Jun

29

I finished my Ph.D. in Marriage, Family and Human Development more than a year ago, and a couple of months ago a German publisher asked me if I wanted to publish my dissertation in the form of a book. Why not? It will not sell like Harry Potter, but I could not see any downside to let them publish it (no costs for me, at least). So, I agreed to move forward, and a few days ago I found two copies of the book in my mail. Cool! Perhaps there will be more in the future, who knows?

This is the link to the book at Amazon: Gender and the Work-Family Interface

Gender and the Work-Family Interface

Gender and the Work-Family Interface

This is the description:

How do men and women differ in their perception of the work-family interface? How do these differences change as men and women transition to parenthood, raise and launch children, and then approach retirement? No previous studies adequately address these questions. This landmark study begins to. Data come from an IBM Global Work and Life Issues Survey representing 79 countries (N=41,813). Six family life stage groups were defined: no children and age 35 or less, transition to parenthood, preschool children, elementary children, teenagers, and empty nest (age 50+ years and no child dependents). Using a well-validated model of the work-family interface differences by gender by each life stage were identified. Using structural equation modeling the strengths of the paths were also compared. The findings indicate that gender differences are negligible until men and women have children. Parenting responsibilities are associated with greater gender differences. These differences diminish during the empty nest stage. Read this book for many other interesting, and sometimes unexpected gender differences in the work-family interface.

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May

27

I heard of this comment by the Russian Count Leo Tolstoy many years ago, when I was still a new member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and I lived in Italy. Mormons are not well known in Italy and it was particularly important for me at that time to have something good about Mormons to share with relatives and friends (who were not Mormons). Not that there are not enough good things to share about the Mormon religion, or what some call the “American religion”, but many have the tendency to look for the endorsement of some famous person to approve of something, before even being willing to look into it.

Obviously a quote or story is not enough for those who decided not to investigate seriously Mormonism, but this is the story about Count Leo Tolstoy and I love it, and I think it is becoming every day more true.

Count Leo Tolstoy, Russian author and statesman, in conversation with Andrew D. White, United States foreign minister to Russia, in 1892 said, “I wish you would tell me about your American religion.”

“We have no state church in America,” replied Dr. White.

“I know that, but what about your American religion?”

Dr. White explained to Tolstoy that in America each person is free to belong to the particular church in which he is interested.

Tolstoy impatiently replied: “I know all of this, but I want to know about the American religion. … The church to which I refer originated in America and is commonly known as the Mormon Church. What can you tell me of the teachings of the Mormons?”

Doctor White said, “I know very little concerning them.”

Then Count Leo Tolstoy rebuked the ambassador. “Dr. White, I am greatly surprised and disappointed that a man of your great learning and position should be so ignorant on this important subject. Their principles teach the people not only of heaven and its attendant glories, but how to live so that their social and economic relations with each other are placed on a sound basis. If the people follow the teachings of this church, nothing can stop their progress—it will be limitless.”

Tolstoy continued, “There have been great movements started in the past but they have died or been modified before they reached maturity. If Mormonism is able to endure, unmodified, until it reaches the third and fourth generation, it is destined to become the greatest power the world has ever known.”  –Shared by Elder David B. Haight in the May 1980 Ensign, emphasis added.

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May

11

These are excerpts from Cnn.com about the recent “scandal” involving Rev. Alberto Cutie.

The Rev. Alberto Cutie was removed from his duties after pictures showed him bare-chested with a woman… The Rev. Alberto Cutie — sometimes called “Father Oprah” because of the advice he gave on Spanish-language media — said Monday on CBS’ “Early Show” that he is in love with the woman and is considering his options: Whether to break up with her or leave the priesthood and marry her. The woman, who has not been publicly identified, wants to get married, Cutie said.

In a message posted on the Miami, Florida, archdiocese Web page last week, Archbishop John C. Favalora apologized to parishioners and radio listeners for what he called a “scandal.” “Father Cutie made a promise of celibacy and all priests are expected to fulfill that promise with the help of God,” Favalora said. “Father Cutie’s actions cannot be condoned despite the good works he has done as a priest.”

