Nurturing Friendship in Marriage Main Article LDS Perspective

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Church leaders consistently emphasize the importance of friendship in marriage. In October 1984 General Conference, Elder Marion D. Hanks said:

"Married people should be best friends; no relationship on earth needs friendship as much as marriage. . . . Friendship in a marriage is so important. It blows away the chaff and takes the kernel, rejoices in the uniqueness of the other, listens patiently, gives generously, forgives freely. Friendship will motivate one to cross the room one day and say, "I'm sorry; I didn't mean that." It will not pretend perfection nor demand it. It will not insist that both respond exactly the same in every thought and feeling, but it will bring to the union honesty, integrity. There will be repentance and forgiveness in every marriage—every good marriage—and respect and trust" (p. 35).

More recently, Elder Marlin K. Jensen of the Seventy observed during April 1999 General Conference:

"Friendship is . . . a vital and wonderful part of courtship and marriage. A relationship between a man and a woman that begins with friendship and then ripens into romance and eventually marriage will usually become an enduring, eternal friendship. Nothing is more inspiring in today's world of easily dissolved marriages than to observe a husband and wife quietly appreciating and enjoying each other's friendship year in and year out as they experience together the blessings and trials of mortality" (p. 64).

References

Hanks, M. D. (1984, November). Eternal marriage. Ensign, 35-38. Retrieved August 2003, from http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1984.htm/ensign%20november%201984%20.htm/eternal%20marriage.htm?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0$q=$x=$nc=4751

Jensen, M. K. (1999, May). Friendship: A gospel principle. Ensign, 64-65. Retrieved August 2003, from http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.dll/Magazines/Ensign/1999.htm/ensign%20may%201999.htm/friendship%20%20a%20gospel%20principle.htm?f=templates$fn=document-frame.htm$3.0$q=$x=$nc=2220