Marriage is the Greatest Adventure

In Goddard's book, "Drawing Heaven into Marriage," he made a comment that really hit home for me, "Marriage is God's finishing school." That has really been the case for me. I am still a student in this "finishing school", but I have seen important changes in my life. Some qualities in my husband have been difficult for me to adjust to, for example, he spends his money very differently than I do, he makes decisions very quickly, and he is more emotionally volatile than I am. But I have come to realize that there are positive sides to these qualities that can bless my life. I tend to be too "cheap" with my money and my husband helps me to understand that it's OK to spend it if we have it. If it were up to me I would continue to buy cheap stuff that would shortly break. He has taught me that sometimes it's worth buying good quality. He is also very generous with his money and has taught me to look for ways I can help people wit...

I really enjoyed reading the introduction and first chapter of Goddard's book,  Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage.   He begins by explaining, that we are all born innocent, but that is not the same as charitable. We are born into this world as a natural man (Mosiah 3:1), and our challenge here on earth is to overcome the natural man. This is always so much easier said than done.  It's great to think that we will become "submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love," until we are wrongly chastised by someone and things just "aren't fair".  Sometimes even just little things can hit us wrong and really bring out the worst in us.  Goddard says the key to a healthy relationship is being a healthy, saintly, God-seeking person.  It was the word "saintly" that really struck a chord in me. I think there are many times that I am not acting "saintly," but I sure feel justified! I realized after reading this that my relationships aren...

I started dating Steve when I was only 18, having no idea that I was dating my future husband. By the time we had been dating only a few months, Steve knew he was ready to get married.  I was scared to death! I was only 19 and had no plans of getting married so young. I kept praying about it telling God that I really enjoyed being with Steve, that I thought I loved him but I knew I was too young. I kept asking God to let me know that I was too young and should break up with Steve.  I just couldn't get an answer. Finally, after months of praying that way, I realized maybe I was asking the wrong thing. I finally prayed and told God that I knew I was young, but was this his will? Should I marry Steve? I was filled with the greatest peace and joy that I can remember.  So we did marry, Steve only 21 and me a young 19. I was lucky, Steve really was a good man. But I really was naive. I was raised in a good home by a good father and had four good brothers. I kind of just assu...

I have some family members whom I love dearly who are gay. My heart goes out to anyone who has this cross to bear, so my thoughts on the ruling of the Supreme Court regarding same-sex marriage have nothing to do with my feelings towards gay people. As I read through the majority reasoning I thought it made a lot of sense.  I took a page and a half of notes. I was pulled into the argument that all persons have the right to claim their 14th amendment rights. I was thinking that even though morally I don't agree with same-sex marriage, I couldn't argue with the legal side of things. But as I read through the arguments of the Dissenters I realized I had fallen to the "cunning plan of the evil one" that they that are "learned they think they are wise and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves. . . to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God." (2 Nephi 9: 28,29) I had forgotten (as h...