As the year winds down, I find myself thinking less on what I accomplished and more on how I lived.
This year gave me a gift I didn’t fully appreciate until I slowed down: time unplugged.
Just recently, I spent two unforgettable days in Moab with my wonderful nieces. Red rock canyons, blue open skies, and the kind of laughter that only shows up when phones stay in pockets. No schedules. No notifications. Just presence. Those days were a reminder that the outdoors has a way of recalibrating us, quietly and powerfully.
That same sense of grounding showed up again over the many weeks I spent in Maui this year. Beaches that stretch forever, waterfalls tucked into jungle hikes, long climbs into the mountains, and, most importantly, unhurried, well‑deserved rest and recovery time with my soul mate. Maui has a rhythm that doesn’t care about inboxes or algorithms. You either match it, or it gently forces you to.
Somewhere between Moab and Maui, I realized something simple but important: unplugging isn’t about escaping life, it’s about returning to it.
A close friend of mine put this into words better than I ever could when he shared his experience with No Phone Sundays. His message really stuck with me:
Been doing it for around 5 months and place my phone on my nightstand or corner of the counter (out of sight out of mind). Since doing this it has alleviated stresses I have about Mondays and starting the week in general and has promoted a good energy in me as well as excitement to start the week. Not checking emails, social media, texts has allowed me to have a day where I don’t feel tied to anything and can really focus on unwinding and resting without distractions. It’s also cultivated a better home environment with higher quality time spent with my wife and kids making the day overall much more enjoyable. Good to give ourselves a break.
There’s wisdom in that simplicity. One day. No phone. No noise. Just rest, connection, and space to reset. Are you up for the challenge? I for one will give it a go!
As I close out the year, I’m carrying this lesson forward… I don’t want more screen time, more hustle, or more urgency. I want deeper conversations, clearer thinking, stronger relationships, and the kind of energy that comes from actually being present.
If this year taught me anything, it’s that the best moments don’t come from being constantly connected, they come from intentionally disconnecting.
Here’s to closing the year grounded, grateful, and a little more unplugged! For me, my plan is to step into the next one rested, recharged, and ready.
I have lived a life of adventures since childhood. My most recent adventure in the Bahamas is one that I’ll remember for the rest of my life. In fact, I’ll remember it beyond this life!
I have a good friend who is a world traveler. He has been to most continents on this planet, has a love for people, places, and adventures. Every time I visit with him, he has a new story to tell. He recalls a new adventure. He shares new experiences. I enjoy hearing and listening to all the things he experiences in his life. One of his passions is scuba diving. He loves to travel the world exploring underwater life. He enjoys swimming with fish. He checks out deep-water shipwrecks. He watches manta rays eat plankton. He even swims with sharks! Yes, he LOVES swimming with sharks! He loves it so much that, out of the blue, he calls me one day. He says to me, “I’m going on a Shark Dive trip in Nassau next month. I want to invite you to join me.” My first response, “No way man! No thank you, I have no interest in putting myself at risk of getting eaten by a shark!” After a few minutes, he shared what the experience would entail. He explained how ‘safe’ it really is to be on these dives. His words piqued my interest. I began to feel excitement about the opportunity of a lifetime. I told him I would think about it. I hung up the phone. I shared the call I just had with my wife. By the way, she is the most supportive and encouraging person in my life. She instantly told me, “You must go!” I acted before I changed my mind. I called my friend back. I told him I had my wife’s blessing. Then, I booked my Shark Dive Trip!
From the moment I booked my trip to the dive, I experienced fear and anxiety. Since then, reminiscing on what I had just done, I have felt the same fear and anxiousness again! Yet at the same time, I have felt a sense of excitement. I have felt a sense of fulfillment. There is even a sense of gratitude! As I approached the day of the trip, I would regularly get messages and phone calls from my friend. Saying he was excited is an understatement! As for me, I had excitement, yet was more filled with anxiety and fear than anything else! My anxiety was so overwhelming that I started to use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I have been learning this to help me calm down and relieve my anxiousness!
