Since the very beginning, God has commanded that there be unity in marriage. In Genesis 2:24 he said, “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” And in the Doctrine & Covenants he commanded “Be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine” (D&C 38:27).
Unity in marriage is not an easy task to achieve. After all, marriage is the combining of two different people raised in different homes. Although they may share common beliefs and values, they each come with different personalities, feelings, and life experiences. However, unity must be extremely important as the Lord has commanded us to “be one” on several different occasions. So how do we accomplish this daunting task?
There is a way. President Eyring taught that “the gospel of Jesus Christ can allow hearts to be made one. Those who would believe the truth [Jesus] taught could accept the ordinances and the covenants offered by His authorized servants. Then, through obedience to those ordinances and covenants, their natures would be changed. The Savior’s Atonement in that way makes it possible for us to be sanctified. We can then live in unity.” In other words, as we live the principles of the gospel, partake of sacred priesthood ordinances, and make and keep our covenants with the Lord, our hearts are changes. The Atonement helps us to overcome the natural man and become like the Savior, which allows us to love and serve others as He did.
I know a couple who has beautifully illustrated this process of becoming one. They have been through many trials together, one of which took them on different paths for a short time. But they overcame many odds and have been changed their natures as they have worked through challenges together. Today they are a strong and happy couple who honor and cherish each other and their marriage covenants.
Unity in marriage is not an easy task to achieve. After all, marriage is the combining of two different people raised in different homes. Although they may share common beliefs and values, they each come with different personalities, feelings, and life experiences. However, unity must be extremely important as the Lord has commanded us to “be one” on several different occasions. So how do we accomplish this daunting task?
There is a way. President Eyring taught that “the gospel of Jesus Christ can allow hearts to be made one. Those who would believe the truth [Jesus] taught could accept the ordinances and the covenants offered by His authorized servants. Then, through obedience to those ordinances and covenants, their natures would be changed. The Savior’s Atonement in that way makes it possible for us to be sanctified. We can then live in unity.” In other words, as we live the principles of the gospel, partake of sacred priesthood ordinances, and make and keep our covenants with the Lord, our hearts are changes. The Atonement helps us to overcome the natural man and become like the Savior, which allows us to love and serve others as He did.
I know a couple who has beautifully illustrated this process of becoming one. They have been through many trials together, one of which took them on different paths for a short time. But they overcame many odds and have been changed their natures as they have worked through challenges together. Today they are a strong and happy couple who honor and cherish each other and their marriage covenants.
Elder Richard G. Scott said, “Marriage allows [our] different characteristics to come together in oneness—in unity—to bless a husband and wife, their children and grandchildren. For the greatest happiness and productivity in life, both husband and wife are needed. Their efforts interlock and are complementary. Each has individual traits that best fit the role the Lord has defined for happiness as a man or woman. When used as the Lord intends, those capacities allow a married couple to think, act, and rejoice as one—to face challenges together and overcome them as one, to grow in love and understanding, and through temple ordinances to be bound together as one whole, eternally. That is the plan.”
Although challenging, we can become one in our marriages as we strive to live the gospel and honor our covenants. The Lord desires this for us and will undoubtedly help us to achieve this goal!
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