Divorce & Remarriage

In the prep list, there is a quote provided by Brother Williams that is from President Gordon B. Hinckley that I really like:

"Somehow forgiveness, with love and tolerance, accomplishes miracles that can happen in no other way." - President Gordon B. Hinckley

I love that quote because it applies to divorce so well. Separation of marriages is a tragic thing and causes great heartbreak. In class this week we discussed the effects of divorce and remarriage and the different family structures that are formed due to these. Brother Williams introduced some interesting facts concluded from a study drawn from a great size of men:

After two years of a divorce, 70% of men believed that they could have saved the marriage and believed that they should have.

Also, 70% of those men were remarried within those 2 years. 

Divorce may cost more than 2 years of marriage counseling

After a father divorces his wive, and he is the one to move while the children stay with the mother, the average number of miles of the dad living to the children is 400 miles. This is because of new job opportunities, or the mother got up and left and moved away from the father. 

Some examples of common family structures after marriage include:

step families

remarried families

Focusing on step families, we discussed how a step father may have too much influence in a child's life if he is way too correcting. Feelings such as, tension and protectiveness are brought up in the mother and that might start conflict between spouses and especially hard feelings between the step father and children. Divorce may not always be the best solution but it might be as well. Parents can seek help through counseling with a marriage therapist and also through our Heavenly Father. 

If anything that I can take from this class, it is that all of my issues and hardships can be taken up with the Lord. I also need to ask Him in faith the things I should do that are best for me and my family.