Week 3: Doctrine of Eternal Marriage

This week is mainly focused on the Church's stance and beliefs on marriage. One of the activities I completed this week was watching a talk given by Elder Bednar of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints entitled: "Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan". It had so many valuable points and information to offer on the importance of marriage in today's world. Elder Bednar put the definition of marriage so plainly and bluntly that it cannot be argued with. First he gave us two questions to ponder:
Question 1: In my own life, am I striving to become a better husband or a wife, or preparing to be a husband or a wife, by understanding and applying these basic principles?
Question 2: As a priesthood or auxiliary leader, am I helping those I serve to understand and apply these basic principles, thereby strengthening marriage and the home?

By examining these questions as we read or listen to his talk we can gauge how we are doing in our eternal progression through marriage. How did you answer these questions? Take minute and physically write out your answers.
Elder Bednar then gives two reasons why eternal marriage is essential to God's plan:
Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation.
Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children.

I really liked both of these points because I know marriage between a man and a woman has been ordained by God and these two points compliment and strengthen the discussion on how important marriage is to stay between a man and a woman. Elder Bednar went on to describe three principles that describe the importance of an eternal marriage:
Principle 1: The importance of eternal marriage can be understood only within the context of the Father’s plan of happiness.
Principle 2: Satan desires that all men and women might be miserable like unto himself.
Principle 3: The ultimate blessings of love and happiness are obtained through the covenant relationship of eternal marriage.

I know that Marriage should only be between a man and a woman to raise a righteous family on this tumultuous earth. I came across this video while reading material on the subject and loved the message it shares.