Love & Marriage Matt 22

Wedding facts In the United States, 70% of Americans agree that a bride should change her last name. The Fijians believe that the god Nangganangga, who watches over married couples, will not let an unmarried man enter heaven and will turn him to ash if he dies before he is married. The Penan nomads who live on the island Borneo (southwest of the Philippines) maintain that women do not have a soul until their wedding day.

Wedding facts Early Roman brides carried a bunch of herbs under their veils to symbolize fidelity and fertility and to ward off evil. These herbs were as a precursor to the modern bridal bouquet. Las Vegas is the top wedding destination with over 100,000 weddings a year, followed by Hawaii at 25,000 weddings a year. Wedding rings are often placed on the third finger of the left hand because ancient Egyptians believed the vein in that hand ran directly to the heart.

Wedding facts In many cultures, the groom historically often kidnapped the bride, and the groom’s friends would help him, leading to the modern-day groomsmen. At the alter, the groom always stood on the bride’s right side so his right hand—or his sword hand—would be free to fight/defend a jealous rival. Over 74% of first-time brides receive a diamond engagement ring, with the diamond. The Greeks thought diamonds were tears of the gods and the Romans thought diamonds were splinters from stars. Because eyebrows are considered intensely alluring in the Orient, historically the bride’s eyebrows were shaved entirely on her wedding day, rendering her powerless to attract another man.

Marriage Matthew 22:1-14 Temple language

Matthew 22:15-17 “entangle him in his talk” What truth is found in Matthew 22:18–21? ◦“We will sometimes need to challenge laws that would impair our freedom to practice our faith, doing so in reliance on our constitutional rights to the free exercise of religion” (“Balancing Truth and Tolerance,” Ensign, Feb. 2013, 27). ◦Elder Dallin H. Oaks: “Our twelfth article of faith states our belief in being subject to civil authority and ‘in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law.’ But man’s laws cannot make moral what God has declared immoral. Commitment to our highest priority—to love and serve God—requires that we look to His law for our standard of behavior. For example, we remain under divine command not to commit adultery or fornication even when those acts are no longer crimes under the laws of the states or countries where we reside. Similarly, laws legalizing so-called ‘same-sex marriage’ do not change God’s law of marriage or His commandments and our standards concerning it” (“No Other Gods,” Ensign orLiahona, Nov. 2013, 75). Matthew 22:23–30 The second trap Matthew 22

I believe the saddest and most discouraging responsibility I have each week is the handling of cancellations of sealings. Each one was preceded by a joyous marriage in the house of the Lord, where a loving couple was beginning a new life together and looking forward to spending the rest of eternity with each other. And then months and years go by, and for one reason or another, love dies. It may be the result of financial problems, lack of communication, uncontrolled tempers, interference from in- laws, entanglement in sin. There are any number of reasons. In most cases divorce does not have to be the outcome. President Thomas S. Monson “Priesthood Power” April 2011 Conference

Choose a companion carefully and prayerfully; and when you are married, be fiercely loyal one to another. Priceless advice comes from a small framed plaque I once saw in the home of an uncle and aunt. It read, “Choose your love; love your choice.” There is great wisdom in those few words. Commitment in marriage is absolutely essential. President Thomas S. Monson “Priesthood Power” April 2011 Conference

In what ways does celestial marriage prepares people for exaltation?

D&C 131:1-4 “Reason 1: The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man as they learn from and mutually strengthen and bless each other. … “Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children” (Elder Bednar, “Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan,” Ensign, June 2006, 83–84).

Who Said It? “Marriage requires a high degree of tolerance ” “Marriage requires a high degree of tolerance ”

Who Said It? “Marriage requires a high degree of tolerance ” “Marriage requires a high degree of tolerance ” President Gordon B. Hinckley President Gordon B. Hinckley (Ensign, Mar. 1997, 60)

Tolerance Webster’s dictionary (Tolerance): 1: capacity to endure pain or hardship 2: sympathy for beliefs or practices differing from one's own (5 Love languages)

What if you think you won’t get married or won’t have a successful marriage or don’t have a desire to get married? True to the Faith: “Some members of the Church remain single through no fault of their own, even though they want to marry. If you find yourself in this situation, be assured that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’ (Romans 8:28). As you remain worthy, you will someday, in this life or the next, be given all the blessings of an eternal family relationship” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 99).

What if a football team cancelled all practices and instead spent each day getting players to commit to the team? What if they had speakers coming, preachers come preach, former players come in and illustrate, held pep rallies -- all week long -- without practicing the game?

In application, marriage (or missionary work, employment, etc.) are the same way: A person cannot have success just by simply committing. They must practice. You can’t promise your way past a lack of preparation. Committing doesn’t make a person capable, only accountable (when you’re accountable for something you’re not capable of doing, you will eventually be miserable). A promise is no substitute for preparation. You can’t promise, commit, or vow your way past a lack of preparation (you must prepare to commit if your commitment is going to mean anything).

The law of Moses: 613 commandments. Matthew 22:35–40 What does it mean in verse 40 that “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”? ◦Every story in the Law (the first 5 books of Moses) and every account from the Prophets (Joshua-Malachi) demonstrate to us God’s love for us or how we are supposed to love one another. ◦Share some examples… Two great commandments

10 Commandments Write down one word to summarize each commandment After, for each commandment, if you wrote down the same word as the majority of other students, you will receive one point.

Commandment Ways people break the commandment Positive applications to my life (Thou Shalt…) In pairs, discuss the to columns above.

STORY TIME Elder Von Keech. RM. Life is like a Carpool lane. Cruise

Love & Marriage Matt 22