This week in my Family Relations class, we discussed validity between cultures. Are some cultures more valid than others when it comes to bad and good, right and wrong? My initial reaction and thoughts lead me to say yes but after discussing it more with other people, it is becoming more challenging to deem what is really “bad and good,” and “right and wrong.” And I’m not talking about race or ethnicity when I say culture. Though there are some cultural behaviors that are associated with groups of people of certain races or ethnicity but their culture can reach well beyond their race and ethnicity.

Approaching this question from a Christian point of view, I have to say that not all cultures are equal. I believe that it is hard to base every single culture on a single set of values, especially since each culture has developed according to various values. What may be considered “right” in one society may be viewed as the worst “wrong” in a different society. Because these two parties have been raised differently, they have a different way of judging good from bad, wrong from right, wicked for righteous. Therefore, one must be very careful in determining or saying outright that a culture is wrong or bad or wicked. Before doing so, you must learn more about them and why they think the way that they do.

If we look at patterned throughout history, we can learn and predict possible outcomes by the way cultures shift over time. Almost every culture begins with roots from another culture. They have humble beginnings; thriving villages, towns, cities, countries, and civilizations that prosper and are close nit. As time passes, cultures continue as traditions but begin to have slight tweaks to adjust to the times. Civilizations and countries have fallen to ruin when certain cultural shifts take place.

We must also remember that God only judges us based on the level of light and knowledge we have received. A culture who has no knowledge of the gospel should not be automatically considered wrong, especially since we have no idea how they might act if they did have some knowledge of the gospel. Remember the Anti-Nephi-Lehites? They were the vilest of sinners, until they received knowledge of the gospel. After recognizing the errors of their ways they changed completely and were a perfectly righteous society. They showed that even “bad” cultures can learn and change. Therefore, not all cultures are equal, nor should be considered as being equal, unless they all have the same amount of light and knowledge.

From the beginning of time, within families there has always been some type of phenomenon that shapes and molds them into how and who they are as a family. Every family is different. Every family is unique. But through similar behaviors, theories have been made to help us see how families are molded and shaped into how and who they are. There are four theories that have been formed based on the study of family interaction. They are: family systems theory, exchange theory, symbolic theory, and conflict theory. While some families apply to one theory more than another, other families encompass all of the theories.

Family systems theory is looking at the family as a whole. All individuals in the family make the family what it is. Without one of the family members, the whole dynamic and feeling of that family changes.

Exchange theory is basically like, “What will I get out of it…. What’s in it for me?” Within the family, individuals are always weighing out in their minds what is in it for them, what they will gain by doing (or not doing) something. Cost vs. benefit

Symbolic theory is when meaning is attached to specific things or actions. For example, when siblings put tender notes on each other’s beds with a box / bag of candy, it is their way of saying, “I love you.”

Conflict theory is when differences in wants, ideas, etc, cause change within a family. With power struggles, and leadership.

My husband and I are definitely more symbolic theory.We often have and come up with special meanings in things that we do and they end up having a huge impact on how we identify ourselves as a couple. Like giving each other a kiss after every prayer we say together or whoever cooks dinner doesn’t have to do the dishes afterwards.

What family system can you see in your family?  

Check out these disturbing trends in America about marriage and family:

- Birth rates are decreasing (Which is a huge problem for many reasons, one being social security... It used to be for every one person, thirteen people where contributing to support them. Now it is 1 person to three-seven people. Projected to be 1 to 2.1 in just a short time)

- Age at first marriage is increasing for both men and women (26 years old for females and 28 for males)

- Births to unmarried women is increasing (more than 40% of American births today are from unwed mothers)

- Cohabitation rates are sky high in number

- Mothers with young children working out of the home (leaving children with someone else to be cared for) has increased dramatically

- People living alone has increased 

- Divorce rate is increasing

- Family size is decreasing 

- Premarital sex is seen as no big deal

Which trend to you think is the most significant?..... 

In reality, all of these trend topics are very significant for our country and the world, now, and in the long run. When I look at this list, I think premarital sex leads to most of these problems. Think about it, when the world sees premarital sex as no big deal, there are going to be more out of wedlock births and more mothers leaving their child with someone else so they can work to further their carrier. When couples are sleeping with each other and living with each other, it is most likely that they will get married at a later age or separate. It is a proven fact the couples who live together before marriage are three times more likely to divorce later on down the road. Living along. Family sizes being small.  They are all inter-related! 

Following and studying trends throughout history can help project what is bound to happen. Look back in history to when countries began devaluing the family for what it really is and what it's meant to be... Quick fact, communist countries first become communist be dissolving the idea of family and taking family away. 

Where is the value of children and family disappearing too? Is it because of selfishness? 

This is what it's all about folks! 

This is the day my life changed forever. A huge step that I am so glad I took.

Sterling and I were married on October 5th of 2012 in Salt Lake City.

A boy from Washington and a girl from New York. 

We thank the Lord everyday for the wonderful blessing of marriage (even through the ups and downs).

The Beginning

As requested and required for a class, I have created a blog of my very own. I must admit, I am not a blogger and never thought I would be... but here we go! Who knows, maybe I will become an avid blogger. My goal and hope is that I will be able to convey my thoughts and feelings about the very foundation and fundamentals that helped build our country from the ground up... It all started with families seeking religious freedom. As time goes on, America is moving farther and farther away from the very things that once founded us and kept us strong; the things that will keep us strong are becoming less important. Throughout the next few months, I will be blogging about those fundamental things for us to think about and apply in life again.