No Unhallowed Hand Can Stop This Work from Progressing

I just had the great opportunity of finishing Elder Bednar's talk, "To Sweep the Earth As With a Flood." That was amazing. elder Bednar is bold and loving, and speaks with credibility and clarity and bold testimony.

In answer to a question given on our second day of class, Elder Bednar's talk applies to me and to this class.

We have an amazing opportunity to fill the world with simple messages of truth and righteousness---including in our blogs. I hope we all get to continue them and use them in the future. I learned a lot from Elder Bednar's talk and felt the spirit. Aside from being inspired to share goodness throughout the world and use these technological tools Heavenly Father has given us, I also learned from Elder Bednar's presentation. He had an amazing and wonderful way of presenting lots of good information. I like the way he talks. It's bold and direct and confident and shameless. His visual presentations were nice and attractive and not overwhelming. I hope I can follow Elder Bednar's example in his instruction and in his example.

Standards

Hey, friends! Something that has kind of been on my mind---especially since returning from my mission---is the standards in "For the Strength of Youth." I often heard it said when I was growing up and even since my mission that those standards still apply. I see, however, opposition among people my age to those standards at least do a degree. What do you think? Do the standards in "For the Strength of Youth" still apply to us as adults in college? If so, why are there inconsistencies often observed around us? If not, do we have a similar, simple set of standards that apply more to our age group to which we ought to be adhering?

Happiness

Happiness! What a great thing! I know that we are truly to be happy. Over the years, I've learned ways to be happy. I've learned a great lesson recently---that is to be happy not based on something else or someone else. I know that is possible through Jesus Christ and His teachings. It is amazing how profound an effect our motives have. I've noticed recently that I can serve in essentially everything I do. Doing the dishes for the sake of getting things clean and not having it be so chaotic is one thing---it can totally change when you are cleaning for someone else. I definitely believe that happiness is so important to have. A happy person can do so much and help so profoundly---sometimes it can be challenging. I hope that I can look more to others and how I can help relieve their burdens and help them to be happy. Here are some words from a couple of servants of God concerning happiness. I hope to add to this post.

So to be happy and to avoid misery, we must have a grateful heart. We have seen in our lives the connection between gratitude and happiness. All of us would like to feel gratitude, yet it is not easy to be consistently grateful in all things in the trials of life. Sickness, disappointment, and the loss of people we love come at times in our lives. Our sorrows can make it hard to see our blessings and to appreciate the blessings God has in store for us in the future.

It is a challenge to count our blessings because we have a tendency to take good things for granted. When we lose a roof over our heads, food to eat, or the warmth of friends and family, we realize how grateful we should have been when we had them.

Most of all, sometimes it is hard for us to be sufficiently grateful for the greatest gifts we receive: the birth of Jesus Christ, His Atonement, the promise of resurrection, the opportunity to enjoy eternal life with our families, the Restoration of the gospel with the priesthood and its keys. Only with the help of the Holy Ghost can we begin to feel what those blessings mean for us and for those we love. And only then can we hope to be thankful in all things and avoid the offense to God of ingratitude.

We must ask in prayer that God, by the power of the Holy Ghost, will help us see our blessings clearly even in the midst of our trials. He can help us by the power of the Spirit to recognize and be grateful for blessings we take for granted. What has helped me the most is to ask God in prayer, “Wouldst Thou please direct me to someone I can help for Thee?” It is in helping God bless others that I have seen my own blessings more closely.

(President Henry B. Eyring, "The Choice to Be Grateful," First Presidency Message, December 2011)


These are profound words. As we lose ourselves in the service of others, we discover our own lives and our own happiness.

(President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, "Happiness, Your Heritage," General Conference, October 2008)


I hope you are happy, and, if you are not, I hope you will become happy soon!

Summertime!

Summertime! What a glorious time in life! The great thing about right now is that it's summertime and there's still plenty of summer left!

