Okay, so this week in all of my family classes we talked alot about marriage and how it really takes hard work to get marriage where it should be and keep it there. I am using a book called "Successful Marriages and Families" I'm taking a bunch of quotes and points from different chapters so this is going to be more of random thoughts all about the same topic.
"While marriage is difficult, and discordant and frustrated marriages are common, yet real, lasting happiness is possible, and marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person." - Spencer W. Kimball delivered in a BYU devotional in September 1976.
Happiness is something that we decide to be. If we choose to be happy then we will be. The same is in marriage if we choose to be happily married and each give 100% all the time then we will be.
"You sacrifice for [the relationship], invest in it, link it to personal goals, and seek the partner's welfare not just your own." When in marriage we have to eliminate everything else in our lives to cleave unto our spouses and none else. None else meaning not just no one else or nothing else. Our Heavenly Father wants our hearts to be knit together.
I believe that everyone, with the exception of very rare cases, if they work hard enough, can make their marriage last forever, but it is amazing that the gospel not only gives a purpose in life, but all of the principles make for a mentally, physically, and spiritually healthy life. Marriage is a wonderful thing that can really make one more happy than anything else.
Friday, January 27, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
An Eternal Perspective Enriches our Dating Experiences
Dating is so important, yet it is taken so casually and lightly that it worries me. It makes me not want to date because I fear that I will make the wrong decision. If a boy can’t show me that he knows how to take initiative and come up with something more than group dates and movie watching then I don’t want to date him, however, not very many show that anymore so now I feel like I’ll never find someone that meets my standards. And that I’ll never be brave enough to date many people to find one that does meet my standards, because more often than not I find myself in bad situations because the guy doesn’t know how to communicate.
In this day in age there is too much hanging out and not enough 1 on 1 dating. There is too much movies and TV watching and not enough getting to know each other. There is too much kissing and other physical pleasure going on and not enough talking and building and emotional relationship. There is too much texting and not enough calling or in person conversations.
It is no wonder that we are in such times where divorce seems so eminent; we have forgotten how to date and court properly. People aren’t spending the time and energy that relationships need to flourish, or communicating properly because they haven’t changed any of their habits that they formed while dating/hanging out and as a result their marriages fail. However, if someone were too date properly and really get to know and spend time with their dating partner then they wouldn’t have to change any of those habits upon marriage because good habits will already be in place.
There was an activity that we did in class. We had to match up different dating ideas with certain qualities that might come out in doing that specific activity. This is important becuase if you don't get to knwo qualities like how they communicate with others, how they react around children, or how they trat their mothers. The list also has on there what their spiritual drive is, and how commited they are to the Lord, do they serve, are they emotionally stable, and have financial maturity. These are all things that one would want to see come out before you married this person. I truly believe that by doing creative, but meaningful acitivites that are for a purpose other than to just have fun it will be build incredibly strong, righteous relationships that I wouldn’t have to be scared of because I would know the other so well that there would be no need to worry. The Lord can see everything and we can only see a little bit, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
In this day in age there is too much hanging out and not enough 1 on 1 dating. There is too much movies and TV watching and not enough getting to know each other. There is too much kissing and other physical pleasure going on and not enough talking and building and emotional relationship. There is too much texting and not enough calling or in person conversations.
It is no wonder that we are in such times where divorce seems so eminent; we have forgotten how to date and court properly. People aren’t spending the time and energy that relationships need to flourish, or communicating properly because they haven’t changed any of their habits that they formed while dating/hanging out and as a result their marriages fail. However, if someone were too date properly and really get to know and spend time with their dating partner then they wouldn’t have to change any of those habits upon marriage because good habits will already be in place.
There was an activity that we did in class. We had to match up different dating ideas with certain qualities that might come out in doing that specific activity. This is important becuase if you don't get to knwo qualities like how they communicate with others, how they react around children, or how they trat their mothers. The list also has on there what their spiritual drive is, and how commited they are to the Lord, do they serve, are they emotionally stable, and have financial maturity. These are all things that one would want to see come out before you married this person. I truly believe that by doing creative, but meaningful acitivites that are for a purpose other than to just have fun it will be build incredibly strong, righteous relationships that I wouldn’t have to be scared of because I would know the other so well that there would be no need to worry. The Lord can see everything and we can only see a little bit, trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Friday, January 13, 2012
The Family A Proclomation to the World
This is the Family: A proclomation to the World it was given by the Prophet Gordon B. Hinckley to the sisters in a general Relief society meeting on September 23, 1995. I think there is great power to think that this proclomation to the world was first given to the sisters before it was realeased to the world. What a marvolous responsibility it is to have this document and to try to listen to it's guildance while raising a family, but there are magnificant promises and blessings in this proclomation and it would do us good to remember how important it truly is.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
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.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
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. 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.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
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.
In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
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. 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.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
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