Prayer - Strengthening the Family

Strengthening the Family

“Successful marriages…are established and maintained on principles of…prayer.”

On January 8, 2005, my husband and I were sealed in the Edmonton, Alberta Temple. Before the sealing ceremony the Sealer gave us some counsel and quoted the hymn Love at Home

1. There is beauty all around

When there's love at home;

There is joy in ev'ry sound

When there's love at home.

Peace and plenty here abide,

Smiling sweet on ev'ry side.

Time doth softly, sweetly glide

When there's love at home.

Love at home, love at home;

Time doth softly, sweetly glide

When there's love at home.

2. In the cottage there is joy

When there's love at home;

Hate and envy ne'er annoy

When there's love at home.

Roses bloom beneath our feet;

All the earth's a garden sweet,

Making life a bliss complete

When there's love at home.

Love at home, love at home;

Making life a bliss complete

When there's love at home.

3. Kindly heaven smiles above

When there's love at home;

All the world is filled with love

When there's love at home.

Sweeter sings the brooklet by;

Brighter beams the azure sky.

Oh, there's One who smiles on high

When there's love at home.

Love at home, love at home;

Oh, there's One who smiles on high

When there's love at home.

Text and music: John Hugh McNaughton, 1829-1891

To me the message is to have love in our home and when we do there is greater harmony and the spirit is felt. Seems easy, but it takes work to cultivate a spirit of love.

Prayer is a tool that will help a couple and a family unify.

President Monson spoke about the counsel he received from his sealer at the marriage altar 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 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. (Monson, Thomas. S. 2001, p.4 Hallmarks of a Happy Home.)

“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 included as a key principle for building a successful marriage and family in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” (Lambert, 2012, p.196 Successful Marriages and Families)

“When people perceive something as sacred, it changes the way they treat it.” (Lambert, 2012, p.196 Successful Marriages and Families)

Marriage is sacred. Family is sacred. “A key aspect of coming to view a relationship as sacred is to first include God as an active member of the relationship.” (Lambert, 2012, p.197 Successful Marriages and Families)

Ecclesiastes 4:12

“A threefold cord is not quickly broken.” 

Elder Russell M. Nelson (2006,p.38) says, "Good communication is also enhanced by prayer. To pray with specific mention of a spouse's good deed (or need) nurtures a marriage."

“Prayer is the means by which individuals may invite God to play an active role in their relationship.” (Lambert, 2012, p.197 Successful Marriages and Families)

Conflict is a part of life and isn’t a stranger in marriages and family life. Contention strains relationships and unresolved contention leads to broken relationships and divorce. “Prayer, however, can help protect couples from divorce by healing the relationship and restoring harmony to the marriage.” (Lambert, 2012, p.197 Successful Marriages and Families)

Elder Dallin H. Oaks says, “ If you are already descending in to the low state of marriage-in-name-only, please join hands, kneel together, and prayerfully plead for help and the healing power of the Atonement. 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.” (2007, p.72 Divorce.)

“…prayer can restore harmony and promote a greater desire to work together. Prayer can aid us in both strengthening and mending our eternally important relationships.” (Lambert, 2012, p.199 Successful Marriages and Families)