Its late Sunday night and I have been trying to form into words what I have learned this week,,, and it is not very easy. But here is what I have come up with.

Before this week my thinking when it came to "gays" was something along the lines of "that is gross. I know it is not in line with Gods will, and it is a tactic of Satan... it is a choice that people make, not something that you are born with". In class this week we learned the science behind gay and lesbian behaviors, and how these feeling are cultivated by the environment that the people grow up in. Ill admit, I have a whole new mindset and understanding about those who have to struggle with this temptation. Something that is interesting is that in my other class, Family Foundations, we have studied the doctrine behind gender roles and the importance of having specific gender in pre-mortal, mortal and post mortal life. Having the science and the doctrine all at one time has been a powerful resource. Ill focus on the doctrine. And then later come back with the science. 

We are taught that men and women have distinct and different roles to play in the foundation and building of a family. We see this as we look at the Proclamation to the world on family. It says: "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." The Lord has laid out what He expects of a father and a mother. I think that it is a tactic of the advisory to make people think that a man or a woman has to fill specific characteristics to fill these divine roles. That is not true. A man who is creative, tender, loving, soft and compassionate or otherwise exhibits "feminine characteristics" can fulfill these roles just as well as the macho man who plays with cars, guns, trucks and wrestles with the boys next door. As children -specifically boys- grow up, they are sometimes expected to act a certain way and to fulfill characteristics that are personality traits, not roles. Every single role that Heavenly Father has laid in the plan can be completed by the gender and the personality that the child holds and should not be looked upon as the child being "different" or "messed up".

All to often children in school and the families of boys who do not do the normal "boy things" are treated as though they are not as good, or have to change to be 'normal'. Why is it that a girl can do all the boy things and be a "tom boy" but a boy can not do the "girl things" with out being called a sissy or gay, even from a very tender age? We cannot allow ourselves to think that a child's traits and characteristics exempt him or her from filling the Divine roles that out Heavenly Father has sent them to fulfill. 

Ill end with another part of the Proclamation. As you read it consider how raising your children to fulfill their roles as a future father or mother in a way that complements their gifts, talents and personality can be better achieved by living in a way that you are able to fulfill your roles as a parent.
"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations. 
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.

Remember that husbands and wives have separate, different, equal and complementary parts to making a home work. These responsibility are fulfilled by different people in different ways and how they fulfill their divine roles is based on their personality. So help your children learn who they are/ who their Heavenly Father wants them to be, not who you want them to be.