byu education week: online transcript
brent barlow, marriage counselor
marriage: built on the rock
rutger's report: "persistent trends indicate a weakening of marriage" divorce rate in u.s. is 6x that of other countries. it's growing in canada, australia, uk, japan. all are following trends from the u.s.
matthew 24 and 25. a sign of the times from christ: "because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold..."
2 tim 3 and 4:4 "in the last days, many will forbid to marry."
why are marriages failing?
crux of his talk: you can only build as high as the foundation is deep. <analogy with building the salt lake temple>
spent 15-20 years rebuilding the salt lake temple foundation, took 40 years to build the whole thing. 16 feet wide at the foundation
on what is your foundation built? how can we make it?
matt 7:24,25
hel 5:12
insights as to what we can do no matter where we are in our marriage:
1. study the proclamation on the family
2. keep marriage a high priority
d and c 42:22 "thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart and cleave unto none else."
pres kimball: "the words "none else" mean no person or THING . our work, our social life, [computers..] sisters, don't let your children take precedence over your husband."
bruce r. mcconkie: "the most important things we do in this life are marry the right person, at the right time, with the right authority. and then to keep those covenants."
3. avoid apathy:
many marriages end because of neglect...many end out of "small leaks" rather than "blowouts."
2 nep 28:21 don't assume you are alright because you were married in the temple
4. remember your marriage vows, commitments and covenants.
d and c 90:24 (this one verse saved this one woman's marriage) "by recalling our covenants, and this verse, we were able to survive 3 very difficult years of marriage."
5. to attain happiness, keep the commandments of God.
"of all marriages, 20 to 30 percent stay married and are happy. about half that stay married are discontent."
mosiah 2:41
joseph smith: in 1842 "happiness is the object and design of our existence and will be in the end thereof if we pursue the path that leads to it. and that path is "virtue, uprightness, faithfulness, and holiness in keeping the commandments of God."
6. practice forgiveness
d and c 64:9-10
overcome your own imperfections and overlook theirs.
7. resolve conflicts effectively and quickly (within 24 hours) this is a true principle!
ephesians 4:26
matt 5:23-26
why quickly? the longer you let it go, the worse it gets.
8. pray always
d and c 31:12 a kneeling prayer, a vocal prayer, and take turns saying it. (pres. monson said the sealer told them to do this, they have been married 50 years.)
9. attend church meetings and the temple regularly
by just attending church weekly, you can reduce divorce rates by 1/3.
take your problems to the temple. the insights will come. by standing in holy places.
10. read the scriptures often.
2nep 32:3 feasting not nibbling! "..it will tell you ALL things...."
alma 44:45
11. avoid or reduce stress, fatigue and overcommitment
mosiah 4:25..."not requisite...." super-couple syndrome
it's not that we can't or won't it's that we don't
d and 10:4
12. take time for recreation
d and c 136:28
brigham young says: 8 hours of sleep, 8 of work, and 8 of recreation.
d and c 112:10
proverbs 3:5-6
d and c 82:10
nep 3:7
lds means "let's do something"
hel 5:12