I feel so amazingly blessed this summer---including to have been involved in two classes at BYU this summer term and to have learned so much

My sister being here at BYU has probably been one of the biggest blessings I've received this summer. She is so sweet and nice, and I feel our relationship has grown a lot even in these past six weeks or so. She is an amazing example of being a friend and being involved. She's already gotten involved with BYUSA, the sort of student government association at BYU. She's gotten me lunch multiple times and has shared with me a lot of cool experiences, in her life. I'm really grateful for her.

Another huge blessing is my roommate and brother, Spencer Hughes, who has been an example to me of courage, creativity, fun, and dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He has become a medical marvel in pressing forward with experimental surgery and other treatment to help his ankle heal. Not too long ago, he was in a pretty severe accident where his foot came like halfway off his leg after slipping off a rock wall. He has made huge progress, including experiencing a revival of his left talus bone. He told me this was like a one in 10,000 chance, according to one or more medical professionals. Spencer is an example for many and has helped me learn so much in the past eleven months or so.

I have been so blessed to have experienced a couple family reunions in the past month. I love my family---all of the Anderson and Bastian side. I have had a lot of cool experiences with them just this summer that I hope to always keep in my heart. The Anderson clan to me has been a symbol of hard work, cheer, and faithfulness to God. The Bastian side has emulated a sense of fun and creativity and tradition that I am grateful to have gained in my life.

One of the most powerful experiences I've had recently is realizing that I shouldn't let something else or someone else decide how happy I am. If I truly believe in Jesus Christ, I ought to be happy all the time regardless of my situation. I feel like a happy, positive, optimistic soul can do so much good in the world. At the same time, a negative, pessimistic, angry, self-pitying person can cause so much detriment to the world. My friend, Olivia, has been such a huge example to me of being so positive and so happy and so energetic. If it weren't for her, I know that I would not have discovered the truth and power of being happy as much as I have recently. She is an amazing example and person, and I hope to keep this lesson for life and onward.

The summer is bright and full of opportunity! I hope all of you get to have amazing experiences in the next couple of months while the weather is warm in the northwest and the sun is shining bright. The nice and amazing and miraculous thing is that the sun will always be shining bright---and even if it won't, the Son will.

Evidence for My Grade

Based on the following evidence of me not being very prepared for class (including not having read the texts before class), not turning in at least one or two complete assignments, participating fairly well in class, doing a fairly thorough job of reviewing others' work, turning in completed assignments, and taking hours working on assignments outside of class, I feel I deserve a B in the class.

When I View a Formal Presentation . . .

When I view a formal presentation, I expect that it will be prepared, that the presenters will look nice and at least somewhat formal, that the visual effects will be pleasing to the eye and organized, and that the presentation will sound and feel prepared because I feel like the presenters would have had to have gone through enough preparation to get approval from someone else or a group of people-- including in persuading an audience to their argument-- and to give the information due justice (unless the information is very disagreeable). Also, lose the excuses-- like someone said in class, at the beginning or anywhere in your presentation don't make an excuse of why your presentation may not be very good. In the end, I suppose it is about the argument and being persuasive and honoring your subject material and your listeners. Even if someone weren't doing a presentation for work or a grade, I would still feel that they should give a persuasive argument doing the things mentioned above. Why else take the time to prepare and present?

The Blessing of Others and Their Feedback

One thing that I have noticed recently that has really been a blessing in my life is getting feedback from other people. Before this summer, I didn't have a sibling here at BYU for two or three years. This summer, though, my sister started her first term at BYU! It has been great to have her here. I've realized how much my sister can help me in my life even in just talking with me. I've also seen how much of a better brother I can be. Throughout my career at BYU, I've tended to be pretty independent. I love other people, but for some reason I tend to kind of go it alone in a lot of respects. I've become really close with my roommate, this school year. He has been such a blessing, and it's been awesome to find so many similarities between us. I've realized, though, how much of a better roommate I can be.

