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.


Attempt to direct or dictate to a government leader.


The Church does:


Encourage its members to play a role as responsible citizens in their communities, including becoming informed about issues and voting in elections.


Expect its members to engage in the political process in an informed and civil manner, respecting the fact that members of the Church come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences and may have differences of opinion in partisan political matters.


Request candidates for office not to imply that their candidacy or platforms are endorsed by the Church.


Reserve the right as an institution to address, in a nonpartisan way, issues that it believes have significant community or moral consequences or that directly affect the interests of the Church.
In the United States, where nearly half of the world’s Latter-day Saints live, it is customary for the Church at each national election to issue a letter to be read to all congregations encouraging its members to vote, but emphasizing the Church’s neutrality in partisan political matters.
Relationships With Government


Elected officials who are Latter-day Saints make their own decisions and may not necessarily be in agreement with one another or even with a publicly stated Church position. While the Church may communicate its views to them, as it may to any other elected official, it recognizes that these officials still must make their own choices based on their best judgment and with consideration of the constituencies whom they were elected to represent.


(Taken from the LDS Newsroom on lds.org - for more information go to http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/public-issues/political-neutrality)





One of our goals in the Cultural Science college is "Learn about your country's election process, and write at least three paragraphs on what you discover." The media in the United States seems to think that the mass population is ignorant of such facts. Every election I am amazed at how over and over they go into a "teaching" mode of how the "popular vote" is not the "electoral vote". America's founding fathers understood far beyond their years how the electoral process might be compromised, and put in checks and balances to even out such discrepancies. The electoral process is completely understandable , if one takes the time to learn.

There has been talk on some American media channels of our process being antiquated. They constantly propose to the the American public that perhaps it's time to change our process. To change this process would mean to drastically change our culture, and how we go about our daily activities. Only knowing how the system works will enable citizens to know what is really of benefit and what is a smoke screen for darker purposes. In our discussion questions, we'll talk about the election process and how we as individuals can make a difference.


For more information on the electoral process, you might click here: http://usinfo.state.gov/infousa/government/elections/electoralProcess.html



Discussion Questions:

1. How well do you understand the process of election in your country? Do you feel it is adequate, or should you expound on your knowledge? If so, how do you plan on achieving more light of truth?


2. Does being a faithful to the church guidelines make you a better voter? Why or why not?


3. How does history's political processes affect our culture today? Which ones stand out to you the most? How does your participation in your country's election process shape the culture of the future?




4. Read over the following quotes. Select one and ponder how your lifeemmulates this particular founding father's belief. How has itshaped your life? Do you believe as he does? Share some of yourthoughts with the group, if not too personal.


"Bad men cannot make good citizens. A vitiated state of morals, a corrupted public conscience are incompatible with freedom." ~ Patrick Henry

"I never ... believed there was one code of morality for a public and another for a private man." ~ Thomas Jefferson

"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling the money and its issuance." ~ James Madison

"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind. Where, some say, is the king of America? I'll tell you, friend, He reigns above." ~ Thomas Paine

"If thou wouldst rule well, thou must rule for God, and to do that, thou must be ruled by him....Those who will not be governed by God will be ruled by tyrants." ~ William Penn

"Among the natural rights of the colonists are these: first, a right to life; second, to liberty; third, to property; together with the right to support and defend them in the best manner they can. These are evident branches of ... the duty of self-preservation, commonly called the first law of nature. All men have a right to remain in a state of nature as long as they please; and in case of intolerable oppression, civil or religious, to leave the society they belong to, and enter into another.... Now what liberty can there be where property is taken away without consent?" (Nov 20, 1772) ~ Samuel Adams

"Posterity--you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it." ~ John Quincy Adams


"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world." ~ Daniel Webster

"If a republican government fails to secure public prosperity and happiness, it must be because the citizens neglect the divine commands, and elect bad men to make and administer the laws." ~ Noah Webster

"They that would give up essential liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~ Benjamin Franklin

"While we are zealously performing the duties of good citizens and soldiers, we certainly ought not to be inattentive to the higher duties of religion." ~ George Washington

Uh Oh

I'm behind.

I should have already written another lecture. I'm stumped! Well, that and I've had tons going on...

Redbeard says I need to purge some things out of my life. Ohhhh.... but which things?!

My First Psychology Lecture with Discussion Questions

Welcome to the college of Psychology! I've been taking some classes and am excited to share some things that I've learned. I hope you'll find them as beneficial as I have.

