How Religion Works For (or Against) Your Marriage

For centuries, people have debated the definition of religion. But in the mid-2000s, several researchers finally agreed that there are three elements of religion to study. These are beliefs, practices, and community.¹ Religious beliefs are personal values. They include searching for answers to spiritual questions in life.^2-3 Religious practices are rituals, symbols, and actions. Prayer and worship services are examples.^3-4 Religious communities are organized bodies of people or denominations that bring believers together.^2-3 All three parts of religion are important to individuals and families. While 23 percent of American adults do not rate religion as being important in their lives, 77 percent think of religion as being “somewhat important” or “very important” in their lives.⁵ Since religion is important to so many people, it is crucial to understand how religion can affect what is considered one of the most significant and long-lasting relationships: marriage.⁶

Religion can act as a protective factor helping married couples to be more resilient. Religion can affect how married couples think about and react to stressful situations. Thinking about and coping with stress is a process that couples go through simultaneously.⁷ The way one spouse reacts to stress can affect the way the other spouse manages stress. Those individual choices also affect how the relationship adapts. If spouses use a basis of similar values to cope, they usually communicate better.

Healthy communication protects families. Each individual spouse and the couple benefit from good communication.⁸ Religion plays a role in the way couples cope with and think about stressful events.⁹ If couples use their religious values, they find more compatible ways to talk about and manage stress. They are also more likely to build a stronger and more resilient relationship. However, when religious beliefs differ or are applied in damaging ways, religion can become a negative influence in couples’ relationships. Religion can help couples meet the stress of mental health challenges, marital conflict, and infidelity.

Religion Helps Married Couples Deal With Depression

Mental illness can be a major stress in marriage. Depression, also known as major depressive disorder, is one such illness. Close to 21% of adults struggle with major depressive disorder at some point in their life.¹⁰ People with depression often feel sad for weeks at a time and don’t enjoy doing things that they used to do,³ which affects their relationships. Depression can change the way a person thinks about their marriage. Sadly, depression is related to a spouse being disappointed with their marriage.⁶ There are multiple theories that explain the relationship between marital problems and depressive symptoms.⁶

The interpersonal theory of depression suggests that mentally healthy spouses can become frustrated when they have to support and reassure their mentally ill partner for a long time.⁶ Often, mentally ill partners spend a lot of time worrying that they are not enough and that they will not be taken care of. When they constantly and excessively share this worry with their spouse, strain can occur.¹¹ The mentally healthy spouse can then become resistant to their partner. The strain impacts their ability to cope positively.¹² If both spouses continue this downward cycle, the couple may need to find resources to cope with the mental illness in a more resilient and unified way.¹²

The stress generation model of depression states that individuals with depression often make things worse for themselves by creating stressful circumstances. These new stressors can, in turn, contribute to the person’s deepening depression.¹³ In a marriage relationship, spouses with depression can put more strain on their marriage by creating more symptoms of stress in their life and their partner’s life. This tends to keep the hold of depression strong in their own life.⁶

The marital discord model of depression reports that about 50 percent of couples seeking therapy for either marital troubles or depression struggled with the other issue as well.¹⁴ Struggles in marriage lead to negative habits. These habits create more depressive symptoms. Depression then creates more marital problems.⁶ Put simply by another theoretical model,¹⁵ mental health stressors in a marriage and the way spouses interact both lead to the way a couple manages stress.

Unhappiness in a marriage relationship often predicts depressive symptoms.^6,16 These symptoms typically interrupt normal living in marriage.¹⁷ Many studies suggest that having religious practices and beliefs can lessen depressive symptoms.^2-3,18-20 They find that when practiced with sensitivity, religiosity can help couples cope better.^18-19 Religious characteristics like forgiveness and hope help spouses be more proactive in dealing with their stressors.¹⁹ Living these values can slow or even stop the depressive cycle. When spouses feel they have a good relationship with God, they also tend to have greater feelings of self-worth.^18-19 Better self-esteem helps them interact with their spouse more positively. Additionally, spouses who include religious beliefs and practices in their lives are more likely to have their own internal support system.^2-3,18-19 Mentally ill and mentally healthy spouses can then lend more support to their spouse in times of mental stress and sadness.