This happening really caught my attention, because before becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Church) I was involved in the catholic church, and in spite of never considering seriously the possibility of becoming a priest, I never liked the idea that priests were not supposed to get married. I had the feeling that it is was wrong.

It is not my intention to discuss policies of the Catholic Church, but I simply want to quote a scripture from the Bible, from the book of Genesis, and comment it briefly.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth..(Genesis 1:27-28)

From this scripture it is clear that God intended marriage to be part of life and to be good, not something to be avoided. He did not say that some men are more blessed because they do not marry. He did not say… “be fruitful, and multiply… but not all of you, just the normal people, the most special among you will live the higher law of celibacy..”  He did not say that.

There is a lot of confusion about what happened with Adam and Eve in the Christian literature, and many believe that in order to live a more spiritual life (like priests are supposed to live) marriage can be an hindrance and should be avoided. However, this is a mistake; marriage is ordained by God and it is a higher standard than celibacy. Moreover, celibacy is unnatural and may become a serious problem, has it has become for Rev. Alberto Cutie.

In the Church of Jesus Christ (Mormon Church), nobody is expected to avoid marriage to pursue a religious life. On the contrary, marriage and families are of extreme importance in God’s plan and Mormons believe that a religious life is better pursue by living a full life, as was intended by our Creator.

I am glad to have such knowledge now, and I am glad that I can live with my family and still pursue a religious live at his best, without having to give up any of the blessings that our God intended for us. I am confident that those who wants to know what really God wants for them, will be able to find the answer, if they have the faith and the courage to look for it.


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May

9

Can a person really see God? This and other questions are constantly raised by people who attack the Mormon church and the Mormon doctrine trying to prove that we are hoping for too much and that we are misguided. This is really sad, how many Christian people do not have the courage to understand the promises of the Lord.

Whenever and wherever men had faith, they saw the face of God, entertained angels, and performed miracles; they healed the sick, raised the dead, and wrought righteousness. Enoch and his whole city so perfected their lives that they were taken up into heaven. A whole generation of Nephites walked so perfectly in the light that every living soul among them was saved. In the meridian of time, Jesus marked the course and charted the way. The apostles after him built up the kingdom as they were guided by the Spirit.
And thus for more than four thousand years there were men who had received revelation, believed the gospel, and walked uprightly before the Lord. He in turn had poured out his Spirit upon them so that they “subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.” (Heb. 11:33-34.) They had power “to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; to put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.” (JST Gen. 14:30-31.)    (Bruce R. McConkie, The Millennial Messiah: The Second Coming of the Son of Man, p.37-38)


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May

1

I have discovered Twitter not long ago (as many others) and I have been tracking a few hashtags such as Mormon. Today I noticed that someone posted the following:

Mormon leader of NOM appears to advocate overthrow of US government “by whatever means necessary”.

Then several others repeated the same over and over again. I tried to post something explaining the position of the Mormon Church, but it is a useless endeavor. There are several people out there who simply repeat over and over again anything they can find to attack the Mormon Church. I wonder why they do not talk about something positive and uplifting instead.

In any case, it is obvious that Twitter is not a good place to have a serious discussion about Mormonism  because it is based on short messages that can easily become slogan thrown out there to attack Mormons.

Other attacks-slogans sound like this:

These Mormon girls are so east to manipulate!

or

Does a “Well Behaved Mormon Woman” keep trying to impose Mormon dogma on the rest of the country, and use our laws to do so?

and so on…

I wonder if Twitter is here to stay, and probably it is. I can see the positive side of it, but at the same time it is obvious that it can easily become an instrument to spread rumors and attacks against people and organizations.  However, the problem, as usual, is not the new medium, but some of the people who use it.

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Apr

22

I try to avoid commenting politics in this blog, but what I read on CNN.com today made me laugh.

