Preparing For Marriage

Preparing For Marriage

Marriage is the starting point to the family. Getting to that point is sometimes a long and difficult road but other times it is simple and rather quick. There are many steps in preparing for marriage and they are different between males and females. For most people preparing for marriage starts with dating and trying to find the right partner. 

For a returned missionary he will start with continuing to be worthy of a temple marriage. He will continue to attend church, read scriptures, and pray. After the initial shock of returning to normal life they will inevitably start dating again. This time they will date with a different purpose.  Now that the individual has had time to mature and learn more about life as an adult marriage is usually the next step. For members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints marrying in the temple to be sealed to a spouse is the ultimate goal. As the individual learns to maintain their spiritual well being they transition to learn how to function temporally again.

Many young adults go to college or a trade school to further their education and to get into a career of their choice. With further education these young adults learn how to manage their finances with the loans they get or the college funds they are given. Buying groceries, paying for auto insurance, and tuition payments are all new to a young adult and life feels overwhelming and quite hectic especially for a returned missionary that hasn't cooked dinner in one and a half to two years. Once this individual has sorted out their spiritual and temporal well being then they are ready to start searching for an eternal companion by dating.

As mentioned in the For the Strength Youth booklet “A date is a planned activity that allows a young man and a young woman to get to know each other better. In cultures where dating is acceptable, it can help you learn and practice social skills, develop friendships, have wholesome fun, and eventually find an eternal companion.” The Savior encourages dating and even marriage. Going on wholesome dates leads us to find the person we want to be eternal companions with. Dating as a youth is different from dating as a young adult. The thought of marriage usually scares youth because commitment and future change with marriage. With young adult’s marriage brings excitement as new possibilities are opened. “As you enter your adult years, make dating and marriage a high priority. Seek a companion who is worthy to go to the temple to be sealed to you for time and all eternity. Marrying in the temple and creating an eternal family are essential in God’s plan of happiness.” Being married is very important in God’s plan because it unlocks the creation of children as well as the path to the celestial kingdom and exaltation.

The Family A Proclamation to The World states “THE FAMILY is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.” Marriage brings more than just two people together, it creates a whole family and many future generations of happiness.