Introduction to my blog
I am majoring in Marriage and Family Studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I am learning how to create a strong marriage and family so that they can celebrate times of joy as well as work through any adversity that comes their way.
For one of my classes, I have chosen to create a blog as my semester project. The purpose of my blog is to help couples learn how to better rely on each other and become more united in their marriage. It is also to help families become stronger and create a bond that will never be broken.
I will be discussing 11 topics throughout the course of this blog and I hope that one or more of these will help you strengthen your marriage and family.
This week I am going to cover:
HOW TO: DEFEND THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said,
"Decisions Determine Destiny"
Marriage, more than any other choice, determines our destiny. It is the choice that will pave the way for the rest of your life. It is the choice that will determine who you will grow old with, who you will have children, who you will buy a home with, who you will support through thick and thin, and who you will choose to be by your side forever.
The book Successful Marriages and Families states, " For many, the marriage decision is particularly anxiety-provoking because of our understanding of marriage as an eternal commitment coupled with tugs and pulls of a secular world and the intense emotions associated with romantic relationships" (Hawkins, 22).
Marriage is work and has many challenging days and moments. Making the right decision of who to marry is very important, but after that decision is made, nothing can bring more happiness than marrying your best friend and creating a family with them.
In order to defend marriage, you have to believe in marriage. For this to happen we need to teach our children why marriage is important.
WHY IS MARRIAGE IMPORTANT?
Dr. Lawrence Wilson says the following:
Our families are our support in life. They are the foundation that we hold to when the winds are blowing and we feel like we will be knocked off course. Our families are the love, support, encouragement, guidance, strength we need to successfully navigate through this life.
If we can create strong families, then we will, like Dr. Wilson said, be able to create a stronger society. Our children will have a brighter future and we will live much happier lives.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MARRIAGE?
Marriage is also great for individuals. Study after study has been done that shows that
"married people are generally happier... with greater life satisfaction, lower risk of depression, and great economic stability; all contributing to better mental health" (Hawkins, 71). Married people even have more sex than unmarried people! "...faithfully married people report being well satisfied with their sex lives, more so than any other category of sexually active people" (Hawkins,73).
"People are not meant to be alone. Having companionship in life is extremely fulfilling and completely necessary. It's important to have someone that is there for you and cares about your well-being." Hailey Spung
You get married, you start a family, you watch your family grow over the years. And what do you get out of that...you have your family legacy. Sue Spung
Marriage is great for society. Dr Wilson stated, "When the families are strong, society is strong, as a rule. When families are weak, societies begin to break down". Married couples are also better off financially and benefit society more than single or co-habituating couples. (foryourmarriage.org)
"...marriage/family are the building blocks of society and where the greatest joys can be experienced in life." Stacey Anderson Marriage is great for children. Children perform better in school, have less addiction problems, less emotional problems if they have a mother and father at home. According to ForYourMarriage.org
Children raised in intact married families:
are more likely to attend college
are physically and emotionally healthier
are less likely to be physically or sexually abused
are less likely to use drugs or alcohol and to commit delinquent behaviors
have a decreased risk of divorcing when they get married
are less likely to become pregnant/impregnate someone as a teenager
"As a teacher in a low income area, the absence of a family makes it almost impossible for children to be successful in school and general development of character. In my experience, whether it is nuclear, single, blended or whatever,the absence of that is children who have inconsistent care by multiple adults with no clear guidance. I have dozens of students who don't know how to handle themselves socially, talk to an adult, or accept authority. Many of them miss out on wonderful opportunities, academic or otherwise, because no one is supporting them at home and giving them a positive perspective on trying something new or challenging. Aside from just a positive role model, these children are in defense mode because they often feel on their own." Emily Weller
"Not only do you have companionship and the benefits that come along with that, but a good marriage between a man and a women provides a strong unit to bring up children. Each child needs the influence of a female and a male in their lives. This helps them to develop into respectable balanced adults, provided that the mother and father are good caretakers. Family is the most important unit in society and marriage is the starting point." Nicole Massengale
HOW TO DEFEND MARRIAGE
What is the point of marriage? Why not just live together? What is the significance of a piece of paper?
Dennis Prager, a radio host in LA, talked about this very issue and I loved his perspective. He said that, "if marriage is just a piece of paper, then why not sign it?" We know that marriage is not just a piece of paper, it is a commitment and a promise to give ourselves completely to another person.
Dennis said the following:
"There is a world of difference, even though it may not be in one’s heart—there is a world of difference between being married and living together with somebody. Let me tell you something: There is a very big difference between the word boyfriend and the word husband, between the word girlfriend and the word wife, even between the word partner and the word husband or wife. It’s not just a piece of paper."
Marriage is a commitment to each other, to God, to our families, and to our society. Marriage is not an act that only affects the husband and wife. Marriage is a public celebration and it affects everyone around us. Marriage is important to society, it is important for families, and it is important to our children.
BACK TO BASICS
Let's get our society back to the basics and back to the focus of families. If we can help or encourage families then our society will begin to recover from this downfall we have seen over the last few decades. No matter how you look at it, marriage is important!
I am majoring in Marriage and Family Studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho. I am learning how to create a strong marriage and family so that they can celebrate times of joy as well as work through any adversity that comes their way.