President Obama misinterpreted Cuban President Raúl Castro’s offer to start talks with the United States, Castro’s brother Fidel said Wednesday, appearing to dismiss the U.S. leader’s call for Cuba to release political prisoners…When the president of Cuba said he was ready to discuss any topic with the U.S. president, he meant he was not afraid of addressing any issue,” Castro wrote. “That shows his courage and confidence on the principles of the revolution.” (http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/22/castro.cuba.obama/index.html).

What a different interpretation! “To be ready to discuss any topic” did not mean they were willing to make concessions or changes, but simply that they were ready to defend what they believe!

Foxnews.com on the same topics reported that,

The ex-president (Fidel Castro) had previously expressed his admiration for Obama, but this time Castro blasted the new U.S. president for showing signs of “superficiality.” (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/04/22/fidel-castro-obama-got-overture-wrong

Probably Obama thought it would be easier, or perhaps Obama, as many other leaders in all kind of organizations, thought that his predecessors were not smart enough, or were not following the proper principles in solving a problem. I do not have enough knowledge to suggest policies, but I was not surprised by this turn of events.

I am sure that Obama will change many of his campaign promises when faced with reality, as all leaders need to do. But some do it better than others. We will all see what Obama will do in this and other situations. I wish him well, for the good of the US and the world.

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Apr

21

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is not only involved in preaching the Gospel according to its doctrine but it also provides relief and development projects for humanitarian purposes in countries all over the world. Projects operate without regard to the nationality or religion of the recipients.

Humanitarian service may include emergency response to natural disasters, such as an earthquake or a tsunami, or man-made disasters, such as the effects of war and famine. It may also be part of a longer-term effort to meet serious and more entrenched human needs, such as the need to alleviate disease.

This is a video about what Mormons do to the world

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Apr

13

It is sad to hear this comment from some very uninformed people and from others who spread this notions on purpose and not for a good one. The true name of the church is the Church of Jesus Christ (of Latter-day Saints). But the name may not be enough by itself to convince someone that the so-called “Mormons” are Christians.

If you have any doubt, but you sincerely want to know if  “Mormons” are Christians, just take a look at this video, the testimony of a modern Apostle about the last moments of the Savior on this earth.  After watching this video, if you still think that Mormons are not Christians, then your definition of Christians must be very strange.

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Apr

9

Elder Neil Linden Andersen, 57, was named the newest apostle of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Saturday during the morning session of the Church’s 179th Annual General Conference. I was impressed by his humility when addressing the members of the Church at general conference last Sunday. Today I watched the press conference when he was introduced to the general public and again I was impressed by his background and humble style.

This is a video of his talk in the previous general conference of the Mormon church

Neil Linden Andersen was called as a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during last General Conference. Elder Andersen has been serving as a General Authority of the Church since 1993 when he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.

Elder Andersen was born in Logan, Utah, on 9 August 1951, and was raised in Pocatello, Idaho. As a young man, he served a mission in France. After his mission, he graduated from Brigham Young University and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School. Later he moved to Tampa, Florida where he was the vice president of the Morton Plant Health System.

Between 1989 and 1992, Anderson was president of the France Bordeaux Mission and in 1993, he became a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy. He has been the executive director of the Church’s Audio-visual Department and assistant executive director of the Priesthood Department.  In 2005, Andersen became a member of the Presidency of the Seventy. Andersen married Kathy Sue Williams in 1975 and they are the parents of four children.

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Mar

25

This is another great video from David on youtube. I was baptized in the LDS (Mormon) Church in 1985 and a few months after my baptism President Spencer W. Kimball passed away and Ezra Taft Benson became the new president. So, he was the prophet of my first years in the Church and I some of his talks had a great influence in my life, such as Flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon and Beware of Pride.

I had never heard the talk contained in this video, but it is worthwhile to listen to this prophet warning us of the dangers facing America (and many other nations).

This videos was inspired to help wake up members of the LDS Church to the dangers they face in America, as seen over 40 years ago by President Ezra Taft Benson.  i have the impression that now things are lot worse and we should all get our homes in order in preparation of the approaching PORTENT storm that Pres.Hinckley warned us about in 1998.

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