I feel like I'm realizing more and more that life is better with other people---even if I don't feel like being with others or think that that will have a benefit in my life. There seems to be a magic in interacting with other people that blesses my life. One thing that I have valued recently is getting others' feedback and having conversations with them that involves me asking for their thoughts on something. I had a really great experience with my sister, this past weekend. I was so grateful for her feedback and that she listened to me so well. I hope I can be so much more for her and the rest of my family and my friends. I want so very much to be a help and a blessing in their lives. Being with friends and having friends with whom I can talk and relate has been such a blessing. I am so grateful for those who take the time to talk with me and be with me. It has been a blessing to hear from them and gain insights from them. I look forward to learning more and more from those around me---truly it is priceless to have others around us. We cannot do it alone.

Working Research Argument, "Fathers Are Essential"

Trent Anderson

7/22/2016

ENGL 312

Fathers Are Essential

Years ago, in 2007, a group of strikers came together on Capitol Hill. Unlike other protesters who may be mocked and yelled at, this group of individuals actually received cheers from observers. Within this group were Ted Leonsis, vice chairman of AOL, as well as Alma Powell, wife of former Secretary of State, Colin Powell. What was their battle cry? Their sounding plea was one for fathers---good, responsible fathers to serve another tour of duty, as part of the National Fatherhood Initiative’s Double Duty Dad, which is an initiative promoting good responsible fathers to seek out and mentor a child who doesn’t have a father or to mentor another father (“Free Download”).  Roland Warren, former president of the National Fatherhood Initiative and current member of the Initiative’s board of directors, sounded a clarion call to fathers to take up this service for underprivileged children without a father, commenting that “They (children without a father in the home) are more likely to fail in school, use drugs, become teen parents, and commit crimes than their peers living with both parents” (Warren).

In Kathy Koch’s, “Fatherhood Movement,” she mentions the opposition from many, including researchers, that believe fathers to be unessential. In Koch’s report, she mentions the work of two authors at Yeshiva University Medical School, who compiled a study entitled, “Deconstructing the Essential Father.” According to the writings of the authors, it doesn’t matter whether parenting is by the mother, the father, two moms, two dads, a grandmother or caregivers with no biological relationship to the child.” This view is supported by others in academia (Koch 477). Today, gay rights movements and extremism in political and social campaign have sparked a lot of discussion in the area of what is right and proper in family and marriage. Advocates, however, for fatherhood have responded and commented on the vast array of evidence that supports the role of a father. Koch also quotes David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute of American Values, who commented, “‘Fathers make irreplaceable contributions to the well-being of their children’” (Koch 478). While many disagree with the importance of a father for children and the positive effect of childbearing on a man, I support the role of fathers and believe them to be essential based on the positive internal effects brought about in children, the association with increased risky behaviors with father absence, and the positive effects on a father from rearing children.

Effective fathers help bring about a myriad of positive mental and psychological effects in the the lives of their children (Cabrera 150). In Natasha Cabrera’s, “Fathers,” she compiles a variety of evidence from research in support of fathers. Fathers are associated with increased social competence, well-being, and cognitive development, in young children (Cabrera 150). According to “The Fatherhood Movement” from the CQ Researcher, fathers help contribute to the lives of children in crucial ways. Children without a mother and a father in the home exhibit negativity in many different aspects (Koch 478). Additionally, fathers also have an effect on daughters, even though the effect may not be as significant as that upon sons (Cabrera 150). In a report compiled by Ronald P. Rohner about “Father love,” he cites multiple authors in listing evidence of the importance of fathers’ roles. Included in his report are the findings that the cohesion between a father and child is positively associated with “the absence of depressive symptoms.” Further, Rohner comments on the work of another study, commenting how only the quality of the father’s relationship with the son had to do with the psychological distress of the adult son. Rohner continues, commenting on findings of a correlation between daughters’ self-concept and the love and acceptance of the father (Rohner 159-160).