Day 1 Thursday – Eating, Exploring and Sunset
I arrived at Lynden Pindling International Airport in the afternoon. I looked out the window. I started thinking about what I had just signed up for! I had officially arrived. There was no turning back. Within the next 24 hours, I will be swimming and hopefully not being eaten, by Caribbean Reef Sharks! My taxi drive to my Airbnb was short and sweet which was nice. If you travel to the Bahamas and anywhere foreign, make sure to set your price ahead of time. My driver ended up charging me $40 to take me not even 10 minutes from the airport. It should have been no more than $20, luckily we settled on $30! I met up with my friend to eat dinner at the Salty’z Restaurant and Bar. Which by the way has killer homemade Lasagna! Afterwards we walked around, exploring the local area where we were staying and ended the day watching the sunset.
Day 2 Friday – Shark Dive Day, turned into Straw Market Day
Due to ‘inclement weather’ our scheduled dive was postponed to the next day. Personally, we had a hunch that our tour company wasn’t being totally honest. This was later confirmed. They just didn’t have enough guests signed up, so they moved us to the next day. It was all good though, honestly, I would have been just OK if they fully canceled, ha!
My friend was totally bummed that they had postponed our adventure. He began to worry that the charter would be canceled. It had happened to him twice before in Nassau. We made the best of the day by taking the Jitney downtown. The Jitney is the local bus transportation on island. Easy to use, yet make sure you have exact change, $1.50 to $2.00 one way. We had a fun day shopping at the famous Straw Market. We ate lunch at Captain’s Deck. Then, we enjoyed ice cream at I Dream of Sugar. We finished up the evening with dinner at The Poop Deck.
Day 3 Saturday – Time to overcome my fear of Sharks!
The day of anticipation had come! Our Shark Dive Adventure was confirmed and we were ready to head out on an experience of a lifetime! My friend was SO excited, like a kid on Christmas Day getting exactly what he had asked for all year. Stuarts Cove was the charter my friend selected. From check in to gear set up, they were top notch. The two dives and the return journey were also impressive.
As we arrived the dive location and received our pre-dive briefing my anxiety started growing. I was just about to enter a body water filled with Caribbean Reef Sharks!!! As I entered the water, there were a dozen or so sharks right below my fins! And another shark swimming just below the surface of the water was circling myself and other divers in the water! I thought to myself, “I’m seriously going to die out here!” As I got myself situated, weighted properly, I began my descent among these magnificent creatures of the underwater world. My anxiety began to calm. The sharks minded their own business. Our group, including myself, followed the master diver down below. As we descended further, we parted ways with the sharks. We explored an amazing shelf that had some of the most incredible sea creatures. We also explored a shipwreck from bow to stern.
Unbeknownst to me, my air was running out. As we were exploring the shipwreck, I was in a state of Zen. I was enjoying the dive to the fullest. So much so, I mistakenly forgot to check my air. As I took three quarter of a breath in, I knew, I was in trouble. I had recently completed a dive update course. I knew exactly what it would feel like when I ran out of air. I looked at my gauge, and sure enough I was in the ‘red’ zone! Next breath, half a breath. I began to plan out my next move. Get to my dive buddy! Next breath, nothing, I was completely out of air and began slowly exhaling. As I swam to him, I began to signal that I was out of air. He promptly stopped what he was doing. I grabbed his auxiliary and was safe from a potential life threatening situation. We checked how much air he had left. We determined we were safe to ascend. We made our safety stop together. We boarded the boat with no issues. What a blessing to have the knowledge of what to do in situations like this. I was grateful for the training and ability to be with my friend who is a seasoned diver. Most would find this a terrifying event. Still, I remained calm and peaceful. I was not stressed or worried whatsoever. Now, what was coming next is another story!
