Marriage & divorce: An address

by Spencer W. Kimball

As prophet, seer, and revelator, and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Spencer W. Kimball has spoken frequently on subjects of vital interest to Latter-day Saints in the twentieth century. In Marriage and Divorce, he addresses himself to the problems of divorce and the blessings of marriage and puts them into true perspective. "Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys," he states. This treatise deals with the subject seriously and is sharply to the point. President Kimball points out specific problems in marriage that often lead to unhappiness and eventually divorce. He talks at length about the blessings of temple marriage and the importance of unselfishness and Christlike love in the marriage covenant. And he suggests continued courting and keeping the commandments of God as critical ingredients to the fulfillment of both partners. Marriage and Divorce is adapted from an address delivered to students and faculty at Brigham Young University in the fall of 1976. It should be in the library of every Latter-day Saint!

Genres: Religion, Lds, Marriage

31 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

About the author

Born on March 28, 1895, in Salt Lake City, Spencer W. Kimball grew up in Thatcher, Arizona. After completing a mission and marrying Camilla Eyring, he settled in Safford, Arizona, to raise his family and run an insurance business. Years of Church and community leadership preceded his calling as an Apostle in 1943. Overcoming severe health problems, he became Church President on December 30, 1973, at the age of 78. He led the Church with spiritual power and energetic determination during a period of dramatic vitality and growth. His administration produced significant advances in doctrinal understanding, member unity, and gospel expansion worldwide. In the 12 years of his presidency, the number of operating temples doubled, the number of missionaries increased by 50 percent, and the priesthood was extended to all worthy male members. He died in Salt Lake City on November 5, 1985.

Reviews

[Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick read which emphasizes the importance of unselfishness to obtain happiness in marriage.

“... upon reasonable standards, no combination of power can destroy that marriage except the power within either or both of the spouses themselves; and they must assume the responsibility generally.”

“If each spouse submits to frequent self-analysis and measures his own imperfections by the yardstick of perfection and the Golden Rule, and if each spouse sets about to correct self in every deviation found by such analysis rather than to set about to correct the deviations in the other party, then transformation comes and happiness is the result.”

“the one who marries to give happiness as well as receive it, to give service as well as to receive it, and looks after the interests of the two and then the family as it comes will have a good chance that the marriage will be a happy one.”

This book is available on Deseret Bookshelf. It was $0.00 when I got my ebook on 2021-03-30.

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good advice and scriptural references. The only thing I wish Kimball mentioned was the cases of infidelity and addictions in a marriage. I do believe we should do all we can to work on our marriage and improve and do better but what about severe sins and severe circumstances? There's sometimes a place for divorce, as unfortunate as it is.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, quick, and clear. Anyone who wants to know the evils of divorce and how to live a life to avoid its destruction should read this.

[Gena Lott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religious look at the importance of marriage and the societal-ill of divorce.