how much commitment is marriage really?

I recently read two articles about marriage. One talked about commitment. There was a story of a young boy who was listening to a talk show and the woman who called in was talking about how she wasn't happy in her marriage and family. They had no money because her husband had just lost his job, her kids were sick and she wasn't really in love with her husband anymore. So the talk show host told her to get out. "You're entitiled to a little happiness...you don't have to stay in this mess. Let your old man solce his own problems. You go find greener pastures." Instead of the host suggesting that she work on her marriage he told her to escape like the commitment and contract of marriage only works when everything in life is running smoothly. There is a difference between a contractual marriage and a covenant marriage. In a contractual marriage, when troubles come, the parties seek happiness by walking away but in a covenant marriage the husband and wife work through the problems. They both put 100% into the marriage and solve the problems together. There is no limit to what you give to your spouse. You give them all you have and they in return give you all they have. You can conquer anything with the help of the Lord. One quote that I loved from this article was about both spouses giving all they have instead of just 50% each and hoping it will work out. If you both give 100% you "share a 'mutually attachment' that eclipses each partner's self-interest." I can't help but picture an actual eclipse. The two have got each other "covered." I am sure this takes a lot of self sacrifice but if you think of your spouse before you think of yourself, always wanting what is best for him/her.

Another quote that I absolutely loved was: "Actual love is truly extending oneself to nurture another individual's growth." It is such a selfless thing that you know it is real love.

The last quote that I loved was: "A happy life isn't about getting what you want; it's about the attitude you develop toward whatever happens to you, an attitude that lets you grow."

Thinking about marriage can be a very daunting thing. These days the percentage of marriages that stay together are fewer than the marriages that don't. I think people can hear those statistics and wonder..."well, what's the point?" But one thing that I think people don't think about is that there is something wonderful and beautiful about marriage that you can't get from anything else in life. Marriage is an ordinance; it is a man and a woman bonded together for time and all eternity. I think that if a marriage is based on trust, love for each other, love for God, dedication and righteous living there is no reason why the marriage shouldn't work. I think relationships are tough, but when one thing doesn't go right I think it is wrong to simply give up on the marriage because in all marriages there are more people effected than just the couple. The other "stake holders" are the children, friends, other family members (brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles) and God. I have seen many divorces as most of us have, and I have seen it more people than you could possibly imagine. When I have had friends whose parents have gotten divorced, it has even effected me...A friend of their child. And not only does it reach several people but it reaches several generations. Divorce can be very devestating. One thing that I think is important is not what causes divorce and how to save it, but how to prevent those things from happening that even cause problems within the marriage.

There are a lot of rumors or false statistics about marriage that we hear all the time and accept as fact while in fact they are all true. I think many people would be stunned when they found out some of these.

On average, a person who remains single will live as long as someone who marries. (False)

Married people, because they are likely to have children and experience more stress, will generally be sick more often than those who don't marry. (False)

A single person, over the course of a lifetime, will be better off financially than someone who marries. (False)

Because people are more likely to be abused by someone they know than by a stranger, being married increases the chances of being physically abused for adults and children. (False)

Married and unmarried people are just as likely to be happy. (False)

Some are these are shocking and very hard to believe but they are just a few of the things that a lot of people believe about marriage that are simply misconceptions. Marriage is really ordained of God and is really one of the greatest things we have in society to build it up and to create happy families and children.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

I have been a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my whole life. I can honestly say that without the Church I would definately be living a completely different life; a life no where near as fulfilling or beautiful. Having the gospel in my life has given me purpose. I have been able to make decisions in my life and understand how these decisions will help me in the long run. For example, I have made the decision to dress modestly. This decision has impacted my life much more than I can imagine, I am sure. By choosing to dress modestly, I show to others that I have respect for myself and my body. Another example is choosing to study the scriptures. These sacred words, the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon have been a light in my life whenever I have been struggling with things in my life. When I read them there is always a sense of peace in my life that I can't get any other way. I love it. I also love Gordon B. Hinkley. He is the President of the Church, who leads us the way Prophets did in the Old Testament. He also receives revelation for the church in the same way that Moses did for the Israelites. When I listen to him speak I get that same feeling that I get when read the scriptures. That peace is what gets me through those tough days. It is the most reassuring thing to know that all I have to do is pick up the Book of Mormon and read. Its the greatest gift in my life.