My friend and I were one of the first back on the boat. As others loaded on, I noticed everyone staying in their wet suits, including the dive masters. The crew started changing out tanks. Little did I know, we had a second dive planned!!! I thought we were just doing the one dive. It was over a 40 minute dive. We had swam with sharks already. Oh no, that was just the prelude of the trip. We were just preparing for the ‘shark feeding’ event! The two dive masters that would feed the sharks began to put on chainmail. What is chainmail? Well, chainmail in diving, specifically shark diving, refers to a type of armor. It is protective clothing made of interlocking metal rings. This suit is designed to shield divers from shark bites! Yes, we were going back down as a group to hang out with these sharks while the ‘feeder’ fed them! “No way I’m going back down!” I thought to myself. Well, as much as I was hesitant, I did my breathing exercises, and went down into the ‘arena’. It was here where I got on my knees, grabbed onto a rock, and watched as these amazing creatures fed. They were aggressive, majestic, scary, and wicked cool all at the same time! I think I almost had three panic attacks during the 30 plus minutes we were down in the arena. Fortunately, I was already kneeling. This made it easy to continue my constant prayer. I hoped that I would not get eaten and die in that moment!
The feeding stopped. The dive master made his way outside of the arena to lure the sharks away from us. This allowed us to safely ascend. I thought to myself, I did it! Even though I’m still scared to this day, and think to myself, never again, I am ever grateful. I am grateful that I did what I did. I overcame fear, accomplished something amazing, and have a story to tell for my lifetime. What an adventure! Here’s the video of my time underwater with these sharks. If you have a bucket list, this is one to add for sure!
Just a few weeks ago, my father in law shared a compilation of quotes from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints along with his own thoughts related to the teachings of the Beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount. With the permisson of my father in law, I wish to share his recent writings:
‘To be or not to be’, that is the question? [bold added for emphasis] Hamlet, Act III, Scene 1
Brethren, we need to do better and be better because we are in a battle. I bless you to do better and be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life. [bold added for emphasis] –Russell M. Nelson, “We Can Do Better and Be Better” General Conference, April, 2019
“I often say, Just be a good boy or be a good girl and go.” –Elder David A. Bednar, February 2020, Be A Good Boy Girl Let the Holy Ghost Guide.
“I’ll be what you want me to be.” LDS Hymns, I’ll Go Where You Want Me To Go, p. 270
In contrast to the institutions of the world, which teach us to know something, the gospel of Jesus Christ challenges us to become something. I hope the importance of conversion and becoming will cause our local leaders to reduce their concentration on statistical measures of actions and to focus more on what our brothers and sisters are and what they are striving to become. What is essential is that our labors in the workplace of the Lord have caused us to become something. –The Challenge to Become, General Conference, October, 2000, By Elder Dallin H. Oaks
The more experience I gain in teaching the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, the more I am impressed with the concept of the Beatitudes shared by a friend years ago which deserves a more broad exposure. Each of the Beatitudes represents a specific step in our orderly progression towards perfection, and teaches us how to qualify ourselves for exaltation, for the Bible concludes the chapter on the Beatitudes with the words, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48.) [bold added for emphasis] –The Beatitudes and Our Perfection, By Elder Royden G. Derrick, Of the First Quorum of the Seventy, General Conference, April 1977.
Be able Be all in Be all that you can be! (The Army) Be an example Be aware Be brave Be careful Be celestial (Think celestial) Be charitable Be childlike Be christlike Be clean Be courteous Be deliberate Be diligent Be fair Be faithful Be first (to volunteer/work) Be forgetful (of others sins) Be forgiving Be friendly Be good or be gone Be gracious Be grateful Be happy Be helpful Be honest Be hopeful Be humble Be industrious Be introspective Be joyful Be kind Be loving Be malleable Be mindful Be mine Be modest Be obedient Be on guard Be on time Be one Be optimistic Be patient Be prayerful Be punctual Be quick to forgive Be ready Be relentless Be respectful Be reverent Be slow to anger Be slow to judge Be smart Be still (and know that I am God) Be studious Be thorough Be thoughtful Be thrifty Be tough Be truthful Be valiant Be warned Be watchful Be willing Be wise Be worshipful Behave Beware Should be? Could be? Wanna Be? Would be? Has been? Worker bee vs. drone? If you can’t “be” . . . you can’t “become”! Be, Go, Act, Do! Be ready, willing and able!
