Love and Admiration

When thinking about a happy marriage I not only think of mine but I think of my parents. I was fortunate enough to grow up in a home where a mom and a dad loved each other unconditionally.  Their love and admiration for each other was inspiring and I knew that I wanted a happy marriage just like them.

Now that I am married I appreciate the great examples I had of loving couples growing up. Being married isn’t always easy, but it is the best decision I ever made. Marriages take time, effort and most importantly love.

How do I show love and admiration in my marriage? I truly didn’t know I could love someone as much as I love my husband. I don’t think loving someone always needs to be hugs and kisses. I show my husband I love him by letting him snore, because I know how tired he is. I show him I love him by making sure he always has clean clothes to wear and good food to eat. I show him I love him by looking him in the eyes and telling him how much he means to me. I show him I love him by expressing my love through words.  My husband isn’t the most romantic person, but let me tell you, he is so romantic with his words. He makes me feel so loved and important and that is all I have dreamed of.

It is important to express to your spouse how much you love them, often. That is how marriages will succeed. Love one other and cherish one another. 

Marriage Takes Time & Effort

Marriage is not always easy. In fact, it can be quite challenging at times. Marriage takes time and effort. Arguments are going to happen and husband and wife are going to disagree on things. What I liked most about the reading this week was it was based on friendship. Being friends with your spouse is truly rewarding.

I am so grateful for the relationship I have with my husband. He is my best friend. A few weeks ago I was asked if I ever get bored being with my husband all day. I shook my head and said, “no way. Being with him is my favorite thing in the world.” Being married is like hanging out with your best friend all day. Do my husband and I always get along? No. Do we argue about stupid things? Yes.

It’s sad when couples think that because they argue their marriage won’t last. Gottman stressed the importance of communication and compromise. Without communicating effectively you cannot have a successful marriage. I also loved that Gottman said, “For every negative thing you say to your spouse, make it up with 5 positive things.” It is easier to get your feeling hurt by something negative said than feel better and comforted by something positive said.

Communicate in your marriages. Strive to be the best spouse you can be. My bishop once told me, “Stop focusing on all the things your husband does wrong. Instead, think of how you can make yourself better.” Compromise is key. Love one another, say nice things to one another and be the best you can be.

Holiness To The Lord, The House Of The Lord

                              

                                                        Oakland, California Temple

The Temple is such a wonderful place. It truly is the house of the Lord, and it can bring such amazing blessings. I had always attended the temple as a youth, but I never fully understood what the temple and the sacred covenants we make had in store for me. I recently went through the temple, and let me just say it was breathtaking. Everything I thought was going to happen didn’t, it was even better than I could have imagined. After attending the temple I have a much better understanding of this gospel and of my Savior.

Kneeling across the alter, looking into my husband’s eyes, I knew that I was making the best decision of my life. I have only been married for a short period of time, but I have seen the blessings the temple can give. I thought I loved my husband with all I had, until he took me to the temple. Now I love him in a way I didn’t know was possible. The blessings of the temple are true and very, very real. Tears fill my eyes as I think of how I have been blessed, because of the sacred covenants I have made not only to my spouse, but with the Lord.

President Ezra Taft Benson lists the many blessings we can receive by attending the temple. He said, “When you attend the temple and perform the ordinances that pertain to the House of the Lord, certain blessings will come to you: You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears. You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before. Your hearts will be turned to your fathers and theirs to you. You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised. You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. (See D&C 84:19.) You will learn how you can be like Him. Even the power of godliness will be manifest to you. (See D&C 84:20.) You will be doing a great service to those who have passed to the other side of the veil in order that they might be “judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (D&C 138:34.)”

I love this gospel and I love the temple. I am grateful for the knowledge I have of both and for the knowledge I have of my loving Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ. 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/1985/08/what-i-hope-you-will-teach-your-children-about-the-temple?lang=eng 

Marriage

“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.” (THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD)

Gender and same sex attraction has been and I think always will be a subject people don’t agree on. I know that I personally have my own thoughts and feelings about it, but I have never been one to stand up and tell the world how I feel. Maybe that’s a good things and maybe it’s not. I would never want to hurt anyone’s feelings, but I do know for a fact that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us so much no matter who we are, where we come from or what we look like. I wish everyone had a testimony of this gospel and the many blessings it can bring into our lives on a daily basis. Like I said, I have never been one to tell others how I feel about this subject, but after being married and sealed in the temple, I have a better understanding of eternal marriage and the importance of a forever family.

“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.” (THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD)

www.lds.org

For Time And ALL Eternity

                                                         Oakland, California Temple 

What does marriage mean to you? To me, marriage is an essential step in order to return to our Heavenly Father. In The Family: A Proclamation to the World it states, “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.” It would truly make my heart so happy if everyone had this same belief about marriage, but in today’s world that is simply not the case.

Divorce is such a common thing nowadays and it is heartbreaking. Couples that get divorced don't look at marriage with an eternal perspective. A lot of couples just get married out of lust, and or selfish reasons. Couples think that getting a divorce is a solution to their problems. In some special cases, divorce is needed, but in a majority of marriages husband and wife just give up. Instead of trying to solve their problems and save their marriage they turn to divorce as a way out. The thing that I have a hard time wrapping my head around is that couples chose to get married for a reason. That reason is usually because they love each other and they make each other happy. So how do those feelings get lost? How do things get so bad that they forget how much they love each other? I hope that is something I never forget. The gospel is becoming more and more distant from the world. It is so important that we choose the side of righteousness and stick with it. I recently got married and it has been difficult at times, but it has by far been the best decision I have ever made. Nothing beats the feeling of being sealed to my husband for time and all eternity.