Success In Your Relationship

The ABCs

A. Awareness of or Acquaintance 

with another person

B. The Buildup of the relationship

C. Continuation following Commitment 

to a longterm relationship (which may 

result in marriage for many couples)

D. Deterioration or Decline in the 

interdependence of the couple

E. Ending of the relationship

Not every relationship goes through all five of these phases, any relationship can end at any time during any of the phases. This may be the typical course of a relationship in a flowchart, but our DECISIONS DETERMINE OUR DESTINY and we must prepare for success in marriage and relationships.

The Covenant Marriage Relationship

Elder David A. Bednar (2006)

"Successful covenant marriages are founded on the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ and tied to our discipleship." Bednar describes how being focused on Christ in a covenant marriage relationship will influence marital progress. The closer you and your spouse grow to the Savior, the closer you become to one another.

22 Thou shalt ^alove thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt ^bcleave unto her and none else. (D&C 42:22)

 In preparing to marry: we must understand that we must give ourselves completely to our spouse and that any divergence is considered a sin. This may seem harsh, yet it is heavily stressed and so clearly put because of its major importance. We have been commanded to love our spouse with all our heart, we show fidelity to them by loving them in the same ways we love God, with all our heart, might, mind, and strength.