The Sacredness of Sexual Intimacy

This week we have been talking about intimacy within marriage, and teaching children about intimacy. I believe that children should first be taught about intimacy in the home, and that it should be done at certain stages when the children will understand and appreciate more the sanctity of such relations.

As I was reading the articles this week in preparation for class I was taken back, and also a little frustrated by the fact that there are teenagers being taught classes on methods of preventing pregnancy. I strongly believe that the youth should be taught abstinence in an effective way, and that they should not be taught how to prevent pregnancy in other ways. By teaching these methods of prevention I feel like it is saying that "you shouldn't have sex, BUT if you do use a condom." It's giving youth that thought of "I'd better be prepared just in case I make a mistake." There's no mistake about preparing and using such things as a condom...a teenage relationship should never get that far. Rather than preventing sexual activity among teenagers with these types of classes, I feel that it is promoting sexual activity. Therefore, I would not want my own children learning things like that in school.

I know that it will be my responsibility when I become a parent to teach my children the doctrine. The doctrine, as stated in the family: A Proclamation to the World, is straight-forward and says "God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife." I do not see the harm in teaching children this doctrine from a young age. The family: A Proclamation to the World will be additional scripture in my home, and I will use it as a teaching tool from the time that my children learn how to talk. We will read it as a family, and discuss different principles. Of course, there are different stages in which children will understand certain things better. But, I believe that through prayer and careful consideration between husband and wife, these sacred topics can be taught effectively in the home and by doing so my children will have a better understanding and appreciation for the sanctity of sexual relationships, they will understand that it is not a bad thing, but that it is reserved for marriage between a man and a woman.

Communication in Marriage

In taking classes like family relations and others similar to it these past two semesters it has made me grateful that I am not yet married. Why? Because these classes have helped me to understand and prepare more for what is to come. I feel like it will be important for me to know all of these things going in to a marriage and that it will benefit me in the long run. There are so many things that I've learned which I never would have thought about before.

For example, I found it useful and interesting to talk about the different struggles that couples face in the beginning of their marriage. I know that there will be adjustments to be made, but with having an idea beforehand of some questions I can ask the man I want to marry and things I would like him to know about me will help us to know what to expect. In class it was brought up that sleeping habits can be the cause of contention or frustration in the beginning because some people sleep hot, some sleep cold, some like to snuggle, some like their own space. So even though this did not seem like something that would originally be important to discuss, I now know that it is! ha ha!  This is just one of many things to discuss.

It was also interesting to hear how much the average wedding in America costs...$20,000+. Holy crap! That's a lot. All I can say is, my wedding will NOT cost even close to that. Marriage has become more of a party rather than focusing on the actual ceremony and the fact that you are now united with someone else for eternity (at least from the Latter-Day Saint perspective). When I get married, I want my day to be focused on the temple and the sealing rather than everything else. It's the most special occasion that can take place in this life, in my opinion.

Communicating before and during marriage (especially in the beginning) is important so that both man and woman are on the same page. Effective communication requires effort, and understanding. Good communication is important to me as I prepare to marry.