Marriage Principles That Have Helped Us

I wrote this in about 2006 to answer a friend's question. In 2018 we just celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary, and it just keeps getting better and better.

I had just read this article in our church magazine* and remembered the question you once asked me about how to have lasting relationships. This couple is one of the happiest, most charming couples I have ever met. He is the Lord’s prophet and the leader of our church. They are in their nineties now and President Gordon B. Hinkley recently said:

     "I am so grateful for her. For 66 years we have walked together, hand in hand, with love and encouragement, with appreciation and respect. It cannot be very long before one of us will step through the veil (of death). I hope the other will follow soon. I just would not know how to get along without her, even on the other side, "(life after death).

Talk about a love story!

My husband and I both came from unhappy homes where our parents were divorced. We each joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in our teens and have tried to follow true principles instead of our parents examples. It has been very difficult for us, but we have learned so much, now we have a fulfilling relationship, and the joy of seeing two of our children happily married.

Perspective of Womanhood

I wrote this many years ago as a professional woman who chose to be home and nurture my family.



Lord’s Perspective

Queen
defender of home
has mission to help family return to Heavenly Father
united with husband
eternal perspective of the significance of her work
responsibility to raise children shared with husband
she has stewardship over home- delegate work
husband is responsible to provide for the family
told she is capable- continually learning
encouraged to magnify gifts and talents
builder of society, home and community
views her life as fulfilling
told she is a leader, and nurturer
Is busily engaged in life
Is free to set own goals, schedule
told her family need her nurturing, leadership, emotional support
therefore she stays in the home and fulfill her mission and achieve eternal goals

Changing Our Marriage by Changing Me

I wrote this in about 2010. Our marriage keeps getting better and better each year.

In the early years of our marriage I believed my husband loved me, but I sure didn’t feel very loved–  now I do. What has changed? Is he really very different–  am I? Sure we have shared a lot, but have we really changed all that much? What is different now?

A friend mentioned that she thought I have learned to relate better with my husband. I think she is right. I can remember an instance several years ago. I had packed up some Christmas decorations and placed them in the doorway informing my husband that they were ready to go up to the attic. For the next twenty minutes I watched in mounting frustration as my husband walked around the boxes. Finally I blurted out, “Why aren’t you taking the boxes to the attic!?”

He calmly replied, “You haven’t asked me.”

I thought I had. I thought I had been very clear.