So our bishop asked us to take a new Strengthening Marriage class sponsored by our stake. Each ward was supposed to choose two couples to go, and we were it from our ward. Which is kinda strange because I feel like we have a really good marriage. Oh well...there's gotta be a reason, right? Anyway, I figure if I get to go and get the information, I'll post what we learned and maybe we can all have stronger marriages.
At first we talked about being a disciple. Which sounds strange, but it's true. The book they gave us said "Adherence to these principles (the nine principles from the Proclamation) will lead you to personal righteousness and closeness to God. As your personal worthiness increases, so does your appreciation for others, including family members. With discipleship comes divine guidance in all aspects of living, including in how to be a good husband or wife." The teachers talked about how if we draw a triangle and put the Lord at the top and each of us in a corner, the closer we get to Christ, the closer we get to each other.
Then they had some questions or "Learning Activities" that we were supposed to think about and answer. One I especially liked was "What might the Lord know about you that the two of you have not understood, such as your eternal possibilities, your premortal past, the life experiences that have influenced your behavior, and your potential to achieve an eternal marriage? And how might His perspective affect the way you relate to each other?"
Then they talked about the covenants that we have made, not just marriage but baptism and priesthood, and asked what we could do in our daily lives to keep the covenants that we have made. (bearing each other's burdens, remaining true and faithful to each other and sacrificing selfish interests, etc)
Anyway, some interesting ideas. I'll try to post some after every class and maybe we can all strengthen our marriages. When things start happening that make our lives more complex, we might all be glad that we are a little stronger and can communicate with each other a little bit better! Have a fabulous day!
3 comments:
Thank you for sharing. I to think I have a great marriage but it never hurts to find ways to make things better and the Gospel is always the sure way to really improve.
Your Dad and I took a 'Family Relations' class taught by Virginia Meyers. It was wonderful. I wish, however, that instead of just taking notes that we had tried harder to apply some of the things that we learned. Pride is such a stumbling block in any relationship, especially marriage. BTW I'm talking about MY pride not your Dad's (although...) Anyway, thanks for sharing. We're never too old to learn a few new tricks.
You might want to take really good notes because it's been my experience that when the Stake chooses 1 or 2 couples from a ward to do anything - those couples usually end up teaching the material in the ward. It would be my guess that they have chosen people who already have great marriages that people can look up to and emulate.
I think having an eternal perspective helps with your kids, too. If you realize that your kids' spirits are as grown up and as intelligent, probably more intelligent, than yours, it makes it difficult to feel superior to them and treat them like serfs. Same with spouses.
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