It’s as easy as: “ABC” A = Always B = Be C = Christlike!
Are you: Making honey or vinegar? Sweet or sour? Positive or Negative?
Be a heavenly being! Be a busy bee vs. idle The extra “e” in “bee”is for effort! Last of all: 😉 Bee – Hive yourself!
On ldsunplugged, we are challenged to become ‘Weekend Warrior’s’, unplugging from the world replacing worldly media; entertainment; and music with wholesome activities and recreation. Would you be willing and able to take on and commit to a ’18-month’ or even a ’24-month’ challenge??...
Well, this is what’s asked of thousands of young adults from the age of 18 to 25. These young adults, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are ‘called to serve’ as missionaries for a period of 18 months to 24 months. Once set apart as a missionary, they are given certain conduct standards, one of them specifically related to entertainment.
“Oh ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day… And faith, hope, charity and love, with an ey single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work” (D&C 4:2,5)
This conduct standard is one of my favorites, yet one of the most difficult standards for today’s young adults to follow. I, from personal experience, know first hand how in order to keep your eye single to the Lord and His work while serving a mission, know how important it is to avoid all forms of worldly entertainment.
Missionary’s, like my neice who recently returned from serving a proselyting mission, are asked to not watch television, go to movies, listen to the radio, or surf the web while on their mission. They are asked to listen only to music that is consistent with the sacred spirit of their calling. They are not authorized to have a personal computer nor have use of any computer or electronic games while they are serving the Lord.
You may think this is crazy thinking and impossible feet to accomplish, yet ask the thousands of missionaries around the world who have accepted this challenge of being unplugged from the world to work on a service greater than many on this earth will ever understand. They will first hand tell you how difficult it is, yet at the same time how rewarding the fruits of their labors are.
With the permission of my niece, I wanted to share final thoughts she had as she returned from her mission:
I am SO grateful for my decision to serve a mission. It really has changed my life forever!! I am a different person from when I started my mission!!
Growing up, I always went to church but I never had deep roots in the church. I only read the Book of Mormon once through (didn’t understand much), never have read the Bible, and my relationship with Heavenly Father was pretty superficial. In the mission I have been able to grow in my conversion and deepen my understanding of this gospel!! The church is trueeeee!!!!! Heavenly Father loves us more than we know. He has made a beautiful plan for each of us. We have a purpose on this earth and through promises with Him we can be with our families forever!!
Why did I decide to serve a mission? Well to be honest, I never wanted to go. I wasn’t very spiritual and did not think it was in my plans. After a humanitarian trip, I decided to pray to know if the Lord would have me serve a mission. As I was finishing the Book of Mormon I read in
Moroni 8:2:
2 My beloved son (daughter), Moroni (Kennedy), I rejoice exceedingly that your Lord Jesus Christ hath been mindful of you, and hath called you to his ministry, and to his holy work.
I felt so strongly that Heavenly Father was speaking to me at that moment and that I needed to go on a mission!! It was not an easy process. I had to be patient and exercise my faith, but I received my mission call!!
My experience in Chile has been full of JOY!! I have met SO many wonderful people, helped others learn about God, and see how the gospel is applied in a lot of families!!
I have worked in a lot of imperfect wards with imperfect people, but I have learned that the reason we go to church is to remember Jesus Christ!! He is the center of everything we do, and I have come to know Him here in Chile. I’m thankful for the miracles that I see every day. I know God is preparing His people for a temple here.
My mission has helped me decide the kind of life I want to live as an adult and when I have my own family!! There is security in the gospel, and I want to be an active member and not a passive one!!
I know I’m not going to be perfect when I go home, but I know that I’m on the right path.
Thank you to everyone supporting me!! I hope that you have felt inspired to strengthen your own testimonies!! I wanted to end with this scripture in the Book of Mormon.
