Kommunicationsmedier

The discussions for my Family Relations class this week were so great! We had amazing discussions about Communication, particularly within the family unit. Do you know what the title of this post means? Yeah, I didn't either. Brother Williams asked us if we knew what that meant, and I drew a blank. He told us that in Danish that means Media of Communication. We discussed different media of communication, how it works, how people perceive verbal and non verbal cues differently, and how we can be blessed with proper communication within our families.

Did you know that meaning is driven from people, not the actual words spoken. Only 14% of communication is driven by our actual words. 35% is driven from tone. And then the hum dinger of communication is a whoppin' 51% of non-verbal communication.

We always, always, always communicate something even if we don't intend to. 


My favorite topic of discussion today in class was how counseling in our families should be. Again, I draw from our belief as members of the Church, so bear with me in indulging in yet again, some amazing gospel doctrine given to us by inspired Apostles and Prophets of the Lord, Jesus Christ.

In Isaiah 1:18 it says, "Come now, let us reason together that we may understand."

This counsel is very important for family units today. We all have stewardship over things in our life, but the great thing is that we don't have to do it alone (M. Russell Ballard). The Lord counsels us in Ephesians the proper way to communicate in our families. If you aren't familiar with verses 26-32 of chapter 4, I would suggest you read them. It's better than any advice you can get anywhere else on how to communicate in families.

One of the verses I wish to emphasize is verse 29 from chapter. It says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the unto hearers." What does it mean to edify? To edify means to build up in an upward direction. 

Vocally expressing why we appreciate our family members unites us in such a way that it aligns our will with the Father's. We become united in purpose and in decision making when we openly express how much we appreciate how each family member makes a difference in the overall relationship and capacity to love.

Our communications in conflict should never be a way to criticize or express our frustration with people and what we perceive they are doing wrong, or what we perceive a solution should be. Conflict does not mean you have to fight and argue. Ephesians 4 continues to explain in verse 31 that "let all bitterness and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice." Satan wants us to use wrath, anger, clamour, and evil speaking to our family members. The Lord would counsel us to be uplifting and peaceful in our speaking, because that is the Lord's way. When we use kindness and tenderheartedness in our communication it aligns our hearts with the Lord and we are better able to be led by His Spirit and be more willing to do what He would have us do as a family.

If only you could be in class to listen and understand the deep doctrine we discussed. I admit that I am cheating you out of the great conversation we engaged in, but I would hope that this would be a small lesson in how we should engage in our communication one with another. Communication is so important with our family, and more importantly with our relationship with Heavenly Father. If we aren't communicating well with our family members, how are we ever going to be able to communicate otherwise?