Opening Hymn: Did You Think to Pray? #140
Lesson: How Prayer Helps Strengthen Relationships in Good times and Heal Relationships in Bad Times
As stated in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, "Successful marriages....are established and maintained on principles of prayer."
Share this quote by Thomas S. Monson as he describes the counsel he received from his sealer at the marriage alter on his wedding day:
"May I offer you newlyweds a formula which will ensure that any disagreement you may have will last no longer than one day? Every night kneel by the side of your bed. One night, Brother Monson, you offer the prayer, aloud, on bended knee. The next night you, Sister Monson, offer the prayer, aloud, on bended knee. I can then assure you that any misunderstanding that develops during the day will vanish as you pray. You simply can't pray together and retain any but the best of feelings toward one another."
Drawing on the powers of heaven through prayer is a powerful resource available to couples that can make a good relationship better and can heal a faltering marriage. Prayer is the means by which individuals may invite God to play an active role in their relationship. "As individuals pray specifically for the well-being of their partner, they come to perceive their relationship with their person as being holy and sacred" (Hawkins, Dollahite, Draper). Prayer can be a key component in perceiving a marriage relationship as sacred.
Conflict is inevitable in marriage. For some, unresolved contention and conflict eventually leads to the destruction of the marriage. Prayer, however, can help protect couples from contention and divorce by healing and restoring the relationship back to harmony.
Read this quote by Elder Dallin H. Oaks:
"If you are already descending into the low state of marriage-in-name-only, please join hands, kneel together, and prayerfully plead for help and the healing power of the Attonement. Your humble and united pleadings will bring you closer to the Lord and to each other and will help you in the hard climb back to marital harmony."
Watch the following video
It has been noted that good communication is also enhanced by prayer. "To pray with specific mention of spouse's good deed (or need) nurtures marriage. Praying specifically for a partner's well-being is especially good for communication" (Hawkins, Draper, Dollahite). Inviting God into the relationship through prayer can help alleviate anger and restore harmony in a marriage. It can also promote a desire to work together. Prayer can aid us in both strengthening and mending our eternally important relationships.
As a couple, discuss your bedtime routine. Does it include individual as well as couple prayers? What can you do to establish a prayer routine to ensure both prayers are being said each night? Set some goals pertaining to family prayers.
Closing Prayer
Activity: Play an old board game that you haven't played in a long time like Monopoly, Life, Candy Land, or Sorry. I am sure those games will bring back memories!
Treat: Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
You can find the direct link to the recipe here.
Ingredients:
- 1 egg
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped cocktail peanuts
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
- Heat oven to 350 degree F
- Beat egg in large bowl with mixer until foamy. Add remaining ingredients; mix well.
- Shape into 1-inch balls. Place, 2 inches apart, on baking sheets. Flatten, in crisscross pattern, with tines of fork.
- Bake 10 min. or until lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 min. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.
Resources:
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: http://www.niftydateideas.com/Pages/Cheap-Date-Ideas.html
Recipe: http://kraftrecipes.com/recipes/easy-peanut-butter-cookies-64827.aspx
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