Jacob 5: 71-72:
71 And the Lord of the vineyard said unto them: Go to, and labor in the vineyard, with your might. For behold, this is the last time that I shall nourish my vineyard; for the end is nigh at hand, and the season speedily cometh; and if ye labor with your might with me ye shall have joy in the fruit which I shall lay up unto myself against the time which will soon come.
72 And it came to pass that the servants did go and labor with their mights; and the Lord of the vineyard labored also with them; and they did obey the commandments of the Lord of the vineyard in all things.
I’m thankful to have contributed my small part in the greatest cause on earth!! I love you alllll!! So, so grateful for all of you and will see you soon! 💗
♡/Hermana Ainsworth
So, when you tell yourself, it’s impossible for me to ‘unplug’ from the world for a short period of time, think of the thousands of young adults who have not only ‘unplugged’ from worldly entertainment, they have ‘plugged in’ to their spirituality and are building relationships that will last through the eternities!
The holiday season has come and gone, leaving us with cherished memories and, for many, a sense of reflection as we welcome the new year. It’s natural to look back at what we’ve accomplished, what we’ve struggled with, and what we aspire to achieve in the coming months. But why do we only make resolutions once a year?
Instead of treating self-improvement as a once-a-year event, consider a more fluid approach. Checking in on our progress daily, weekly, or monthly can make a world of difference. As Karen Lamb once said, “A year from now, you may wish you had started today.”
The Problem with New Year’s Resolutions
While setting annual goals is valuable, the reason many resolutions fail is that they’re too broad or unrealistic. Some of the most commonly broken resolutions include:
Lose Weight and Get Fit
Learn Something New
Get Out of Debt and Save Money
Too often, people set overwhelming targets—losing 30 pounds by spring, becoming a master chef in a year, or eliminating all debt in 12 months. While possible, these goals can feel daunting and lead to frustration. Instead, breaking them down into smaller, attainable steps increases the likelihood of success.
How to Set Goals That Stick
Here are some practical strategies to set goals you can actually achieve:
Start Small and Be Realistic
Instead of aiming to lose 30 pounds, start with a goal of shedding five pounds over a few weeks. Small wins keep you motivated.
Focus on One Goal at a Time
Rather than juggling multiple resolutions, prioritize one primary goal. Once you achieve it, move on to the next.
Make Your Goals Public
Share your resolutions with friends or family. Accountability can be a powerful motivator, and you’ll be surprised how much encouragement you receive.
Reward Yourself Along the Way
Small rewards can reinforce positive habits. If you save money by skipping an impulse purchase, treat yourself to a $6 hot cocoa instead of a $60 shopping spree.
Start at a Different Time
Who says you have to start in January? Consider setting goals with the change of seasons—spring is an excellent time to build momentum.
Final Thoughts
I’m a firm believer in goal-setting, but I’ve learned that success comes from keeping things simple, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. And most importantly, have fun with it! Whether you succeed or stumble, both outcomes are valuable—accomplishments build confidence, and setbacks teach resilience.
At the end of the day, we have a lifetime to grow and reach our full potential. Here’s to a year of progress, learning, and self-discovery!
“Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities.“
The statement above, included in The Family: A Proclamation to the World, gives guidance on how marriages and families can be successful. The principles shared seem to be practical and a given in theological standards, yet where in the world did ‘wholesome recreational activities’ come from? You mean marriages and families need to have recreation in their lives in order to be successful? The answer, is a resounding YES! Now, it’s inspired that preceding recreational activities, we find the word ‘wholesome’. Ah, blasted, that seems like a word that takes away all the ‘fun’ in the recommendation, yet when you really dive into what the word means, you’ll find that it means to be good for one’s health and well-being. Whew! That’s a good thing, ‘fun’ back in the equation!
