Have you thought to consecrate your life to your spouse?

Wallace Goddard, PhD taught, “Marriage provides glorious opportunities to practice consecration. Just as Isaac was willing to give his life as the ultimate expression of commitment to God, so we are invited to dedicate our lives, our talents, our weekends, and our weaknesses to the sacred enterprise of sanctifying our marriages and ultimately perfecting our souls.” (Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage, p. 103)

Every couple whose wants to have a celestial marriage must pay the price by living a celestial law, in other words, the Law of Consecration. President Ezra Taft Benson taught, “This law is that we consecrate our time, talents, strength, property, and money for the up building of the kingdom of God on this earth and the establishment of Zion.” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson, 1988. p. 121)

We build the kingdom of God when we have strong marriages, and when we consecrate our lives to God and unto our spouse. I am not only talking about to sacrifice our pride, part of our money or time, but to “dedicate our two lives to a holy purpose” putting all we have on the altar to make our spouse the happiest person in the world and to rescue him/her giving all we are and have to him/her. Both husband and wife are committed to helping each other achieve the fullest possible development.

I remember a couple that worked to have everything they needed and wanted. The husband and the wife earned their own money, but they were not willing to share it one another. They were not submitting their will to God and neither each other. They were not one in marriage because they were not willing to consecrate their money, their talents, love, and lives to each other because their love for money was stronger than the love for their marriage. They had a perpetual problem with money.

Sister Barbara B. Smith said, “Consecration in marriage comes when both husband and wife are committed to helping the other achieve the fullest possible development.” (A Safe Place for Marriages and Families, Oct 1981) Commitment to God, commitment to the covenants, commitment to our marriage is what we need to consecrate our life and create a holy marriage.

As Christ, or Isaac who consecrated their life to God, can I offer my life to God and to my family? Can I put myself on the altar to love my husband as Christ has loved me? Can I let to judge my spouse to show him acceptance and admiration? I would be proud if I said I can do it for myself, but through the atonement of Jesus Christ and His help we can consecrate with devotion our life to our family. I know it.

Challenge

I would like to invite us to follow the challenge Dr. Goddard (p. 111-112) invites us to do:

• For 30 days show nothing but kindness and appreciation to your partner.
• For 30 days set aside complaints and disappointments and see the good intentions and best efforts in your partner.
• For 30 days rather than count the cost, consider seeing the investments as Paul did. He said, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” (Philippians 3:8)

I am sure we will find happiness if we consecrate our life to our family. I am sure that if we strive to work in the challenge our marriage will be blessed with peace and love.