The influence of fathers is even more fully illustrated in how children are much less likely to be involved in risky behaviors. According Cabrera’s report, research indicates that sons without fathers in the home are twice as likely to be incarcerated (171). Citing Robert Rector, senior research fellow at Heritage Foundation, Koch also reports that “Sixty percent of convicted rapists, 72 percent of teen murderers and 70 percent of long-term prison inmates are males who grew up without fathers.” She continues in her report, stating the higher incidence of school drop-out and suspension, suicide, and abuse or neglect for fatherless children compared to children who grew up with two parents in the home. Additionally, also from Robert Rector’s research, Cabrera also mentions how teen pregnancy, sexual promiscuity, and drug abuse are more common with children in single-mother households compared to children who have fathers at home (476). Just this year, Cory Batey, former Vanderbilt football player, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison for a raping a woman more than three years ago (Barchenger). In an interview with Cory, he was asked about his father, who had passed away when he was nine years old. He said, “I would like to think I wouldn’t be in this position if he was alive, honestly . . . I just think man needs his father at a certain point in life to mold him and discipline him, and I think I missed out on that, and, uh, I kinda had to choose my own direction, ya know?” (PHC Katy)

The importance of a father is also supported by the positive effects on the quality of life and well-being of the father. From a study done by Nomaguchi and Milkie, for new parents-- which include new fathers-- they “show a higher level of social integration with relatives, friends, and neighbors . . . ” (Nomaguchi and Milkie 362). Carlson and Turner summarized work done by other researchers, including one study reporting findings of the improved support of grandparents to the father of the grandchildren (Carlson 19, 7). According to Umberson and Grove, parents living with children exhibit better levels of self-esteem and home life satisfaction, as well as decreased levels of meaninglessness (449). These same authors also found that there was a strongly positive association with living with children and positive affect (or positive feelings (at the time of the survey)) for fathers(451).

So, was that rally on Capitol Hill all for naught? Why would Alma Powell and others gather together and protest and support a movement if there was not a concern? The world is full of all kinds of families---married parents and unmarried parents, with or without children, who may be composed of a dad and a mom, one mom, one dad, two moms, two dads, grandparents, in the home or out of the home. Family structure has taken quite the turn since the founding of our country. Many of these parents have good intentions for their children---they strive to rear with love and responsibility. One thing cannot be denied, however---that the happiness and success a family can experience will only ever reach its full potential when a father is there. Fathers must be there---fathers need to be there for their children and for the mother of those children. I add my words to Mr. Warren, and sound my own battle cry that the world needs fathers. It is up to us individually and in our families to do what we can now to ensure that our children do not go fatherless.

Sources

KOCH, Kathy. "Fatherhood Movement." CQ RESEARCHER 10.21 (2000)Web.

Cabrera, Natasha J. "Fathers." Child Development. Ed. Neil J. Salkind. New York: Macmillan Reference USA, 2002. 148-152. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 18 July 2016. URL http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CCX3401000115&v=2.1&u=byuprovo&it=r&p=GVRL&sw=w&asid=3c8b81c72ff04bcdf6edb8c92d142be4

“Free Download > Become a Doubly Duty DadⓇ.” National Fatherhood InitiativeⓇ. National Fatherhood Initiative. 2016. Web. 22 July 2016.

Gender, Children, and Social Contact: The Effects of Childrearing for Men and Women Author(s): Allison Munch, J. Miller McPherson and Lynn Smith-Lovin Source: American Sociological Review, Vol. 62, no. 4 (Aug., 1997), Pp. 509-520 Published by: American Sociological Association Stable URL: Http://Www.Jstor.Org/Stable/2657423 Accessed: 18-07-2016 16:40 UTC. 62 Vol. Web. .

Current Directions in Psychological Science 1998 Rohner 157 61Rohner.Web.