This morning, as I was thinking about this blog post, I decided to do the following search “what are some wholesome recreational activities to do” and to my astonishment about 19,800,000 results popped up! Almost 20 million! Needless to say, we live in a world full of activities to fill our needs and desires. Here’s a quick snippet of a few activities that popped up from my search:
Snippet from Google Search Engine
What’s interesting to me is that all of the activities listed above do not include any technology, no computers, no phones, no digital tablets, etc. You see, as I have learned, and as has been stated in many books, Our free time should be used wisely to create the best possible life, to promote individual growth and strengthen families... In general, we spend an inordinate amount of time with electronic media and, as a result, become disconnected from one another… Wholesome family recreation can help us strengthen our relationships and reduce negative emotional and spiritual consequences. Wholesome recreation strengthens families (Eds., Hawkins, et al. 2020, p. 225).
One of my favorite things to do during my free time is looking through old photos. I reminisce on the activities with my current family as well as the activities when I was growing up. I remember and cherish the moments of time in my life when I was young when my family would go out on camping trips, host parties, play board games (monopoly and dominos being a family favorite), cook together, dance together, work on the yard together. All good wholesome things that brought us closer together. And it’s those memories and activities that sparked and ignited the ideas of the activities that I now enjoy and cherish with my own family.
Let us all commit today to search and find the activities that interest you and your family the most, plan them out doing things that will bring you together and create lasting memories, and lastly and most importantly, Have Fun! It doesn’t take much to find joy in the simple things in life and what better way to create joy than by doing things with those with whom you love.
References
Eds., A.J.H.D.C.D.T.W. D. (2020). Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. BYU Bookstore Publishing Services. https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780842528030
This month, my youngest child celebrated another birthday. As I gave him a hug and patted his bum the amount of times of his age (a tradition from his first birthday) I reflected on how quickly the years have gone by and thought about how it felt like it was just yesterday that I was holding him in my arms, cradling him to sleep.
How fast time seems to slip by and how I am in awe sometimes as to how I and my lovely wife made it through our children being babies, to being toddlers, to children, teenagers, and now young adults! I reflect on the good times, focusing on our successes and reminiscing on the failures and learning experiences we had in raising our children.
For those who are looking for counsel as to how to be more successful in your parenting endeavors, I would say, read, re-read, and read again, The Family: A Proclamation to the World. It is in this proclamation, that you will find the secret nuggets of wisdom which will guide you and give you the roadmap on how to be successful. One of my ‘ah ha’ excerpts from this guide is how it states that Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness. What a profound statement!
How does one raise their children in love and righteousness? Well, there are so many opinions out there, yet for what I have found, following the counsel given in the book Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives, edited by Alan J. Hawkins, David C. Dollahite, and Thomas W. Draper (2020) and learning the Authoritative Parenting Style you will be just that, successful! I really like how the book talks about ‘Love, Limits, and Latitude in Parenting’. Check out the following excerpts:
“The first of the three characteristics of authoritative parenting is Love, or connection. Brigham Young counseled, “Kind looks, kind actions, kind words, and a lovely, holy deportment toward them will bind our children to us with bands that cannot easily be broken; while abuse and unkindness will drive them from us.” Prophetic statements such as these, supported by research, suggest that warm and responsive parenting tends to promote lasting bonds between parents and children and “felt security” within children.” (Eds., Hawkins, et al. 2020, p. 108).
“The second element of authoritative parenting is Limits, known in the scholarly literature as regulation. Finding ways to effectively help children learn how to regulate their own behavior in noncoercive ways is one of the most challenging parts of authoritative parenting. Determining how and when to tighten or loosen the reins requires considerable creativity, effort, and inspiration.” (Eds., Hawkins, et al. 2020, p. 109).
“The third component of authoritative parenting is Latitude, or autonomy. Children benefit from being given choices and appropriate levels of latitude to make their own decisions in a variety of domains. Children learn and grow by learning how to make choices within limits that are acceptable to parents.” (Eds., Hawkins, et al. 2020, p. 112).
