Perfecting the Craft: LDS Writer Blogfest: The Eternal Blessings of Marriage

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

LDS Writer Blogfest: The Eternal Blessings of Marriage

Okay, so my post today is kind of long...but it's SUPER awesome and totally worth reading!

Today I'm joining other writer's of my faith to tell you a little bit about our beliefs. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Every six months we have a General Conference when we gather together as church members to learn from our leader's.

I'd like to share some highlights from Elder Richard G. Scott's talk on the Eternal blessings of Marriage.

In our church we have the opportunity to be sealed in temples for time and all eternity. This ordinance makes it possible for us to be sealed together as a family unit after this life is over.

If you'd like to know more about temples, you can learn more about them here.

Now I'd like to share the highlights from Elder Scott's talk. These are the things that stuck out to me, the stories and council given that I absolutely loved :)

"Two of the vital pillars that sustain Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness are marriage and the family. Their lofty significance is underscored by Satan’s relentless efforts to splinter the family and to undermine the significance of temple ordinances, which bind the family together for eternity. The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment in mortality.

"Once I learned an important lesson from my wife. I traveled extensively in my profession. I had been gone almost two weeks and returned home one Saturday morning. I had four hours before I needed to attend another meeting. I noticed that our little washing machine had broken down and my wife was washing the clothes by hand. I began to fix the machine.

Jeanene came by and said, “Rich, what are you doing?”

I said, “I’m repairing the washing machine so you don’t have to do this by hand.”

She said, “No. Go play with the children.”

I said, “I can play with the children anytime. I want to help you.”

Then she said, “Richard, please go play with the children.”

When she spoke to me that authoritatively, I obeyed.

I had a marvelous time with our children. We chased each other around and rolled in the fall leaves. Later I went to my meeting. I probably would have forgotten that experience were it not for the lesson that she wanted me to learn.

The next morning about 4:00 a.m., I was awakened as I felt two little arms around my neck, a kiss on the cheek, and these words whispered in my ear, which I will never forget: “Dad, I love you. You are my best friend.”

If you are having that kind of experience in your family, you are having one of the supernal joys of life."

Isn't that a great story? I love that the wife didn't think twice about doing the laundry by hand. It was more important for her to have her husband spend time with the kids. Yes, the washer would need to be fixed sometime, but there is a time and place for everything.

Next, I'd like to share with you some awesome marriage strengthening questions that Elder Scott asked.

"If you are married, are you faithful to your spouse mentally as well as physically? Are you loyal to your marriage covenants by never engaging in conversation with another person that you wouldn’t want your spouse to overhear? Are you kind and supportive of your spouse and children?"

And then he gives some great advice...mostly for husbands but I think it's good for everyone.

"Do you tell your wife often how very much you love her? It will bring her great happiness. I’ve heard men tell me when I say that, “Oh, she knows.” You need to tell her. A woman grows and is greatly blessed by that reassurance. Express gratitude for what your spouse does for you. Express that love and gratitude often. That will make life far richer and more pleasant and purposeful. Don’t withhold those natural expressions of love. And it works a lot better if you are holding her close while you tell her."

I know that this council can strengthen my marriage and my family. I'm grateful to have the fullness of the gospel in my life. I love that I have the opportunity to be with my awesome hubby and cute kidlets forever. Although having a family is hard, there is no greater joy or love than the happiness that can come from working together, laughing together, supporting each other, and growing closer to each other as we grow closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Satan wants to tear down families because he knows that's where we can find the greatest blessings. It's important to be strong and build a good foundation to keep Satan and his influences from our families. I hope we can all turn to our Savior, build our family relationships and find joy in the journey that will lead us all to eternal happiness in our marriages and families.

If you'd like to read the complete talk by Elder Scott, you can find it here.

To read more talks from the most recent General Conference from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, you can find them here.

To learn more about the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints you can go here .

Here's a complete list of bloggers in this blogfest!

Annette Lyon: “Desire”