Role Models

This week for class we talked about both the myths and trends that the American "Family" is facing. The age for marriage is rising, women are working, teens are having more sex, abortion is becoming more and more available, couples are choosing cohabitation over marriage, and it just gets worse. However, throughout this week of classes, I have had one word echoing in my head and that is HOPE. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day saints, I don't look at these trends and get freaked out over getting married and what my family will be like. I know that by living the teachings of the gospel, we can have good relationships with our family in the midst of all the chaos.

Yesterday we talked about the population declining because more and more people are deciding to have 1 maybe 2 children at the most. In the video, "Demographic Winter," The author of the book "The Population Boom" claimed that having 5 children was as selfish as robbing the bank of 5 million dollars. I would like to tell him now that the opposite is true. Not having babies is what is selfish. In class we touched on the effect of role models and what one person can do to make a difference. Like most girls, my role model is my mom. After my oldest brother was born my mom was diagnosed with uterine cancer. She was told she would need to have her uterus removed which meant no more babies. She asked about chemo therapy and radiation as an alternative. The doctor told her that her chances of the cancer spreading would be increased and it wasn't worth the risk. Mom went forward with faith to receive the chemo and radiation  anyways. Long story short, mom had 5 more babies. She literally risked her life to have children. Just the other day she said to me "Lex, as much as I love BJ, what would I have done without the rest of you?" I jokingly responded that we would have found our way down here eventually somehow. But in all reality, my mom is a solid example to me that family is where it's at. Family is always worth the risk.

In conclusion, as Latter-Day Saints it is our duty to stand up for the family and be role models to the rest of the world. They can laugh at us because we get married and have 8 children, but we stand as powerful examples. I can't imagine life without my big crazy family. They are my best friends. I fully intend to have a large family of my own when the time is right. President Hinckley once said, "The sun will never set on the work of the Lord." Families are ordained of God and they will never lose that standing if we all do our part to be role models to the world.