For one of my classes, I have chosen to create a blog as my semester project. The purpose of my blog is to help couples learn how to better rely on each other and become more united in their marriage. It is also to help families become stronger and create a bond that will never be broken.
I will be discussing 11 topics throughout the course of this blog and I hope that one or more of these will help you strengthen your marriage and family.
This week I am going to cover:
HOW TO: DEFEND THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY
Thomas S. Monson, the prophet of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said,
"Decisions Determine Destiny"
Marriage, more than any other choice, determines our destiny. It is the choice that will pave the way for the rest of your life. It is the choice that will determine who you will grow old with, who you will have children, who you will buy a home with, who you will support through thick and thin, and who you will choose to be by your side forever.
The book Successful Marriages and Families states, " For many, the marriage decision is particularly anxiety-provoking because of our understanding of marriage as an eternal commitment coupled with tugs and pulls of a secular world and the intense emotions associated with romantic relationships" (Hawkins, 22).
Marriage is work and has many challenging days and moments. Making the right decision of who to marry is very important, but after that decision is made, nothing can bring more happiness than marrying your best friend and creating a family with them.
In order to defend marriage, you have to believe in marriage. For this to happen we need to teach our children why marriage is important.
WHY IS MARRIAGE IMPORTANT?
Dr. Lawrence Wilson says the following:
The family unit – principally a man and a woman living
together in harmony and peace – is and always will be the basic social
organization or unit of any society.
This relationship alone provides stability in a sexual, emotional,
intellectual, and social way as no other can.
This statement may seem prejudiced or biased against other
forms of social organization, but it has proven true over hundreds and even
thousands of years.
Our families are our support in life. They are the foundation that we hold to when the winds are blowing and we feel like we will be knocked off course. Our families are the love, support, encouragement, guidance, strength we need to successfully navigate through this life.
If we can create strong families, then we will, like Dr. Wilson said, be able to create a stronger society. Our children will have a brighter future and we will live much happier lives.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS TO MARRIAGE?
Marriage is also great for individuals. Study after study has been done that shows that
"married people are generally happier... with greater life satisfaction, lower risk of depression, and great economic stability; all contributing to better mental health" (Hawkins, 71). Married people even have more sex than unmarried people! "...faithfully married people report being well satisfied with their sex lives, more so than any other category of sexually active people" (Hawkins,73).
"People are not meant to be alone. Having companionship in life is extremely fulfilling and completely necessary. It's important to have someone that is there for you and cares about your well-being." Hailey Spung
You get married, you start a family, you watch your family grow over the years. And what do you get out of that...you have your family legacy. Sue Spung
Marriage is great for society. Dr Wilson stated, "When the families are strong, society is strong, as a rule. When families are weak, societies begin to break down". Married couples are also better off financially and benefit society more than single or co-habituating couples. (foryourmarriage.org)
"...marriage/family are the building blocks of society and where the greatest joys can be experienced in life." Stacey Anderson Marriage is great for children. Children perform better in school, have less addiction problems, less emotional problems if they have a mother and father at home. According to ForYourMarriage.org
Children raised in intact married families:
are more likely to attend college
are physically and emotionally healthier
are less likely to be physically or sexually abused
are less likely to use drugs or alcohol and to commit delinquent behaviors
have a decreased risk of divorcing when they get married
are less likely to become pregnant/impregnate someone as a teenager
"As a teacher in a low income area, the absence of a family makes it almost impossible for children to be successful in school and general development of character. In my experience, whether it is nuclear, single, blended or whatever,the absence of that is children who have inconsistent care by multiple adults with no clear guidance. I have dozens of students who don't know how to handle themselves socially, talk to an adult, or accept authority. Many of them miss out on wonderful opportunities, academic or otherwise, because no one is supporting them at home and giving them a positive perspective on trying something new or challenging. Aside from just a positive role model, these children are in defense mode because they often feel on their own." Emily Weller
"Not only do you have companionship and the benefits that come along with that, but a good marriage between a man and a women provides a strong unit to bring up children. Each child needs the influence of a female and a male in their lives. This helps them to develop into respectable balanced adults, provided that the mother and father are good caretakers. Family is the most important unit in society and marriage is the starting point." Nicole Massengale
HOW TO DEFEND MARRIAGE
What is the point of marriage? Why not just live together? What is the significance of a piece of paper?
Dennis Prager, a radio host in LA, talked about this very issue and I loved his perspective. He said that, "if marriage is just a piece of paper, then why not sign it?" We know that marriage is not just a piece of paper, it is a commitment and a promise to give ourselves completely to another person.
Dennis said the following:
"There is a world of difference, even though it may not be in one’s heart—there is a world of difference between being married and living together with somebody. Let me tell you something: There is a very big difference between the word boyfriend and the word husband, between the word girlfriend and the word wife, even between the word partner and the word husband or wife. It’s not just a piece of paper."
Marriage is a commitment to each other, to God, to our families, and to our society. Marriage is not an act that only affects the husband and wife. Marriage is a public celebration and it affects everyone around us. Marriage is important to society, it is important for families, and it is important to our children.
BACK TO BASICS
Let's get our society back to the basics and back to the focus of families. If we can help or encourage families then our society will begin to recover from this downfall we have seen over the last few decades. No matter how you look at it, marriage is important!
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