As babies come into our lives, we become parents, and I feel that as we become parents, we naturally learn how to love our children; we naturally set limits with our children; and I would even say we naturally learn how to give our children the autonomy needed to become who they are meant to become. We need to have faith in knowing that God will direct us, guide us, and lead us to knowing exactly how best to parent our children. In the premortal existence, we were born from a loving Father and Mother and I firmly believe that our heavenly parents taught us about our divine destiny, one of the most divine callings being that of being a parent. Let us remember this and give the best that we can in loving the children that are given to us to raise in love in righteousness.
References
Eds., A.J.H.D.C.D.T.W. D. (2020). Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. BYU Bookstore Publishing Services. https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780842528030
Over the past few weeks, I have been studying Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives, edited by Alan J. Hawkins, David C. Dollahite, and Thomas W. Draper (2020). In this book, I have been learning the purpose of this proclamation and it’s effects on familial life. I feel the main purpose of the proclamation is to bring an understanding of family life; the purposes each of us have as mother, father, and child within the family unit; and most of all the blessings and happiness that come from family life, in particular that of the bond of matrimony. The word ‘bond’ has many meanings, its unity and strength, and has even been explained as being ‘a uniting force’ that is unbreakable.
One of the things that I’ve always wondered as it was related to marriage, is if there there should be a dominant figure in the relationship. In many cultures and customs, it’s the husband that leads and guides the marriage and family. Yet as I look from the outside in and from the inside out, I have found that although Fathers and Mothers have different responsibilities, they should help each other as equal partners. “Research has demonstrated that couples who have an equal partnership have happier relationships, better individual well-being, more effective parenting practices, and better-functioning children. Researchers have consistently found that couples who share power are more satisfied and have better overall marital quality than couples where one spouse dominates” (Eds., Hawkins, et al. 2020, p. 43). I have learned that we are literal daughters and sons of a loving Heavenly Father who intends for us to find joy on this earthly life and it is by equal partnership within the bonds of matrimony that we can achieve the fulness of joy in our lives.
For a marriage to be successful, the husband and wife must covenant that they will remain faithful to one another. Meaning, they will do everything in their individual power to keep themselves from falling into any type of infidelity. Therapists and researchers have categorized different types of infidelity which include fantasy; visual; romantic; and sexual, each one being based on the type of involvement and attachment with the other party. The consequences of not being faithful with one another have not only emotional and spiritual impacts, they include physical and mental impacts including depression and divorce.
How does one remain faithful? Well, in my opinion, and the opinion(s) of others, I feel you can focus on doing the things opposite of those factors that are associated with infidelity. In Successful Marriages and Families (2020), it is explained that there are intrapersonal; interpersonal; and contextual categories that are associated with infidelity. The meaning of ‘intrapersonal’ is what happens within oneself. Things you can do to remain faithful related to this category is not using drugs or alcohol; be conscious of your behavior; and attending a church, being involved in religion. ‘Interpersonal’ is your relationship with your spouse and by spending time one with another; being honest; and focusing on equality in your marriage, you will become more united and faithful. Lastly, ‘contextual’ category and factor includes working with others of the opposite sex and acceptance of extramarital relationships. Clearly by being cautious of how you work with others of the opposite sex and not accepting of extramarital relationships, you will be more committed in your devotion to your spouse.
A matrimonial bond is sacred, strong, and divine! It is core of The Family and is what gives life and joy to all those within it’s sphere of influence. I am grateful for the bond that I have with my wife and I urge all who are married and looking to be married to read and re-read The Family: A Proclamation to the World and make it your mission to follow the guidelines and precepts that are taught within it. It will guide you on making the right choices that will lead you to the most happiness and joy imaginable!
References
Eds., A.J.H.D.C.D.T.W. D. (2020). Successful Marriages and Families: Proclamation Principles and Research Perspectives. BYU Bookstore Publishing Services. https://online.vitalsource.com/books/9780842528030
I woke up early today thinking about the wonderful weekend of listening to messages from leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It led me to prayer of thanksgiving for being a member of such a wonderful organization. As I opened up my bible I began reading in the book of Isaiah and came across the following scripture which I felt impressed to share.
