Today, it is true that relationships between men and women, relationships, and marriages are strained. Divorce rates are high, gender conflict is common, political division is extreme, and other challenges and stresses abound. All of this was predicted in the scriptures. We read in the New Testament Paul saying the following, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.” –I Timothy 4:1-3
This and other scriptures and statements from the modern prophets point to challenging, worsening times like this as we get closer to the Second Coming of the Lord. If you are interested in learning more about these worsening challenges of the latter days, I suggest reading the book, “The Second Coming of the Lord” by Gerald Lund (2020). The main point is that times have never been harder with marriage and male/female relationships and will only get worse from here. Yet, we are still commanded to marry and have lives with each other. It is an eternal principle. Men and women were literally created to be together from the Lord (see Genesis 2, The Proclamation to the World, 1995).
The challenge is to not buy in to the ways of the world, in spite of what is commonly accepted around us. Elder James A. Cullimore stated the following in his talk, “To Be in the World but Not of the World” (1973): “In one of the most beautiful prayers ever offered, the Savior invoked the blessings of the Father upon his apostles. He sensed his time was near when he must leave them. He prayed:
“And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” (John 17:11, 14–15.)
The members of the Church are constantly being reminded that even though they are “in the world, they should not be of the world.” What do we mean by the “world”? President McKay refers to it as those “… alienated from the Saints of God. They are aliens to the Church, and it is the spirit of this alienation that we should keep ourselves free from.” (Conference Report, October 1911, p. 58.) Elder Bruce R. McConkie defines the “world” as “the social conditions created by such of the inhabitants of the earth as live carnal, sensuous, lustful lives, and who have not put off the natural man by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, [Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1966], p. 847.)
*Living contrary to the world:
Here are a few ways I encourage you to live according to gospel principles and not the ways of the world. I am sure you can come up with more on your own:
*Appreciate, admire, and look for the best in members of the opposite sex.
*Learn about traditional gender roles and seek to support the opposite sex in whatever ways you reasonable can. (Suggestion: refer to The Proclamation to the World, 1995).
*Seek to find, date, have a relationship with, and marry a good quality person who lives and supports gospel principles.
*Live up to the gospel standards the best you can.
*Become temple worthy and maintain an active temple recommend.
*Be kind to the opposite sex, talk well about the opposite sex, and appreciate the differences of men and women as often as reasonably possible.
*Have a good attitude about marriage, husbands, and wives.
*Seek for friends and associates who largely abide by similar attitudes as stated above.
Final Thoughts:
We all live on this planet and this environment. But that doesn’t mean we have to buy into what is going on around us. Please reject the nonsense and bad attitudes going on around us. Such ways will lead to unhappiness and misery. Instead, following gospel principles will help you be happy, healthy, and living the true way the Lord would have us live. The world is wrong, simply put. Follow the prophets, they know the way. And remember that “…neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
Dr. G
P.S. If you have any questions, comments, or a future article request for me, feel free to contact me at drgilchrist@yahoo.com.
| 2024-01-07 | Randy Gilchrist | Dating, Spirituality |
About the author
Hello, my name is Dr. Randy Gilchrist (aka "Dr. G"). I am a licensed clinical psychologist, a licensed marriage & family therapist, and a certified hypnotherapist in private practice in Roseville, CA (www.dr-rg.com), practicing since 1997. Also, I am happily married in the temple (Manti) since 1996 and have 4 sons. I am a volunteer writer and contributor to LDS Dimension. I use my training, education, and experience to share insights with LDS Dimension on all things of interest to the LDS dating community. Please read my articles and columns on this site to assist you in your online dating journey. Also, to be considered for an answer in a future Q and A column, please email me your dating/relationship oriented questions to drgilchrist@yahoo.com. Finally, I also offer a powerful, effective worldwide custom hypnosis recording service just for LDS Dimension members for weight loss, pornography, and many other issues of concern to those in the LDS dating community (please learn more now at www.dr-rg.com/lds; email me questions to drgilchrist@yahoo.com).