Trust is an important attribute to be able to develop. Erik Erikson (developed the stages of psychosocial development and coined the phrase "identity crisis") said that the concept of trust vs. mistrust is learned from 0-1 yrs. of age. He went on to say that the development of the balance between trust and mistrust is largely due to the quality of the maternal relationship. This means, Moms, that even at a young age, you are doing an important work! He went on to say that this concept is prevalent throughout a person's life. So if this is not properly handled, it could have a negative impact on the person and he/she may never feel alright with the world. If an individual cannot trust themselves or others, then they may loose hope, the attribute developed at the same time. If a person looses their hope, they may encounter difficulty in overcoming hardships, even failures, and may never overcome.

As you can see, trust is imperative to a healthy, happy life. A fundamental principle in trusting is learning to trust our Heavenly Father. Without that trust, you will not attempt to succeed in life [in general] because you don't trust Heavenly Father can or will help you achieve the goal you have in mind, or even give guidance when needed.

Heavenly Father loves every one of His children, even you. He did not put us here on the earth to fail, and he didn't give us dreams to squash our spirits. Instead, He sent us here to succeed - to test and try, yes, but ultimately to overcome and to make weak things strong. He has given us tools, a means in which to communicate and receive guidance, and has equipped you with the seeds of greatness - the seeds you need to fulfill your personal mission on the earth, whatever that is. But if you don't trust his process, you won't even attempt to overcome.

We also need to trust ourselves and other people. If we do not trust ourselves, we do not feel worthy of blessings (self-love/self- esteem issues). We second guess ourselves on promptings we receive. It's pretty hard to love yourself that way! If we don't trust/love ourselves, we can't trust/love others. Trusting other people allows us to serve and be served. The Lord said to "Love thy neighbor as thyself." There is a reason for this - without our neighbors, we cannot see life as it really is - we need each other to mirror back to us those things that we need to work on! Think of the last person that annoyed you greatly. Usually (not always, but usually) the thing that annoys is something about yourself that you see in that person that you don't like! Also, without trusting others, we can have a very lonely, hard life that can be turned around if we would just accept the welcoming hand of friendship.

The opposite of trust is fear. Giving into fear can be quite damaging, even debilitating. Fear in ones mind can not only keep you from doing the things you would like to do, or should do, but can also bring on many mental and physical challenges as well. Instead of allowing fear to control us, we need to control the fear, by looking at it in a different light. President Faust stated, "There are many things that we cannot change. We all have difficulties and disappointments. But often these turn out to be opportunities. The Lord can measure how strong we are by how we handle these difficulties in our lives. As the Lord said to the Prophet Joseph Smith, “Know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good” (D&C 122:7) [James E. Faust, “Be Not Afraid,” Liahona, Oct. 2002, 3].

Sometimes things happen that we think give us "smarts". We close our hearts and minds because we fear being hurt again. Unfortunately, this gives us more pain, as we feed a lack of trust. See those things that bring fear as opportunities for growth. Seek guidance from Heavenly Father and obey it when it comes in gratitude. Have confidence in yourself that you are a person of worth and can overcome any challenge - the Lord and Heavenly Father are not only there for you, but they will send you help when you need it. Trust it, and all will come together for your good.


Discussion Questions:

1. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "There is nothing to fear but fear itself." Think about something that fear kept you from attempting or completing. Looking back, can you see the situation differently? How might having trust have changed your decisions/choices?

2. The scriptures tell us, "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." How does trusting the Lord better prepare us?

3. The words trust and love can be used interchangeably. How do you show Heavenly Father your trust in him (how do you show your love to him)?

My first lecture with discussion questions (Cultural Sciences)

We are all affected by different aspects of culture - heritage and religion are two prominant influences, but likewise is society, health issues, technology, etc. Culture is absorbed into everything we do. It is displayed through writing, art, mass media, music, clothing, how we handle our finances, our attitudes towards others, etc. Even how we VOTE! You cannot escape it!

I recently heard a speaker talk on family culture, and it gave me pause for reflection. She said, "If you don't chose your family culture, it will be chosen for you." I had never thought of that before, but it made perfect sense to me! I grew up with a family that was steeped in scarcity and crisis. We have traced it back four generations, because we were unaware! Now that awareness has brought about concious changes, we, in this generation, are making strides to change our family's culture, just like our parents who consciously chose to change it when they chose to join the LDS church back in the 1970's. One is not a victim of culture - we can choose which pieces of it we want, and say "No thank you" to the rest!

A quote from Elder Dallin H. Oaks tells us:
"The traditions or culture or way of life of a people inevitably include some practices that must be changed by those who wish to qualify for God’s choicest blessings." ~ Dallin H. Oaks, Repentance and Change, Nov. 2003

There have been times my own culture has been influenced by those around me. I remember a time when my husband brought home an Italian couple for me to meet. I didn't speak a lick of Italian (my husband served his mission there and embraced many aspects of their culture, including their language), but two things the wife did influences me still today.

