Building upon a Righteous Foundation

When we put Christ as the focal point of a marriage, it allows for the three to grow in unity. For when each individual becomes more Christlike, it means that the triangle of unity shortens between them because all are working on a common goal.

Intentional Personal Dedication is how we can show our love to our significant other. This dedication instead of commitment means nuturing the values that both of you stand for. Instead of commiting to each other for fear of the cost of divorce or other such earthly matters.

"Sacrifice for [the relationship], invest in it, link it to personal goals, and seek the partner's welfare, not just your own"

(Markman, 2001)

As stated by divine revelation, "husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other" (Family, 1995). True Christlike love, as can be seen in the scriptures, should be the pursuit of any strong couple. This love is a strong friendship between the individuals and should extend to their future generation as well.

As the couples grow and develop, documenting a love map can prove beneficial. "A love map is like a mental (or possibly physical) notebook where we collect personal information about our spouse that we want to remem-ber. This notebook includes the spouse's dreams, joys, fears, likes, dislikes, frustrations, and worries. The map helps us to identify different “points” about our spouse so we know how to love him or her better." (Hawkins, 2011)