I just don’t get it!

A Facebook discussion caught my attention and caused much reflection:

Why is it seen as such a negative insult if a guy wants to be a “stay at home dad”?

The resulting stream of comments by both men and women both surprised and dismayed me at the same time.  I would have expected more from students attending what I thought was a University of higher learning with exceptionally spiritual educators and a campus with an environment geared to provide a unique atmosphere close to “The School of the Prophets”.   I am afraid, however that Alma 12:14 seemed to take on meaning as I read through the comments.

            The prophet Alma testified, “Our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; … and our thoughts will also condemn us”. 

Strong words, I know.  But it was eye opening to hear the chosen of the chosen generation, attending the most elite church school in the world answer this questions with such answers as:

            1- “Because we live in a stereotypical society that views the male only as the main provider and housekeeping/child care as the womens “job” only….”

2-Because the typical male cannot actually be a stay at home dad.  They will generally stay home with the kids, but who does all the cooking and cleaning?  The mom after she gets home from work.  If a man can actually do the job of at home dad then more power to him.”

3-“If a guy wants to take an unusually active role in his children’s lives he can.  He just needs to find a woman that really wants to have a career and children and is wondering how she is going to be able to do it all.  There are many jobs that a man/woman can do from home that will afford him the ability to have time for his children’s needs.  Women do it all the time.  But I should say it’s a lot of work.”

This caused me to ask, why are men and women either so confused about their gender roll as to parenting or as it relates to being a spouse or why are they so willing to neglect this God given responsibility?  WAIT!  Perhaps, just perhaps, they do not understand the God given responsibility part.  Maybe they have not read, don’t understand, or do not remember what has been written in. . . . . . . . . . “The Family-A Proclamation to the World.  Below are a few selected paragraphs particularly pertinent.

All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.

 By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.

We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.

I just can’t put it any clearer than that.  If you have any faith, if you have any testimony of the Church or its Profets, how could you ever have any doubt or questions as to how to answer that query?  No matter which path the free spirit or the natural man within you, may want to take?

You may have noticed that The Proclamation also stated - “Disability, death or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation.  Extended families should lend support when needed.”   I noted it didn’t say, run to the government, the Bishop, or whoever else you felt you could panhandle from.  The point being made is that earthly probation is a family affair.  As we mature, we practice what we have learned.  We provide for our own.  As needed, as challenged, we hope we can rely on our family.  Where no family exists, the church is your family.  This is a concept lost on even some of the most faithful members of the Church. This is also why it is important that all members of the family realize their roles and are productive and help one another.

So, what don’t I get?  I don’t get the attitude of today’s youth and young adults, especially as it relates to what I seem to consistently read and see through comments made through various electronic media.  Particularly disheartening when you hear or see it coming from LDS youth.  I found it interesting while studying for my Priesthood lesson, that this week’s topic is on “The Final Judgment” with the main point being that we will be judged from mainly two sources:  The books on earth and the books in Heaven.  Reference was made to Rev. 20:12

‘The books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.’

We are told that the books spoken of refer to the records of your works which are kept on the earth.  It occurred to me that there are many records kept on earth.  Sure there are those in the Church, and President John Taylor taught that our own mind records everything we have done and will be a source of information at our judgment.  It struck me after hearing a news story that the Congressional Library was just given a complete record of every tweet ever sent through Twitter, by Congressional Order. Do you think there is a record of every Facebook entry?  Every email ever sent?  I think on an eternal note there is, and this will be part of the “books opened as part of the “books of life”.

So what will you think when reading about the latest complaints of modesty crackdown at BYU-I?  Or perhaps before you send that vulgar or inappropriate post, you should think twice.  Are those pictures really what you want anyone or everyone to see?

Just Sayin’