Religion Helps Lower and Prevent Conflict in Marriage

Religion can also help couples lessen conflict in their marriage. Conflict in marriage occurs when couples choose or pursue goals differently.²¹ Conflict can occur in marriages about anything that relates to planning for and living a life together.²¹ When spouses do not agree about which goals are the most important or disagree about how they should go about obtaining those goals, conflict can result.^21-22 Because religion provides values that relate to family goals and to reaching these goals,²¹ it can help couples be more unified in making decisions. The importance of shared values holds true for couples of different faiths or of the same faith.

Inter-faith couples can experience more conflict in their marriage. When compared with same-faith marriages, inter-faith marriages tend to have less stability and more conflict.^23-24 For many couples in inter-faith marriages, conflict over religious differences can add stress in addition to the other major stressors that couples usually face.²⁴ Conflict can become more frequent or more intense if spouses do not share compatible religious-based values and views.²¹ This tension is more severe in inter-faith marriages where one or both spouses are involved in a faith with high demands on time, money, and investment.²⁵

Conflict can be lessened for same-faith couples. Couples who actively share the same religious beliefs and practices are equipped with more spiritual resources than inter-faith couples. They also tend to have marriages that last longer and are happier.^24,26 However, couples of the same faith may struggle with conflict if they do not practice their religion at the same level of belief as each other.²⁴ For example, spouses with a partner who is less religious tend to have lower marital satisfaction and more negative marriage outcomes. These outcomes include partners receiving more insulting comments and fewer expressions of commitment.²⁷ Couples of the same faith who participate in fewer religious activities with each other also report disagreements more often.²¹

Research shows that when couples share religious involvement, they tend to adjust better in marriage in many ways.⁹ People who are forgiving and hopeful seem to be more proactive when dealing with stressful events.¹⁹ Religious practices such as prayer increase unity in a marriage relationship.²⁸ Spouses who are religious tend to criticize their partner less and show more affection for their partner. Spouses of religious people also report being more satisfied in their marriage.²⁷ When spouses share perspective, they have more shared meaning in their relationship. These shared values help protect against conflict.²¹ Couples who share perspective from religious beliefs also have less conflict to begin with.²⁴ Thus, not only do shared religious beliefs help couples resolve conflicts, but they prevent some conflicts before they have even begun.²⁴ One reason for the lower amounts of conflict for these couples is that they have religious ideals about how to interact and communicate with their spouse.²¹ These ideals are often based on values like charity and patience.

Religion Lessens and Protects Against Infidelity in Marriage

A couple’s religious involvement can also act as a protective factor against infidelity. Infidelity happens when a spouse violates the expected level of intimacy with someone not in their marriage relationship. It can expand to areas beyond physical intimacy and creates negative outcomes in the marriage relationship.²⁸ In fact, infidelity is one of the most common reasons spouses give for breaking up.²⁹ There are multiple types of infidelity that affect the marriage relationship.

Financial infidelity. Financial infidelity occurs when a spouse keeps secrets about money. It can also include a partner being dishonest with their spouse about the family’s finances.³⁰ Instances like hiding spending money from one’s spouse and hiding purchases are considered to be financial infidelity. Lying about whether or not an item was on sale or how much one paid for the item is also financial infidelity.³¹ Financial infidelity can harm a marriage relationship and result in conflict between spouses. It can also create issues of mistrust.³²

Sexual infidelity. Sexual infidelity happens when a spouse engages in sexual activity with someone outside of the marriage. It can occur with or without their spouse knowing.^33-34 Sexual infidelity includes physical intercourse, but it can also include online sexual activities. Seeking out or having an online sexual partner is considered infidelity. Sexual infidelity can also include looking at sexually explicit images, videos, or other material.³⁵ Like physical intimacy outside marriage, online sexual infidelity can damage relationship trust, cause conflict in marriage, and lessen sexual satisfaction.³⁵ Sexual infidelity is associated with lower self-esteem for both partners.³⁶ Sexual infidelity is related to more psychological problems and less happiness in a marriage.³⁶