First, she held her baby on her lap (I didn't have children yet) and when the baby would reach up and grab her face, she would hold the baby's hands and run them gently across her face saying (in Italian - my husband translated), "Beautiful Mommy". I found myself doing this with one of my own years later when they grabbed my face - such a gentle response! Second, apparently Italians bring gifts when they visit. She brought me flowers and chocolates. I have noticed that when I go to visit people, I have this incredible urge to bring them flowers! These are two examples of culture that I have CHOSEN to make a part of my own.

Likewise there are parts of our family culture that I wouldn't change for the world. I mentioned my parents joined the church in the 1970's. This has been a powerful influence on my family's culture, and I embrace it fully. I also have the distinct pleasure of having an appreciation for the arts, thrift, creativity, homeschooling, passion for politics, tenacity, among others as a part of my culture handed down from my progenitors. Rest assured, I will be KEEPING these for my own.

In our discussions, we will be considering what we want to keep, and what we want to change, taking a proactive stand with our own cultures. If something is too personal, don't feel that you have to share, but it's nice to see what other people are working on to springboard our own brainstoming processes.

Discussion Questions:

1. Take a long look at yourself and your family. What part of yourculture has been chosen for you by default? Are you willing to embraceit, or change it? Where do those come from?

2. Is there something you would like to change about your or yourfamily's culture? What choices need to be made to make thosedifferences? What parts of your culture are you excited aboutkeeping? How do you hold on to those traditions to keep them withinyour family's culture?

Now a professor..........

I am being blessed in all areas! I am now the psychology professor as well as the cultural arts professor at CU! I'm very excited about that too - it means a little extra work on my part, but it'll be fun.

Mostly I'll have to write two lectures for the psychology college a month and one lecture a month for the cultural science college, and then dream up some discussion questions. I'll post them here too, just for fun.

Classes started for CU on the 1st, but I must confess, I've not started yet - I have way too many things going on in my world - except I am trying to finish the Book of Mormon by May 10. In doing that, my goal for Mosiah will be obviously be finished.

Last night Redbeard came in and helped my do some maintence work on the home - we had left Athena in charge last night while I took him in to donate plasma and when we got back 2 hours later the house looked like a train hit it! I'm so thankful to have a sweet man who thinks nothing of picking up a vaccum and helping out. Mommies of 7 need a little help sometimes! :) I guess that was his random act of kindness to me! ;)

My Testimony of Joseph Smith

I'm writing this on THIS blog, because it doesn't seem to belong on the others. Bear with me - this is something that for the past week has had me in, well, I guess a funk, for lack of a better word. Sometimes there just aren't words you can put to feelings.

Anyway, Redbeard and I went to dinner with a man that we thought was of same religion. He professes to be. He may be baptised into our religion, but here's the thing that distraught me. He started telling us that he believes that Joesph Smith didn't translate the plates - that's all of the conversation that I'm going to put on here, because it was a bunch of garbly gunk.

The whole time I kept thinking, "How can he profess to be a member of the church if he doesn't believe that Joseph Smith translated the golden plates?" Here is what Pres. Hinckley had to say about it:

"To you, this day, I affirm my witness of the calling of the Prophet Joseph, of his works, of the sealing of his testimony with his blood as a martyr to the eternal truth. Each of you can bear witness of the same thing. You and I are faced with the stark question of accepting the truth of the First Vision and that which followed it. On the question of its reality lies the very validity of this Church. If it is the truth, and I testify that it is, then the work in which we are engaged is the most important work on the earth.

I leave with you my testimony of the truth of these things, and I invoke the blessings of heaven upon you. May the windows of heaven be opened and blessings showered upon you as the Lord has promised. Never forget that this was His promise and that He has the power and the capacity to see that it is fulfilled. I so pray as I leave my blessing and love with you in the sacred name of our Redeemer, even the Lord Jesus Christ, amen."(Ensign, Nov 2007, 83–86)

President Ezra Taft Benson, our prophet in the 80's (don't ask me numbers - I don't remember details like that) said that The Book of Mormon is the keystone to our religion. Well, I went home that night throughly concerned. So I prayed about it, and recieved an answer, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Joesph Smith DID translate the golden plates, and that it is an ancient record of people long ago.

After all, like my mother always said, the Holy Spirit is the one place you can turn to for truth.

I do feel sad for this man - obviously he has some issues. Not sure what to do for him though, excep pray, of course. So anyway, this was something that happened to me in the past week. I've shortened the story considerably, but there are some things better kept private, and some things are irrelavent.

