Strengthening Our Marriages, Families, and Homes

Read the following with the sisters you visit, and discuss the questions, scriptures, and teachings from our Church leaders. Share your experiences and testimony, and invite those you teach to do the same.

What is the Lord’s view of marriage, family, and home?

Mark 10:6–9: “From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.

“For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;

“And they twain shall be one flesh. …

“What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.”

The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. …

“… Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities” (“The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign, Nov. 1995, 102).

Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “What if you are single or have not been blessed with children? Do you need to be concerned about the counsel regarding families? Yes. It is something we all need to learn in earth life. Unmarried adult members can often lend a special kind of strength to the family, becoming a tremendous source of support, acceptance, and love to their families and the families of those around them” (“Strengthening Families: Our Sacred Duty,” Ensign, May 1999, 34).

What can we say and do that will result in strong, happy family relationships?

Mosiah 4:15: “Ye will teach them to walk in the ways of truth and soberness; ye will teach them to love one another, and to serve one another.”

The First Presidency: “We counsel parents and children to give highest priority to family prayer, family home evening, gospel study and instruction, and wholesome family activities. However worthy and appropriate other demands or activities may be, they must not be permitted to displace the divinely-appointed duties that only parents and families can adequately perform” (First Presidency letter, 11 Feb. 1999).

President Gordon B. Hinckley: “A good marriage requires time. It requires effort. You have to work at it. You have to cultivate it. You have to forgive and forget. You have to be absolutely loyal one to another” (“Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 4).

“I know of no single practice that will have a more salutary effect upon your lives than the practice of kneeling together as you begin and close each day. Somehow the little storms that seem to afflict every marriage are dissipated when, kneeling before the Lord, you thank him for one another, … and then together invoke his blessings upon your lives” (“‘Except the Lord Build the House … ,’” Ensign, June 1971, 72).

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles: “If you are single and haven’t identified a solid prospect for celestial marriage, live for it. Pray for it. Expect it in the timetable of the Lord. Do not compromise your standards in any way that would rule out that blessing on this or the other side of the veil. The Lord knows the intent of your heart. His prophets have stated that you will have that blessing as you consistently live to qualify for it” (“Receive the Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 1999, 27).

Illustrated by Justin Kunz