Emotional infidelity. Emotional infidelity occurs when a spouse is emotionally and romantically attached to a person that is not their partner.³⁴ It can occur whether or not sexual actions take place. Emotional infidelity can include when a spouse is not honest with their partner about their feelings for that person. Some even feel that it includes a spouse attending an important event exclusively with a person other than their partner without their spouse’s knowledge or consent.³⁴ At its core, emotional infidelity results in a spouse diverting time, attention, and love to a third party in ways that hurt the commitment in a marital relationship.³³

Multiple researchers have correlated religiosity with increased commitment in marriage.²⁴ Religion plays a role in lowering the risk of infidelity²⁶ through involving people in religious actions^26,28,37 and beliefs.^37-38 Specifically, more frequent church attendance and a belief that the Bible is God’s word result in less infidelity.³⁷ Prayer, including both praying for one’s spouse and praying with one’s spouse, is related to more trust in one’s relationship.²⁸ Religious factors such as feeling a close connection to God, believing and seeing marriage as sanctified, and being active in a faith community help to increase couples’ value of and commitment to being faithful to their spouse.³⁸ This is the case for couples who are highly religious. National surveys show that when individuals attend church more frequently, they tend to self-report less extramarital sex.²⁶ Spouses who are more devout to their religion tend to prefer complete commitment to marriage. They also value the need to make individual sacrifices for marriage.²¹

It is important to note, however, that for partners who attend church often but do not feel that they have a close relationship to God, the likelihood of an affair increases. The same holds true for partners who do not attend church often but do feel that they have a close relationship to God.³⁹ This increase shows that a vital part of sexual fidelity is having both spouses internalize and reinforce spiritual beliefs about marriage.²⁶ How a person uses religion in their life affects the impact on their life of their religious beliefs.

Misapplied Religion as a Risk Factor

Religion can act as a protective factor for couples. However, when practiced in unhealthy ways, the religious beliefs and actions of an individual can turn into a risk factor for marriage. Marriages can be damaged when religious beliefs are misapplied or practiced in twisted ways.²⁴

Certain feelings about religion can be harmful. Sometimes religious people have an anxious relationship with God. They may feel ashamed when they think about God. These negative feelings towards God can increase depressive symptoms and feelings of stress.¹⁸ Another negative feeling religious people may hold is unjustly blaming God for stressors. These and other attitudes are known as negative religious coping. Higher levels of depression are associated with these negative views of God.¹⁹ Having an avoidant attachment to God can also make people less agreeable.¹⁹ These ideas are not generally taught as religious tenets, but people can misapply the role of God and have negative results that can hurt marriages.

Some religious beliefs can be harmful. Some religious people may hold religious attitudes that can place themselves or their children in unnecessary danger. Additionally, sometimes marriages have violence or infidelity that can reach a severe level. Spouses may need a way to leave a situation that shows no promise of recovery. When a victim feels their religion teaches never to divorce, they can be hurt in serious ways.²⁴ The idea of sole male leadership can also be harmful to a marriage in place of the view of an equal partnership. ²⁴ This belief keeps couples from counseling together and using the strength and good judgement of both individuals to help their families.

Specific religious actions can be harmful. Religious activities are sometimes used to mask or avoid dealing with stressors. This choice is related to more depressive symptoms.¹⁹ Conflict is also a problem for families with mixed religious beliefs. This conflict is often caused by a family member leaving the family’s church or leaving religion completely.²⁴

Conclusion

Marriage is one of the most important and long-lasting relationships.⁶ Understanding how religion can help or hurt married couples is vital. Stress is a common experience for couples to experience.⁷ As they communicate and meet the challenges together, they cope better. As noted, religious practices and beliefs can change couples’ perspectives about stressful challenges. It also can change how a couple manages stress.⁹ In sum, religion can help couples have better coping strategies.^18-19

By turning to religion, couples can become more unified²⁸ and committed.³⁸ However, religion needs to be applied in healthy ways. Otherwise, it can have harmful effects on a marriage.²⁴ When applied in a positive and unified way, however, religiosity in marriage can act as a protective factor. Religious couples can emerge stronger from struggles with depression. They can cope more effectively with conflict. They can be strengthened to avoid infidelity. Therefore, couples who are religious are better able to meet life’s challenges and find lasting happiness.

Written by Kathryn E. Duval, edited by Stephen Duncan and Julie H. Haupt, professors in the School of Family Life, Brigham Young University. June 3, 2020.

