#Mental Health LDS IDEAS ON STRENGTHENING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE

FOLLOWING ARE SOME BASIC METHODS OF STRENGTHENING A HUSBAND WIFE RELATIONSHIP:

1.  Consider holding regular Couple's Councils

2.  Consider some of the following ideas to understand the marriage relationship and then contribute to make a positive difference

3.  Consider taking a course or reading a book about strengthening marriage

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR

COUPLES COUNCIL

1.   Weekly for 1 to 1 ½ hours           

2.   Alternate who conducts               

3.   Open and close with prayer

4.   Have an agenda

5.   Suggested agenda topics:

                  applaud accomplishments

                  rejoice over successes                        

                  review standards and principles

                  discuss solutions to challenges

                  issues regarding children/family

                  financial discussion and planning

                  goals, hopes, dreams

                  scheduling / calendaring

                  express love and support

                  share testimonies

6.   Purpose:

                  a  unify couple

                  a  focus on covenants

                  a  commit to marriage

                  a  commit to live the law of consecration

MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

Stephen ZoBell, PhD

FOUNDATION CONCEPTS

1.       Marriage is a priority relationship

2.      Rule of 3:  husband, wife AND relationship

3.      Second Law of Thermodynamics:  anything left unattended long enough will eventually fall apart

4.      To develop a meaningful marriage relationship a price must be paid

5.      Plan of salvation, Proclamation, Savior, covenants

WHY A MARRIAGE DETERIORATES

1.       External factors:  stress, opposition, trials

2.      Internal factors/fatal flaws:  diminished commitment and mismanagement

WHAT CAN BE DONE

1.       Don’t:  break commandments, initiate or maintain addictions, blame, feel sorry for self

2.      Focus on individual soundness to have healthy qualities to offer in the marriage relationship

3.      Philosophical backdrop:  see marriage against the back drop of the plan of salvation/exaltation

4.      Get organized:  purge, hold FHE, Couples scripture and prayer, regular Couples’ Council, planning and scheduling

5.      Define what you want from your marriage rather than focusing on what you don't want

6.      Enlarge memory through record keeping:  journals, photos, financial, agenda, calendar

7.      Using outside resources

8.      Ability to focus on the positive

9.      Media management

10.  Roles:  appropriate and inappropriate

11.  Interaction:  dating versus courtship

12.  Cooperation versus competition

13.  Humor and fun

14.  Softening and dream power

15.  GIVE YOUR SPOUSE A VOICE

16.  for more information refer to the post on this blog entitled:  presentation:  MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT

Stephen ZoBell, PhD