“Does anyone stay together anymore?” And “is anyone actually happy in their marriage, or is it all smoke and mirrors?” These are some of the comments I saw on social media a couple weeks ago after the announcement of Dave and Rachel Hollis’s divorce. While we obviously have no idea what happened there, it sparked a lot of conversations in my life and even between Neil and me about what really keeps people together and what the makeup is of a happy marriage. Today we’re sharing some of the tips, advice and actionable takeaways that have greatly helped strengthen our marriage that we hope will help you too.

Show Notes:

Talk “In Praise of Those Who Serve” Dieter F. Uchtdorf https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2016/04/in-praise-of-those-who-save?lang=eng

Talk “Eternal Marraige” F. Burton Howard

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2003/04/eternal-marriage?lang=eng

Talk by President Gordon B. Hinckley 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1997/03/a-conversation-with-single-adults?lang=eng

“There seems to be a superstition among many thousands of our young [men and women] who hold hands and smooch in the drive-ins that marriage is a cottage surrounded by perpetual hollyhocks to which a perpetually young and handsome husband comes home to a perpetually young and [beautiful] wife. When the hollyhocks wither and boredom and bills appear the divorce courts are jammed. …

“Anyone who imagines that bliss [in marriage] is normal is going to waste a lot of time running around shouting that he has been robbed.

“[The fact is] most putts don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most children grow up to be just people. Most successful marriages require a high degree of mutual toleration. Most jobs are more often dull than otherwise. …

“Life is like an old-time rail journey—delays, sidetracks, smoke, dust, cinders and jolts, interspersed only occasionally by beautiful vistas and thrilling bursts of speed.

“The trick is to thank the Lord for letting you have the ride” (“Big Rock Candy Mountains,” Deseret News, 12 June 1973, A4).

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