Opening Song: True to the Faith #254
Lesson: Equal Partnership
Ask this question:
What does the term equality mean?
Equality is all too often used to mean "identity"; that two equal things must be identical to each other. Such usage represents a fallen and harmful understanding of equality that is espoused by Satan who wants us to all be "like himself." The proclamation states that gender is "an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose." One gender does not have greater eternal possibility than the other.
Read the following statement given by a member of the Seventy, Elder Earl C. Tingey:
"You must not misunderstand what the Lord meant when Adam was told he was to have a helpmeet. A helpmeet is a companion suited to or equal to us. We walk side by side with a helpmeet, not one before or behind the other. A helpmeet results in an absolute equal partnership between a husband and a wife. Eve was to be equal to Adam as a husband and wife are to be equal to each other."
In Latter-day Saint theology, there is a crucial relationship between equality and love, which we must not overlook. Spouses are to enter their marriage relationship convinced of each other's equality. They cannot form a relationship that will be blessed by God if they come to the marriage altar unsure of each other's equality, doubting it, or not even thinking about how it should order their relations. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden was Adam's bold declaration of Eve's equality with him--that they would be "one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)
Family Stewardships should be understood in terms of their responsibilities--obligations to one's spouse, not power over one's spouse.
Read this passage from a general conference address given by Elder Richard G. Scott:
"In some cultures, tradition places a man in a role to dominate, control, and regulate all family affairs. That is not the way of the Lord. In some places the wife is almost owned by her husband, as if she were another of his personal possessions. That is a cruel, mistaken vision of marriage encouraged by Lucifer that every priesthood holder must reject. It is founded on the false premise that a man is somehow superior to a woman. Nothing could be farther from the truth."
"The stewardship of the priesthood does not superimpose a hierarchical relationship over the God-ordained equality between husband and wife. A marriage of equal partners will be one in which the partners help one another in their stewardships, indeed, are obligated to help one another as equal partners" (Hawkins, Dollahite, Draper).
Research has demonstrated that couples who have an equal partnership have happier relationships, better individual well-being, more effective parenting practices, and better-functioning children. Researchers have consistently found that couples who share power are more satisfied and have better overall marital quality than couples were spouses dominates.
"Our heavenly parents wish us joy in our journey of becoming as they are. One of the most precious wellsprings of that joy is a sincerely equal partnership between husband and wife" (Hawkins, Dollahite, Draper).
Closing Prayer
Activity: Reverse Tie-Dyeing
Dyeing shirts is not only fun but gives you and your spouse a matching outfit for future dates. Reverse tie dyeing makes colors out of a shirt instead of putting new colors on to one. Select an old T-shirt from each of your wardrobes. Twist each T-shirt as tightly as you can, and bind it with rubber bands or tightly tied string. Wearing rubber gloves, immerse the shirts in a bucket of hot water contained two cups of household liquid bleach. Watch the colors being released from the shirts. Stir the shirts occasionally, adding more bleach if desired. When the desired fade is achieved, place the shirts in a washing machine and run them through a normal wash and rinse cycle. When the rinse cycle is finished, removed the rubber bands or string from your shirts and let them air dry.
Treat: Chocolate Sandwich Cookies
You can find the direct recipe link here.
Ingredients:
- 1 (18.25 ounce) package of dark chocolate cake mix
- 1 (18.25 ounce) package of light chocolate cake mix
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1 8 ounce package of cream cheese softened
- 2 cups confectioners sugar
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets
- In a medium bowl, stir together dark and light chocolate cake mix. Add the eggs and oil, mix until well blended. Roll dough into 2 inch balls and place them onto the prepared cookie sheets. Flatten the balls slightly with the back of a spoon.
- Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Let them cool on the baking sheet before removing to cool on the wire rack.
- To make the filling, beat the cream cheese and confectioner' sugar together until smooth. Spread between two cooled cookies.
References:
Text: Hawkins, Alan J., David C. Dollahite, and Thomas W. Draper. Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University, 2012. Print.
Activity: Tolman, B. (1995). Dating for under a dollar 301 ideas. Fruitia, Colorado: National Family Institute
Dessert: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Chocolate-Sandwich-Cookies-II/Detail.aspx
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