Kei M. Nomaguchi, and Melissa A. Milkie. "Costs and Rewards of Children: The Effects of Becoming a Parent on Adults' Lives." Journal of Marriage and Family 65.2 (2003): 356-74. CrossRef. Web.

PHC Katy, “Interview Clip on Fatherlessness.” Online video clip. Youtube. Youtube, 19 Feb 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.

Turner, Kimberly, and Marcia Carlson. Fathers’ Involvement and Fathers’ Well-being Over Children’s First Five Years., 2010. Web.

Barchenger, Stacey. “Cory Batey Sentenced to 15 Years in Vanderbilt Rape.” The Tennessean. USA Today, 15 July 2016. Web. 21 July 2016.

Umberson, Debra, and Walter R. Gove. “Parenthood and Psychological Well-Being: Theory, Measurement, and Stage in the Family Life Course.” Journal of Family Issues 10.4 (1989): 440-462. Web. 22 July 2016.

Warren, Roland C. “A Clarion Call to Dad to Help Save Fatherless Kids.” Fox News. Fox News Network. 15 June 2007. Web. 22 July 2016.

Peanut Butter in the Summer

Peanut Butter in the Summer! Have you ever wondered . . . why my blog is called Peanut Butter in the Summer? Let me tell you---there's no particular reason, except that I really like peanut butter, it's the summer time, and it sounded like a cool title. One question I do have is how do I put cool peanut butter icons in my background, like unto the cookie icons Korynne has on hers?
Some might rise up with arguments against peanut butter like, "It's too sticky," or "It's too messy," or "It gets in my hair," or "It's too fatty."

Allow me to address these. Peanut butter is sticky---all the stickier it will be on your green apple slices for a delicious combo. Peanut butter is messy---which will allow you to spend more time cleaning with that special someone as you clean up after making some peanut butter and preserves sandwiches. Peanut butter may get in your hair---all the more delightful the aroma will be as you glide down the hallways of BYU. Peanut butter is fatty---you got that right.

For all these reasons and more, I encourage you to make peanut butter a significant part of your life and your summer. Yeah, Western Family!



Appendage---grilled peanut butter sandwich

Anne Hopkin (see comment below) helped enhance my pioneer celebration by helping me partake in a new peanut butter experience. Let us feast on the glorious legume!

Commas

Lately, I've been struggling with commas. I want to make a goal to use them better. I think Sister Steadman put a comment on my rhetorical analysis that was something like, "Wow, you use a lot of commas." I hope I can destroy this bain of my writing. Commas can be useful, but I hope to let them appear in too extreme amounts in my writing. That presentation on punctuation actually helped me significantly. It's amazing what you can do and change when you actually figure out how to do things. Let's thrash our punctuation problems, everybody! Onward!

Research Thus Far

What strategies are working for me?
Thus far in my research process, Google has honestly been such help for me. In my struggle to find specific information, Google has been great about giving a wide array of things from which to choose. One thing that has helped me a lot has been looking at sources within a document/in the references area. That has been huge. I maybe found two or three main articles and just went from those---looking at sources within that document and in the references area and finding more of the things for which I have been looking.

What do I need to change?
I'm not exactly sure what I need to change. I think a couple of potential things are giving myself more time to research and having more of an open mind as to what I can use. I really need to give myself more time to research, but I feel like I can utilize more of what I'm finding and maybe not be too specific in my search for information.

Other than that, I've gotta have more fun with this! Yeah, research!

What I Found on the Computer (It's Okay)

Teammates! I found a couple of articles about fatherhood. One mentions a fatherhood movement of sorts to bring back responsible fatherhood. Another article talks about the changing role of fathers, I think. Unfortunately, I haven't started to write my paper, yet - feel free to share any advice with me on how to dominate this thing.
There's actually a pretty cool experience about which I was just reading- a father who was addicted to crack who got reunited with his sons. It looked like things were going better, for him, now.