Isaiah Chapter 58 Verse 13-14: “If thou turn away… from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honorable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways not finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shat thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth…”
I just love this scripture and as I was studying, I remembered my “unplugged” blog of which I have forgot about for quite some time. As I opened up my laptop and started reading past posts, I was reminded that it was this act of keeping the Sabbath Day holy that inspired this blog in the first place. As I have stated on my hope page:
I have a life Challenge… That Challenge is to Turn off all technology distractions for a set period of time each and every day. During this time, interact and converse with those that I love and care about.
Also, something I keep thinking about… We are given 7 days a week… Two of these days are an opportunity for us to replace worldly media; entertainment; and music with wholesome activities and recreation.
My mission… to keep negative entertainment and media away from myself and those that I love, keeping myself and others around me as righteous as we can by choosing media wisely.
One of those that ‘I love and care about’ is my Father in Heaven and His son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know that I am not perfect, yet I know that through them I may be perfected. May I and may you remember to ‘unplug’ and find time to interact and converse with God and Christ. The past two days have been my opportunity to replace worldly media and entertainment with the wholesome activity of listening and pondering the teachings of His divine gospel and my hopes are that I may remember the things that I forget from time to time and focus my thoughts and prayers on communioning with Him.
May God Bless you in all that you do, and may you, as I have found, feel of His presence and love. For He Lives and Loves us all!
I’ve been pondering on the subject of truths and beliefs. As we round the corner to this Christmas Holiday Season my thoughts have been reflecting on the miraculous birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. It’s the time of year that Christians all around the world celebrate by putting up Christmas trees; ornaments; lights; nativity scenes, etc. It’s a time of joy and celebration for the Messiah who came to the world to fulfill Gods plan of happiness.
As I reflect on the plan of salvation taught to me over the years in Sunday school; during my proselytizing mission in Argentina; and thru education received while serving in the temple(s) of our Lord and Savior, I have wondered is it this just my belief or is it truth? Over the years I have gained a personal testimony thru many sacred experiences of Gods divine plan to be just that, truth.
God, our Heavenly Father, along with Heavenly Mother, bore a first spirit son, His name was Jehovah in the spirit world. God had many spirit children who lived in the pre mortal existence, I and you being one of many. We all agreed to come to earth and receive a body as our Heavenly parents have so we too could become like them. Mary, thru divinity, bore a son, his name would be Jesus, and He would become the Savior of the world. And thru Him we will overcome spiritual and mortal death, to someday become eternal beings returning to our heavenly home where we will receive the fullness of glory and eternal life. I really love the message of Elder Craig C Christensen, “The Fulness of the Story of Christmas”
Some would argue that this single event, and Gods plan are that of belief and not necessarily truth. I would argue that truth is truth. I can believe the the world is flat or I can believe that the color of red is black, yet the truth is the world is round and red is red. It is what it is. I believe the same to be the case with this singular event that took place in Bethlehem so long ago as well as Gods divine plan. It is truth. Check this fun animation on “Discovering Truth” You can argue that it’s just ones belief, yet it is what it is. There is a God, Jesus is the Christ, and we are all spirit children having a mortal experience. And just as those who not so long ago believed the world was flat, eventually learned that the truth is that the world is round, and those who deny that there is a God and that Jesus is not the Savior, will one day learn of the truthfulness of this divine plan.
What a wonderful blessing it has been in my life to find these truths in my mortal life. All of us can find it if we seek it. The more we believe, the more we will receive. The door will be opened if we knock. We can be enlightened and receive a personal testimony that these things are true. Study it out in your mind and heart; read about Christ and Gods church; talk to friends and family; and have enough faith to ask God to answer your questions directly. He will do so in the way that you are intended to receive it. For Joseph Smith it was thru a vision; for others it is thru a friend or family member; and for most it is directly thru the Holy Spirit, where His spirit whispers directly to Your spirit that the things you are seeking are true. May you find out these truths for yourself and once you do, may you enjoy the joy and light that comes from knowing what you know.
ldsunplugged 