Marriage is vital in God’s plan of happiness for His children. Marriage between and man and a woman promotes stable families.

God sends us to Earth to live in families to help us be happy and feel His love. Families bring stability, peace, comfort and love to its individual members.

In today’s world, divorce is growing ever more common. I believe for many, if their marriage were built and sustained on divine love that may be different.
Spencer W. Kimball taught,

“Divine love is not like that association of the world which is misnamed love, but which is mostly physical attraction. When marriage is based on this only, the parties soon tire of each other. There is a break and a divorce, and a new, fresher physical attraction comes with another marriage, which in turn may only last until it too becomes stale. The love of which the Lord speaks is not only physical attraction, but also faith, confidence, understanding, and partnership. It is devotion and companionship, parenthood, common ideals and standards. It is cleanliness of life and sacrifice and unselfishness. This kind of love never tires nor wanes. It lives on through sickness and sorrow, through prosperity and privation, through accomplishment and disappointment, through time and eternity.”

In saying this, I do not mean to overlook the fact that there are definitely circumstances which call for divorce, i.e. abuse, neglect, betrayal etc. However, I am not going to even touch those. I am speaking more to those who divorce for convenience, to look for a more comfortable fit, because they don’t feel anything anymore. Divorce or separation is not the solution for these situations. These call for repentance and change. They require effort to fight for strength in their marriage.

Marriage and family are truly the fundamental units of society. If we want strength to return to our nation, we need to worry less about what is happening in The White House and more what is happening in OUR HOUSE. We need to teach and share the truths that are found in the gospel of Jesus Christ. We need to strengthen the family unit!

I believe, as stated in The Family: A Proclamation to the World,

“Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live…

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. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners…

We warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.” (https://www.lds.org/topics/family-proclamation?lang=eng&old=true)

Marriage is essential to God’s plan of happiness. Strong families are vital to having a strong nation. We need to work to obtain divine love for our spouses and to keep our marriage and family strong. Don’t turn to divorce as a universal solution, turn to Christ.

In my own marriage, I don’t let myself see divorce as an option. When there are problems, my husband and I have to talk it out and try to understand one another. We have to pray. We have to read the scriptures. We have to be willing to see things from one another’s perspectives. We have to be willing to give and take.

I am grateful for Dan who loves me in my weak moments. He sees the good in me when I can’t see it in myself. He is my friend and my cheerleader. He is kind and loyal. He is the father I want for my future children. We are not perfect but I hope that we may continue to develop divine love for one another and always cultivate a closeness between us. This will translate into the lives of our children when they one day join our family.

Save the Family, Janice Kapp Perry: https://open.spotify.com/track/1lruNnRyuMy6HJGKf99Woo