by Stephen F. Duncan and Sara S. McCarty Zasukha - Foundational Processes for an Enduring, Healthy Marriage
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other.
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Many couples permit their marriages to become stale and their love to grow cold like old bread or worn-out jokes or cold gravy.”
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other.
President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Many couples permit their marriages to become stale and their love to grow cold like old bread or worn-out jokes or cold gravy.”
“I should like to urge continued courtship, and
apply this to grown people. Too many
couples have come to the altar of marriage looking upon the marriage ceremony
as the end of courtship instead of the beginning of an eternal courtship.” President David O. McKay
President James E. Faust taught to pay attention to
the little things. He said, “We all need constant assurance that we are loved.
This assurance can come in many ways—verbal or written expressions, impromptu
gifts, acts of courtesy and consideration, time together. It’s important to
remember that it isn’t necessarily the big things that enrich marriage. “In the
enriching of marriage, the big things are the little things.”
Watch this Mormon Message:
Be intentional about doing things every day to
enrich the marriage. Couples who are
continuing courtship have special activities, or rituals that they purposefully
engage in to strengthen their marriage.
·
Connection Rituals – maintains bond
between 2 people
·
Love Rituals – keeps the romance alive
in marriage
·
Celebration Rituals – shows honor, love,
and respect for each other
If you haven’t created any rituals in your marriage,
take some time and think of some rituals that will enhance your relationship
with each other.
Spend at least 5 hours each week strengthening your
relationship. Try to do the following:
·
Learn one thing that happened in your
spouse’s life each day
·
Have a stress-reducing conversation at
the end of each day
·
Do something special every day to show
affection and appreciation
·
Have a weekly date
Set a goal to work on one of these suggestions
during the coming week.
Here are some ways to continue the romance in
marriage:
·
Express love by speaking or writing love
notes
·
Small inexpensive gifts can help spouse
know you are thinking of them
·
Show courtesy to each other
Adapting to Children and Youth
For Children: Learning to show love for others can start when you are young.
Read "The Big-Brother Trap" found here. Then talk about how your family can get along well with each other. Make the fun recipes below together and talk about what makes each family member special.
For Teens: Plan dates that are safe, positive, and inexpensive and that will help you get to know each other. Always be kind and respectful when you ask for a date or when you accept or decline one. While on a date, be courteous as you listen to others and express your own feelings. As you enter your adult years, make dating and marriage a high priority. Seek a companion who is worthy to go to the temple to be sealed to you for time and all eternity. Marrying in the temple and creating an eternal family are essential to God’s plan of happiness. (For the Strength of Youth 4-5.)
Unity Bread
It takes lots of different ingredients to make a recipe work. Imagine if you tried to make bread with just flour. Or if you left out the salt. Families are like that—everyone together creates something wonderful! Consider reading 1 Corinthians 12:14–18, and talk about how every family member is important.
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup plain yogurt
Friendship Butter
Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Scoop the dough into a small loaf pan and
bake for 25–30 minutes, or until a butter knife comes out clean when you stick
it in the middle. Turn the pan upside
down to remove the loaf, and let the bread cool.
Friendship Butter
While your bread is cooking, you can make your own butter to eat with it!
1/2 pint heavy cream
a small, clean jar with a tight lid
a clean cloth
salt
Put the cream in the jar and close it tight. Take turns shaking the jar. The more you
shake, the sooner the cream will turn to butter! While each person has a turn, have everyone
share something they like about the person with the jar. See how many nice
things your family can come up with about each other! Keep passing the jar
until there’s a large ball of light-yellow butter (about 20–30 minutes). Pour out the extra liquid and pat the butter
dry with a clean cloth. Stir in a little salt.
(https://www.lds.org/friend/2014/03/family-fun-time?lang=eng&query=family+unity)
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