Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement are the three pillars of eternity. Similarly , most marriages have their three pillars— a creation, a fall, and an atonement. The creation is the beginning of the relationship— the honeymoon stage where everything seems blissful, new, and exciting. But inevitably most marriages experience a fall— trials, adversity, challenges, and even fits of disenchantment. It isn’t just sinful couples that go through this stage. Many of the Brethren have spoken candidly about the difficult times in their lives and relationships. Brigham Young, for example, had a wife who left the Church. The marriage of Joseph F. Smith to his first wife ended in a bitter divorce. Spencer W. Kimball and his wife had their occasional disagreements—one of the most famous being when Sister Kimball wanted to save their extra cash for a new house. Spencer, on the other hand, wanted to take the money and travel. They could not come to an agreement, so Camilla and the children stayed home while Spencer loaded up the car and went on a family vacation, by himself. Of his relationship with his wife, Elder Dallin H. Oaks once shared this: Our children can’t claim that they’ve never heard us disagree.… June and I have had some marvelous disagreements. Many of us will have difficulties in our relationships. Thankfully, the Atonement of Jesus Christ can heal all wounds , and it can provide us with the strength to endure those inevitable challenges. When a husband and wife utilize Christ’s gifts, and thereby become like Him because they live committed to Him, then the atonement stage of the marriage is realized. Their trials are less devastating, their love is more mature, and their unity is assured. They begin to see fewer flaws in their spouse, they are more forgiving of weaknesses, they are less prone to frustration, and the joy of the journey becomes surprisingly grand. From _ Love at Home: Insights from the Lives of Latter-day Prophets_
Posted on: Wed, 17 Sep 2014 18:59:44 +0000
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