Marriage lessons from the Book of Mormon

The other night I was in the bathroom getting ready for bed. As usual my husband was lying in bed, already prepared to sleep, but waiting for me to join him. This is a typical occurrence in our house. Unfortunately I can't quite get myself in bed at the same time as my husband. It takes me anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour to get into bed once he's there. Obviously it’s important to him that I'm in bed with him before he falls asleep, because he never lies in his "sleep" position unless I'm there.

So, I got to thinking...why is it that we've been married over 2 years and I haven't been able to do this thing that is important to my husband more than a dozen times since we've been married? Don't I want the best for him? I DO! I would do ANYTHING for him! So why is it that I can't do this small thing?

This situation made me think of this story:

1 Nephi 17:41
We read in the Book of Mormon and the Bible when many of the Israelites were bitten by poisonous serpents and died. In order to save those that had not perished, Moses "raised up in the wilderness [a staff], that whosoever would look upon it might live (Alma 33:19)." Many chose not to look and therefore died.

That's it! All they had to do was look...and they chose to die! Can you believe it! Why did the Israelites not look?

Although it may seem so simple, I can ask myself a similar question:

Why can I not do simple things that bring so much happiness to those I love?

Alma counseled "O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way" (Alma 37:46)

Although I have told myself many times that I was going to make a better effort to do this thing for my husband, I have resolved to try a little harder. After all...how hard is it to put off doing the dishes, or sending an email by a couple hours? I would much rather make my husband happy and do my "to do" list a little earlier in the day then be, as Alma calls "slothful" to the wishes of my husband.

Of course there are deeper and more everlasting lessons we can learn from this story, but after all, Nephi did counsel us to "liken all scriptures" (1 Nephi 19:23- emphasis added) unto ourselves.

Introduction

I would like to begin this blog by giving a brief introduction of its purpose.

In my short life I have seen far too many unhappy families. I was blessed to grow up in a loving home, taught by good parents, and blessed with a caring husband. Through my education I have been taught what families can do to have not only healthy relationships, but a happy home. Between a wonderful upbringing, good education and a husband that has been an amazing example and support, I experience insights on a daily basis that help me to see how an average family can have a lasting, and even eternal, happy home and relationship.

It is my hope to compile these somewhat random thoughts for my own and other's benefits.

This blog will be largely based on:

The Family: A Proclamation to the World

(read below)

and more specifically the line:

"Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children."

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.

This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
© 1995, 2008 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America