High Five!

I was reading in the Ensign today, and a certain talk caught my eye. "Blessings of the Temple" by Robert D. Hales. I love the temple, I love going to the temple, I love looking at the temple, I love reading about the temple, and I love what occcurs in the temple. Elder Hales has observed many couples who have been able to maintain strong and vital marriages and he gave 5 things that they have in common.

First: These couples know individually who they are--sons and daughters of God. They set eternal goals to once again live with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ. They strive to leave the ways of the natural man behind.

Second: They know the doctrine and the importance of the saving temple ordinances and temple covenants and their necessity in achieving eternal goals.

Third: They choose to obtain the eternal blessings of the kingdom of God rather than the temporary possessions of the world.

Fourth: These couples realize that when they are sealed for time and all eternity, they have chosen an eternal companion--their days for courting others are over! There is no need to look any further!

Fifth: These couples think of one another before themselves. Selfishness suffocates spiritual senses. Communicating with the Lord in prayer, they grow together and not apart. They converse with each other, thereby never letting little things become big things. They talk early about the "little hurts" with little fear of offending. It is so much better to let off a little steam before the top blows off the pressure cooker. They are willing to apologize and ask forgiveness if they have hurt the one they love. They express their love for each other and become closer. They life and strengthen one another.

I want to be one of those couples. I love finding areas of life that I need to work on, and marriage takes you into a whole new area of work. And not to say our marriage needs work, but I need work. And I'm SO grateful that I am with someone who is so loving, gentle, kind and patient with me as I strive to do my best as an eternal companion.

Aren't we all exciting for conference!? Where MUCH more is added to our list of improvement. :)