How to Build a Groovy Marriage

This post is sponsored by the General Conference Odyssey Series.  Enjoy.  

Gordon B. Hinckley

"Hey, check out her bell bottoms."

President Gordon B. Hinckley was a man of God, even way back when.  I guess that's how one becomes a man of God: by consistently being a man of God.  As such, President Hinckley was empowered by the Holy Ghost to teach timeless truths, even during a benighted period in the earth's history when people thought that it was somehow a good idea to wear bell bottoms. (see right)

Of course, a baby boomer would quickly point out that baggy shorts and sagging pants are no improvement in fashion, or in manners for that matter, but that's beside the point.  The point is that divorce is nasty.  It was nasty back then, and it is nasty now.  Actually, back then, it would have been more proper to say that divorce is heavy.  In other words, divorce is the opposite of groovy.  This is part of President Hinckley's message in his talk "Except the Lord Build the House."

A Rubik's Cube, not a Cornerstone

With characteristic optimism, President Hinckley quickly turns from the terrible subject of divorce to four principles that will prevent such a tragedy.  These four principles are four cornerstones upon which a successful marriage and family may be built.

"To those of you who, with glad hearts, dream of marriage and the establishment of a home," President Hinckley declares, "I wish to repeat what was said of old: 'Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it.' (Ps. 127:1.)"  He wasn't just saying that as a cool cat.  He was right on, and he was a prophet of God.  Catch my drift?    

Here, absolutely free of charge, are the four cornerstones that will ensure success in marriage:

• 1. Respect for One Another
• 2. The Soft Answer
• 3. Honesty with God and with One Another



When Gaming was Virtuous, Lovely, of Good Report and Praiseworthy

• 4. Family Prayer

Simple.  Plain.  Achievable.  

Swell.  Smashing.  Tubular.

There's a lot more gold in this jive, so I highly recommend that you dig into it yourself.  But here are a few nuggets to weigh out in the mean time:   

• "True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one’s companion."

• "There is need for a vast amount of discipline in marriage, not of one’s companion, but of one’s self."

For more 70's slang, click here.  For wonder woman in action, click here.  For the Batman theme song, click here.  For a Larry Bird vs. Magic Johnson Converse shoe commercial, click here.

Now.  Go forth and build.

For more groovy posts, see the following:

• Progress or Decline by Ralph Hancock 
• Broken and Contrite Empires by J. Max Wilson 
• The Mormon Way to Love by Nathaniel Givens 
• The Fall of My Rome by G. 
• Treasure by Michelle L. 
• Avoiding “the destroying angel of domestic biterness” by Daniel O. 
• Pure Religion and the Good Life by Walker Wright