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  Building Strong Marriages Builds Strong Families  When a marriage is solid and healthy it provides the type of environment where a family can thrive. When we invest in strengthening our marriages it can have a profound impact on the strength of our children and our families. What are some ways we can build strong marriages and families?  1. Work together - It's important that in our marriages we work together, this is something that will be continuously changing as we add jobs, responsibilities, and children to our families, but it important in both marriage and family life. I have noticed that when my children see my husband and I working together in harmony they are more willing to pitch in. There is something about a morning doing yard work together as a family that increases the love and admiration we have for one another. It's not always easy in the moment, and at times there will be complaining, but when we are able to complete a task together it creates a bond th...
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  Should I Keep Trying?  I haven't met anyone who got married thinking they were going to get divorced, have you? When a marriage isn't healthy, stable, or safe one partner may think about divorce. I'm sure you have heard the statistics that 50% of marriages end in divorce. While this number is slightly skewed it makes you wonder how many of those divorces could have been prevented.  There has been much spiritual council given on marriage and divorce. In our day Latter-day prophets have given council and clarification regarding divorce. President Gordon B. Hinckley said: "There is now and again a legitimate cause for divorce, I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us is not of God (Hinckley, 2000, p. 134). In addition Elder Oaks counciled that "when a marriage is dead and beyond hope of resuscitation, it is needful to have a means to end it (Oaks, 2007, p. 71). Elder Oaks also counseled " I do not c...
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  Setting Boundaries  The concept of fidelity is paramount to any marriage. For covenant keeping Latter Day Saints it aligns with our values and beliefs. Fidelity is more that just physical loyalty, it also encompasses mental, emotional, and the spiritual commitments we make to our spouse. It's important to set clear boundaries in order to protect the sanctity of our marriages.  Fidelity is the exclusive devotion and loyalty to one's spouse. This holds even more weight in Latter-day saint marriages where we make covenants not only in this life, but for eternity. Fidelity is the cornerstone of these covenants.  Some steps we can take in our marriages to protect us from infidelity are:  1. Keeping Open Communication: Being open and honest is a huge aspect in keeping marital fidelity. We should discuss expectations, concerns, and boundaries around social media usage, interactions with members of the opposite sex, and other areas that could create conflict. When the...
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 Warm Marriage = Cold Facts  I opened instagram today and it didn't take long to find woman who are struggling through divorce, unhappy husbands, and people touting that single life is better. Divorce rate statistics show that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Popular culture and literature have us believing that marriage is a failing institution. From these things many would believe that marriage isn't worth it, but the cold facts and studies show that marriage is worth it.  Studies indicate that marriage is beneficial! Married adults are healthier, they live longer than those who are not married, have greater life satisfaction, and lower risk of depression. Economic stability is a huge benefit of marriage. There are many who argue that these things aren't true, that there are too many factors in a marriage and life. One study conducted across 17 nations found that there is a big link between marital happiness and marital status indicating that married individuals are hap...
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  Building a Happy Healthy Marriage  Life is incredibly busy. Work, church, school, our families, staying in shape, eating healthy, the lists can be endless. How do we build happy, healthy marriages amidst the chaos of everyday living? What kind of foundation do we need to be successful? President Spencer W. Kimball taught, 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 that the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person (2002, p.42). In the post we will take a look at the foundational process that build successful enduring marriages.  Foundation Principle #1 - Being committed to the Marriage Covenant  In order to be successful in marriage we need to remember that it is a divine institution and with that comes responsibilities. Often times we get in the habit of thinking that marriage is contractual, we need to b...
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 Equal Partners = Strong Marriages      There is a lot of talk about mental load and equal partnership in marriage both inside and outside the church. What does equal partnership look like? Our understanding of being equal in marriage is different than our identity. Being equal does not mean that we are the same. The Family Proclamation points out our unique designs, being equal recognizes these uniqueness's and blends them together to create a beautiful harmony. While working together to create this unity we are able to maintain our unique design and gender differences. Men and women are considered equal, there should be no hierarchy in our relationships.       I have loved learning about Adam and Eve and how they are made in the image of Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother, they also share their divine masculine and feminine characteristics. It teaches that they have different characteristics and abilities, but they are equally divine. We unders...
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 Dating with an Eternal Perspective          In today's digital world dating can feel overwhelming. It can feel casual and focused on superficial connections. This can be challenging for those who are seeking a strong faith built foundation, because dating takes on a deeper significance. It's important to remember that part of the work of dating and building a relationship starts before you even meet.       President Thomas S. Monson noted, “Decisions determine destiny. That is why it is worthwhile to look ahead, too set a course, to be at least partly ready when the moment of decision comes (Monson, 2004, p.4)." Knowing what you want in a marriage is beneficial before you start dating, it can help you to become the type of partner that you would also want to be married to. Part of becoming is realizing that all of the things that have happened in life previously will have an affect on your marriage, our experiences, family life, educati...
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