Have a wonderful blessed day! :)

Spring 2008 CU Semester

Well, I've done it now. I volunteered to be the Cultural Sciences professor. I'm a little nervous, but excited nonetheless. I know - totally contradictory. I think this will be good for me, as it will make me sit down a FOCUS. Not to mention, I find myself naturally drawn to this college.

So - that aside, ready to read what I'm FINISHING this semester? I'm not taking on anything new besides the professor role - I just want to finish what I have and move on. Although, I have made some changes, pending the professor's approval in the Home and Management college. :)

FAMILY SCIENCE

1. (This is completed - I just have to submit the written work to her) Read Proclamation to the Family. Put it in your scriptures or post it on the wall where you can refer to it often. Find ways daily to make it meaningful in your life and write a short journal entry about that and how and what family means in your life, then post to the list.

2. Have special girls night out with my 3 girls. Formulate plan to reflect loving themselves as women - submit plan and carry out after approval.

3. (This one is done too - just need to turn in thoughts for credit) Read bedtime stories to kids every night and teach them "I love you more - I love you the same" phrase. Share how it went and if it makes me feel closer to children or the Lord.


5. (I did this but have to do it over - I didn't report and I didn't write up stuff about it. Egads!) Eat dinner together at least 5 times a week. Submit plan to create a pleasent atmosphere. What can I do to make it more special? Share what I did and thoughts.


FAMILY HISTORY

1. Submit at least one name for temple ordinances.

LANGUAGE ARTS

1. Participate in a book club for three months. Write three paragraphs about your experience. (This is finished - have to write the 3 paragraphs).

5. (Again finished - just have to report) Write in your journal at least ONCE a week for three months. When completed, write two paragraphs summarizing your thoughts after reading the entries.


PSYCHOLOGY GOALS


1. Have my nails done and hair styled . How does this change improve my outlook?

2. Strive to be patient, kind and understanding to everyone in your household for at least one week. Keep track in your journal of lessons and insights learned. Submit a brief report to professor.



THEOLOGY GOALS

1. Read a biography of a prophet (current or former).

2. Read ONE of the lessons in the current Relief Society manual.

3. Read Mosiah

4. Study FIVE characteristics of Jesus Christ. How can I become more like our Savior? Write down my thoughts.

5. Read FIVE articles from the current Conf. issue of the Ensign. Determine the main points from each of the articles. Explain how this is (or can be) relavent to/in MY life.


PHYSICAL EDUCATION

1. Walk at least 15 min. a day four times a week for one month.


PREPAREDNESS:

1. Create a family Preparedness Notebook. At a minimum, the notebook should contain emergency phone numbers, contact information of relatives/neighbors/close friends, and any emergency route plans you already have in place. You will add to the notebook as you complete goals in this college



HOME AND MONEY MANAGEMENT

I emailed my professor and told her of the morning and bedtime routines I have established = I'm waiting for approval for those to check off. I then did some changing up, so that my goals look like this:

1. Sabbath Day Preparation Work on this NOW. Read required articlePrepare for the Sabbath ahead of time for one month. - Wash & Iron clothes ahead of time.- Gather hose, socks, slips, underwear, coats, and shoes and put them in one place the night before.- Lay out hair accessories on Saturday.- Set out jewerly, watch, etc- Pack your diaper bag the night before- Prepare your Sunday meals at least a day before, or plan a very simple meal- Have a quiet, meaningful afternoon activity planned for little ones.


2. Balancing the Checkbook KNOWLEDGE: Read the following article:Where Where The Money Goes, Rulon T. Burton, Ensign June 1973, p. 45 ACTION: Schedule a day to balance your checkbook at least once a month for 3months.Write a paragraph telling how you feel when you know how much money is in your checking account. Has money become more of a tool than a source of fear? How so?

3. Budgeting KNOWLEDGE: Read the following articles:Basic Budgeting, Random Sampler, Ensign June 1993, p. 73Blessings of Budgeting: Random Sampler, Ensign April 1998, 71Living on Less, Random Sampler, Ensign Feb 1995 How to S-T-R-E-C-H One Income, Random Sampler, April 2001, 72Where Where The Money Goes, Rulon T. Burton, June 1973, p. 45 ACTION: With your husband, prepare a budget. Live on this budget for 2 months. Set aside a day, either on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis toreview your budget and pay bills. Either summarize the main points from your reading, or write a paragraph ormore on the action experience. Does having, and using a budget give you moreor less financial freedom? What obstacles did you face trying to live onless than you earn? What can you do to better prepare for unexpected expenses?

AND THERE YOU HAVE IT - THE WHOLE PLAN.

Which, really, isn't all that bad. I'm over 1/2 done with my biography. And, I've already got a lecture in mind for the first posting as a professor. This is going to be fun! :)