References

1. Marks, L. (2006). Religion and family relational health: An overview and conceptual model. Journal of Religion & Health, 45(4), 603–618.
2. Burke, A., Olphen, J., Eliason, M., Howell, R., & Gonzalez, A. (2014). Re-examining religiosity as a protective factor: Comparing alcohol use by self-identified religious, spiritual, and secular college students. Journal of Religion & Health, 53(2), 305–316.
3. Gwin, S., Branscum, P., Taylor, L., Cheney, M., Maness, S., Frey, M., & Zhang, Y. (2018). The relationship between parent–young adult religious concord and depression. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 22(1), 96-110.
4. Jankowski, P. J., Hardy, S. A., Zamboanga, B. L., Ham, L. S., Schwartz, S. J., Kim, S. Y., … Bersamin, M. M. (2015). Religiousness and levels of hazardous alcohol use: A latent profile analysis. Journal of Youth Adolescence, 44, 1968–1983
5. Pew Research Center, (2014). Importance of religion in one's life. Retrieved from https://www.pewforum.org/religious-landscape-study/importance-of-religion-in-ones-life/
6. Goldfarb, M. R., & Trudel, G. (2019). Marital quality and depression: A review. Marriage & Family Review, 55(8), 737–763.
7. Pasch, L. A., & Sullivan, K. T. (2017). Stress and coping in couples facing infertility. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 131-135.
8. Patterson, J. M. (2004). Integrating family resilience and family stress theory. Journal of Marriage and Family 64(2), 349-360.
9. Lambert, N. M., & Dollahite, D.C. (2006). How religiosity helps couples prevent, resolve, and overcome marital conflict. Family Relations, 55, 439-449.
10. Kessler, R. C., Petukhova, M., Sampson, N. A., Zaslavsky, A. M., & Wittchen, H. U. (2012). Twelve-month and lifetime prevalence and lifetime morbid risk of anxiety and mood disorders in the United States. International Journal of Methods in Psychiatry Research, 21, 169–184.
11. Stewart, J. G., & Harkness, K. L. (2017). Testing a revised interpersonal theory of depression using a laboratory measure of excessive reassurance seeking. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(3), 331–348.
12. Bodenmann, G. (2005). Dyadic coping and its significance for marital functioning. In T. A. Revenson, K. Kayser, & G. Bodenmann (Eds.), Decade of behavior. Couples coping with stress: Emerging perspectives on dyadic coping (p. 33–49). American Psychological Association.
13. Liu, R. T., & Alloy, L. B. (2010). Stress generation in depression: A systematic review of the empirical literature and recommendations for future study. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(5), 582-593.
14. Beach, S. R. H., Jouriles, E. N., & O'Leary, K. D. (1985). Extramarital sex: Impact on depression and commitment in couples seeking marital therapy. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 11, 99-108.
15. Karney, B. R., & Bradbury, T. N. (1995). The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, methods, and research. Psychological Bulletin, 118(1), 3-34.
16. Fink, B. C., & Shapiro, A. F. (2013). Coping mediates the association between marital instability and depression, but not marital satisfaction and depression. Couple & Family Psychology, 2(1), 1–13.
17. Knöpfli, B., Morselli, D., & Perrig-Chiello, P. (2016). Trajectories of psychological adaptation to marital breakup after a long-term marriage. Gerontology, 62(5), 541–552.
18. Barry, C. M., Christofferson, J. L., Boorman, E. P., & Nelson, L. J. (2019). Profiles of religiousness, spirituality, and psychological adjustment in emerging adults. Journal of Adult Development, 34(4), 1-11.
19. Malinovic, A., Fink, A., Lewis, A., & Unterrainer, H. (2016). Dimensions of religious/spiritual well-being in relation to personality and stress coping: Initial results from Bosnian young adults . Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 18(1), 43–54.
