Marraige: Equal Partnership

This week has reminded me of an article called "Equal Partnership in Marriage." I remember the art in this Ensign article well as it was an apple and an orange. When a slice was made into the apple there was orange fruit inside, and likewise with the orange was apple fruit inside. I have always been able to visualize that image when thinking about the different, but equal roles a husband and wife have in a marriage. 

 

Some of my favorite quotes from the reading include Elder L. Tom Perry of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles who eloquently said: “There is not a president or a vice president in a family. The couple works together eternally for the good of the family. … They are on equal footing. They plan and organize the affairs of the family jointly and unanimously as they move forward.” (p.41)

 

Elder M. Russell Ballard made about how equality does not mean sameness. He taught: "Men and women, though spiritually equal, are entrusted with different by equally significant roles... These stewardships, equally sacred and important, do not involve any false ideas about domination or subordination."

 

President Boyd K. Packer spoke about how a marriage of equal partners is also one in which the partners help one another in their stewardships, just as the Proclamation states "husband and wife are obligated to help on another as equal partners." There is no task in which the other spouse may contribute fully and equally. If someone asked me about what exactly does it me to be "equal in a marriage", these are some of the thoughts that I would say (or at least hope to say) Sharing that equal means together, not just doing your job well, but supporting and working as a team together in various ways.

This week has really helped me to personally recognize the unique and individual roles that my husband and I have in our marriage. We tell our children that we are on a team... we work together and help one another. In order for our team to do well, we need to lift one another up, and not try to push each other down. This applies to marriages and families.