The Secret of Twue Wuv

In honor of Valentines Day

Look for the secret to meeting and marrying the right person.

 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

Doctrine & Covenants 88:40

Did you catch it? Strive to become what you want. I've been told that in Young Women classes, it was common for the teacher to have the young women write down traits they wanted in a future spouse.  Well this turns the idea around where we need to strive to develop the very traits we want. Sometimes we spend too much time trying to find the right person, and not enough time trying to be the right person.  Want someone attractive, kind, wealthy, and a good cook?  Well then you would need to ask if you are trying to be attractive, kind, practicing habits of building wealth, and learning to cook. 

If you are already married, then are you still trying to be the right person?  Are you still striving to be everything you would want your spouse to be? Instead of trying to get a good deal, are you trying to stay a good deal? It is not about trying to change the other person, but about us being a great person either way.

Today’s Takeaway: Whether single or married, strive to be the good deal you would want.  List traits you would desire and then turn them back to yourself and work on those areas. 

"Thou Shalt Love..."

Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.
Doctrine & Covenants 42:22

“We fell in love.” “We grew apart.” “We just don’t love each other like we used to.” Society often talks about love like it is some passive experience that just happens to you by accident.  You fall in love like one would fall into a ditch. Like it is a state of being in which you have little control.  

The Lord does not feel that way about love. One might say, “But I just don’t love my spouse anymore.” Notice in the scripture above that the Lord does not say, “Thou shalt be in love with thy spouse.” We are commanded to love them. The word in the verse is a command using an action verb. We are commanded to do something: love. Another way to say the verse could be, “Thou shalt act in a loving manner with thy wife with all they heart…”  So how does one “love” another? Remember all the things you would do when you were courting: the kind note, the compliments, the thoughtful words, the shoulder rub, the act of sacrifice and service? 

But one might say, “I just don’t feel like doing those things anymore.” Yet notice God is not requesting, “If you should feel inclined, love your spouse.”  It is a command! The funny thing is, if we will do those things, we will find it changes our own hearts.  We love those whom we act in a loving way towards. The act of loving leads to feeling love. 

Today’s Takeaway: Whom has God called you to love?  If you are married, what acts of love would the Lord have you show today?  If you are single, what family members would God want you to show love towards?  Plan and carry out an extra act of love today, and see if it doesn't increase your love for that person God has purposely placed in your life.