A Mormon Saint's Rant: To Honor and Obey

To honor and obey....

These words were part of the oath that the woman would give to her husband as part of the vow of marriage and yet it seems to drop because of, well fill in the blank as to the excuse that is used. At one time I am sure that it meant something.

Do you remember the scriptures Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. The marriage vow gave a charge to the woman to honor and obey the husband as he obeyed the Lord. We were supposed to mimic the great Jehovah and do for our wives what he did for us all; do everything to build and edify the union of marriage and our spouses.

But alas men and women mock god and make ashamed the union of marriage by swearing that there is no need for such union or that the ways of our forefathers is the old way and that the need for self-reliance is more important than our oath or vow. Our word no longer is our bond and that is a scary time we have created; the bond of trust is breaking.

So what can we do to strengthen it?

It is said that the number one fear of men is that women will laugh at them and that the number one fear of women is that men will kill them. I would have to say that we need to go out on a limb here on both parts. Women need not fear death if they build up and strengthen the men in their lives. Likewise men need not fear mockery or to be made a fool if they show kindness and love to those women that are in their lives.

Might I also recommend that people take time to talk face to face; to touch one another in a non-threatening manner? Human contact is one of the great stress relievers and it helps release the happy endorphins that prolong our lives and makes us health and happy. We get too cooped up in our digital lives that we fail to see the ones that are in our homes and lives.

There was a time when our employers got to know their employees and spouses held hands and kissed in public; teachers touched their students to emphasis the message that they really cared.

Now those wonderful bridges are burning and socialism is attempting to remove what makes us human by punishing us for being good and hunting for what is wrong with us. Our liberties are being taken away; our rolls as men and women are being bleached out.

And what can we do? Husbands love your wives as Jesus loved the church. That’s a real good start. Families will become strength and the home a learning place again. I believe the poet John H. McNaughton summed it up nicely in this poem made hymn.

There is beauty all around,