Our Divine Purpose
In an ever-changing world with ever-changing standards, I'm thankful for an unchanging God, who has given us our divine potentials and purposes in this world. Among all things, the family is central to our Heavenly Father's plan. How fitting, then, is it that a man and a woman are the only ones who can procreate? There is a reason that Adam and Eve came into the world at each other's side, rather than as individuals or in same-sex couples.
There are strengths and blessings that come with being an opposite-gendered couple. Most importantly, our potentials cannot be reached without being within a man-woman marriage. “The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation… For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). It is comforting to know that we aren't alone in this life. God has given us a partner-in-crime, so to speak, to help us to progress.
What sets man-woman marriage apart from same-sex marriage? What makes reaching their goals, as a couple, different?
“Because of their distinctive temperaments and capacities, males and females each bring to a marriage relationship unique perspectives and experiences. The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). Between having different responsibilities as husbands and wives (and eventually mothers and fathers), it becomes a lot easier for a man and a woman to work together as a team. Strengthening each other's weaknesses is very important because when two opposites get together, they can often work together by fulfilling their divine duties laid out in the Family: A Proclamation to the World. Not only is this relationship important for the couple, but it's important for the children that the couple can bring into the world.
I am so thankful for the opportunities that I've had in my own marriage. We've both had experiences being the breadwinner for the family, and it's definitely evident that we wouldn't be as capable of doing so if we didn't have each other. We've also been able to see how great mothers and fathers work together in our married ward. Marriage definitely brings out the best in people when they can work as a team. About a year ago, I was the first counselor of the primary/nursery in our ward. It was interesting to see the mother and father's relationships grow as their children got bigger. “A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met. Just as the unique characteristics of both males and females contribute to the completeness of a marriage relationship, so those same characteristics are vital to the rearing, nurturing, and teaching of children” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). I love that God puts the lives of his children right in the center of the home within a marriage relationship, where they can be raised in the best way they can.
Marriage is meant to propel us forward into our divine purpose as we love others, and help them to achieve the same. God knows us, loves us individually, and has an ultimate plan, that's centered around families, and our own happiness. That plan will not change within this ever-changing world. He knows us even better than we do, especially how we can best reach our potential.
There are strengths and blessings that come with being an opposite-gendered couple. Most importantly, our potentials cannot be reached without being within a man-woman marriage. “The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation… For divine purposes, male and female spirits are different, distinctive, and complementary” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). It is comforting to know that we aren't alone in this life. God has given us a partner-in-crime, so to speak, to help us to progress.
What sets man-woman marriage apart from same-sex marriage? What makes reaching their goals, as a couple, different?
“Because of their distinctive temperaments and capacities, males and females each bring to a marriage relationship unique perspectives and experiences. The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). Between having different responsibilities as husbands and wives (and eventually mothers and fathers), it becomes a lot easier for a man and a woman to work together as a team. Strengthening each other's weaknesses is very important because when two opposites get together, they can often work together by fulfilling their divine duties laid out in the Family: A Proclamation to the World. Not only is this relationship important for the couple, but it's important for the children that the couple can bring into the world.
I am so thankful for the opportunities that I've had in my own marriage. We've both had experiences being the breadwinner for the family, and it's definitely evident that we wouldn't be as capable of doing so if we didn't have each other. We've also been able to see how great mothers and fathers work together in our married ward. Marriage definitely brings out the best in people when they can work as a team. About a year ago, I was the first counselor of the primary/nursery in our ward. It was interesting to see the mother and father's relationships grow as their children got bigger. “A home with a loving and loyal husband and wife is the supreme setting in which children can be reared in love and righteousness and in which the spiritual and physical needs of children can be met. Just as the unique characteristics of both males and females contribute to the completeness of a marriage relationship, so those same characteristics are vital to the rearing, nurturing, and teaching of children” (Bednar, David A. (June 2006). “Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan.” Ensign.). I love that God puts the lives of his children right in the center of the home within a marriage relationship, where they can be raised in the best way they can.
Marriage is meant to propel us forward into our divine purpose as we love others, and help them to achieve the same. God knows us, loves us individually, and has an ultimate plan, that's centered around families, and our own happiness. That plan will not change within this ever-changing world. He knows us even better than we do, especially how we can best reach our potential.
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