20. Unterrainer, H., Lewis, A., & Fink, A. (2014). Religious/spiritual well-being, personality and mental health: A review of results and conceptual issues. Journal of Religion & Health, 53(2), 382–392.
21. Mahoney, A. (2005). Religion and conflict in marital and parent-child relationships. Journal of Social Issues, 61(4), 689–706.
22. Silberman, I., Higgins, E. T., & Dweck, C. S. (2005). Religion and world change: Violence and terrorism versus peace. Journal of Social Issues, 61(4), 761–784.
23. Curtis, K. T., & Ellison, S. G. (2002). Religious heterogamy and marital conflict. Journal of Family Issues, 23, 551-576.
24. Marks, L., & Dollahite, D. (2016). Religion and families: An introduction. Routledge.
25. Stark, R., & Finke, R. (2000). Acts of faith: Explaining the human side of religion. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
26. Mahoney, A. (2010). Religion in families, 1999 - 2009: A relational spirituality framework. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(4), 805–827.
27. Perry, S. L. (2015). A match made in heaven? Religion-based marriage decisions, marital quality, and the moderating effects of spouse’s religious commitment. Social Indicators Research, 123(1), 203–225.
28. Reich, N., & Kalantar, S. M. (2018). The role of praying for the spouse and sanctification of marriage in reducing infidelity. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 21(1), 65–76.
29. Amato, P.R., & Previti, D. (2003). People's reasons for divorcing: Gender, social class, the life course, and adjustment. Journal of Family Issues, 24, 602-626.
30. Canale, A., Archuleta, K. L., & Klontz, B. T. (2015). Money disorders. In B. Klontz, S. Britt, & K. Archuleta (Eds.), Financial therapy: Theory research, and practice (pp. 35–67). New York: Springer.
31. Jeanfreau, M. M., Noguchi, K., Mong, M. D., & Stadthagen-Gonzalez, H. (2018). Financial infidelity in couple relationships. Journal of Financial Therapy, 9(1), 1–20.
32. Jeanfreau, M. M., Holden, C., & Brazeal, M. (2019). Our money, my secrets: Why married individuals commit financial infidelity. Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, 42, 46-54.
33. Ellis, M., & Kleinplatz, P. J. (2018). How contingencies of self-worth influence reactions to emotional and sexual infidelity. Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality, 27(1), 43–54.
34. Guitar, A. E., Geher, G., Kruger, D. J., Garcia, J. R., Fisher, M. L., & Fitzgerald, C. J. (2017). Defining and distinguishing sexual and emotional infidelity. Current Psychology: A Journal for Diverse Perspectives on Diverse Psychological Issues, 36(3), 434–446.
35. Li, D., & Zheng, L. (2018). Influence of the perceived infidelity of online sexual activities (OSAS) on OSA experiences among Chinese heterosexual individuals in committed relationships. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 44(8), 746–758.
36. McNulty, J. K., & Widman, L. (2014). Sexual narcissism and infidelity in early marriage. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 43(7), 1315–1325.
37. Burdette, A. M., Ellison, C. G., Sherkat, D. E., & Gore, K. A. (2007). Are there religious variations in marital infidelity? Journal of Family Issues, 28(12), 1553–1581.
38. Dollahite, D. C., & Lambert, N. M. (2007). Forsaking all others: How religious involvement promotes marital fidelity in Christian, Jewish, and Muslim couples. Review of Religious Research, 48, 290 – 307.
39. Atkins, D. C., & Kessel, D. E. (2008). Religiousness and infidelity: Attendance, but not faith and prayer, predict marital fidelity. Journal of Marriage and Family, 70(2), 407-418.

