Friday, November 2, 2018

President James E. Faust on enriching marriage

President James E. Faust (1920-2007) was called as a Seventy in 1976, then as a member of the Quorum of Twelve in 1978. He served as a counselor to President Hinckley from 1995 until his death in 2007 at age 87.
"There is no great or majestic music which constantly produces the harmony of a great love. The most perfect music is a welding of two voices into one spiritual solo. Marriage is the way provided by God for the fulfillment of the greatest of human needs, based upon mutual respect, maturity, selflessness, decency, commitment, and honesty. Happiness in marriage and parenthood can exceed a thousand times any other happiness....
"Our homes should be among the most hallowed of all earthly sanctuaries.
"In the enriching of marriage the big things are the little things. It is a constant appreciation for each other and a thoughtful demonstration of gratitude. It is the encouraging and the helping of each other to grow. Marriage is a joint quest for the good, the beautiful, and the divine."
- James E. Faust, "The Enriching of Marriage," General Conference October 1977
Click here to read or listen to the full talk

No external music or other influence can produce "the harmony of a great love." That comes when two souls are joined through marriage into, not a duet, but a "spiritual solo." Through the commitment and sacrifices of a loyal marriage, profound happiness can be found—enough to "exceed a thousand times any other happiness." What a marvelous promise!


Close relationships are built on sacrifice and commitment. But it is little things that enrich a relationship: expressions and demonstrations of gratitude, encouragement in opportunities to grow, seeking the beautiful and the divine.

(Compilation and commentary by David Kenison, Orem, Utah, 2018)

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