Doctrine of Eternal Marriage

I really enjoyed our reading this week.  One thing that caught me eye was the talks by Elder Hafen and Elder Bednar.  Elder Hafen talked about a covenant marriage verses a contract marriage.  When trouble comes along, those in a contract marriage seem to walk away.  They give each other about 50% and they care only when they receive something in return.  Jesus refers to the contractual attitudes as "hirelings".  When the wolf (or trouble) comes they flee, turning hearts away from the children and each other."  

In a covenant marriage, each gives a 100%, and when trouble comes along, they do not run, they work it out.  In a covenant marriage, you have to take a leap of faith, and keep the covenants that you have made.  There is unconditional love and sacrifice, but you do what you can and obey Heavenly Father.

 In a covenant marriage, there is three people, husband, wife and Jesus Christ.  Jesus Christ is the focal point that brings a husband and wife together.  Elder Bednar said, "As a husband and wife are each drawn to the Lord, as they learn to serve and cherish one another, as they share life experiences and grow together and become one, and as they are blessed through the uniting of their distinctive natures, they begin to realize the fulfillment that our Heavenly Father desires for His children".  When our youth see the respect, affection, trust and love between their parents, they will strive to have those same characteristics in their own lives.  

Eternal marriage is not a "temporary legal contract", that can be broken at any time, it is a sacred covenant  with Heavenly Father that will last through time and all eternity.  Elder Bednar says that a husband and wife need time to spend with each other without the influences and attacks from the adversary.  We need to also spend time with our children without the outer influences.  We have the gospel to help guide our families through this trying time.

I am grateful for my eternal marriage, for my husband and the support he gives me and our children.  We are not perfect by any means, and find that trials have come our way.  I think they have made us stronger, and more trusting of each other.  We take the covenants that we made in the house of the Lord very seriously.  We know that if we live up to these covenants we will be together as a family for eternity.