The Family: A Proclamation to the World teaches us that in a marriage relationship, the “husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other” (¶6). Sometimes, however, challenges in life produce tests in a couple’s marriage. The good news of Christ’s gospel is that we “can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [us]” (Philippians 4:13). Jesus Christ has provided couples with tools to strengthen their marriages during times of adversity. These tools are found in His gospel and in His Church.

Religious Tools that Support Marriages

Much has been written and said in the scriptures and in the words of modern-day prophets about marriage and family relations. These teachings are divinely inspired and can be sanctifying as family members apply the principles taught. In some cases, special challenges arise that create more intense difficulties. In these situations (mental illness, marital discord, and infidelity), religious beliefs can provide important protections. When misapplied, however, religious beliefs can harm marriages.

Religion provides support systems for couples where a spouse is struggling with mental illness. Depression and other mental illnesses can strain marriages. But couples can emerge stronger from these challenges if they rely on their Savior and His gospel through their dark times. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland shared insights from his own experience. After being dealt what he referred to as a “psychic blow” of depression, Elder Holland said, “With the grace of God and the love of my family, I kept functioning and kept working.” His marriage and mental health was protected by his belief in God and the support of his family. The gospel of Jesus Christ provided him with an internal support system of hope in God’s grace.

Elder Holland also recounted another individual who was depressed as the result of a terrible accident. She was so overcome by her trials that she wished to die. Her recovery came “with the prayers of her husband.”¹ Her marriage had a support system of prayer in place that strengthened both spouses through their trials. The gospel of Jesus Christ provides internal and marital support systems. Couples who rely on their Savior and their covenants will be enabled to face the struggles that depression brings.

Sharing faith can help lessen and even prevent conflict in marriage. Conflict in marriage arises when spouses have different expectations and objectives. Such discrepancies can come from marrying outside of one’s faith, and even from marrying someone with a different level of the same faith. President Gordon B. Hinckley counseled:

Choose a companion of your own faith. You are much more likely to be happy. Choose a companion you can always honor, you can always respect, one who will compliment you in your own life, one to whom you can give your entire heart, your entire love, your entire allegiance, your entire loyalty.²

President Hinckley taught that couples sharing the same value systems can face struggles in life in a more unified partnership because of their shared beliefs. They can also be blessed by the sealing ordinances of the temple and can endure challenges faithfully.

Religious values and beliefs help spouses avoid infidelity. In latter-day revelation, the Lord teaches: “Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else” (D&C 42:22). While many people think of infidelity in only physical terms, the Lord makes it clear that married individuals should cleave to nothing besides their spouse. Thus, infidelity can extend to emotional, virtual, and even financial areas of a person’s life. President Spencer W. Kimball expounded on this scripture by stating:

When the Lord says all thy heart, it allows for no sharing nor dividing nor depriving…The words none else eliminate everyone and everything. The spouse then becomes preeminent in the life of the husband or wife, and neither social life nor occupational life nor political life nor any other interest nor person nor thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse.³

Spouses who believe that the commandment to cleave to their marriage is divine can better avoid infidelity. They will recognize that infidelity can be anything that is cleaving to something or someone other than their spouse. They will be better prepared to remain loyal to God and to their marital commitment.

A Caution

Being unified in religious beliefs and practices can strengthen spouses. However, some people misunderstand doctrine or misapply what they consider to be religious principles. President Howard W. Hunter shared this example:

We well know of the persecutions inflicted by Paul upon those who followed Christ and professed to be Christians and wonder why he did these things. What caused him to take such a ruthless course? Paul answers these questions by stating that he had practiced the religion of his fathers —a religion of iron rules, laws, and traditions inherited from his Hebrew lineage. These iron rules of practice are what caused him to relentlessly persecute the followers of Christ. Thus, in writing to the Galatians he referred to religion in the same manner as he did before King Agrippa, as rules of practice rather than doctrine or a creed of belief… ‘If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.’ (James 1:26)⁴

When religion is twisted to be a ruthless set of rules or a way to unfairly exert power or control over one’s spouse, marriages can suffer. Some ideals that may be traditional or accepted in society may influence religious people to accept ideas or practices that are actually not in line with the teachings of Jesus Christ. Thus, simply going to church or having a religion will not help couples if they are not living according to true principles. As the Proclamation reminds us, couples will be more likely to establish and maintain a happy marriage as they follow Christ’s example and teachings.

Religious beliefs do benefit couples. The study and application of these doctrines will help them navigate the complicated challenges of life. These beliefs can help them be more committed to each other as part of their commitment to God. When Christ’s true religion is the foundation of a marriage, that couple will be built on a rock and will not be swayed despite the stresses of life (Helaman 5:12).

Written by Kathryn E. Duval, edited by Stephen F. Duncan and Julie H. Haupt, professors in the School of Family Life, Brigham Young University. June 3, 2020.

References

1. Holland, J. R. (2013, October). Like a broken vessel.
2. Hinckley, G. B. (1999, February). Life’s obligations.
3. Kimball, S. W. (1972). Faith precedes the miracle (pp. 142-143). Salt Lake City: Deseret Book.
4. Hunter, H. W. (1978, October). True religion.