A Zion Marriage: One Heart, One Mind
“And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them” (Moses 7:18). You can choose to establish Zion in your marriage.
To become one is at the heart of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Through His Atonement, Jesus invites us to become one with Him, the Father, and the Holy Ghost (see John 17). It is so important to become one, especially in marriage, that the Savior warned, “If ye are not one ye are not mine” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:27). To become one requires that we put off the “natural man” and woman (Mosiah 3:19). It requires that we love God with all our heart, might, mind, and strength. It requires each of us to continually repent and allow the Savior to turn our weaknesses into strengths (see Ether 12:27).
Establishing a Zion marriage takes constant effort as you navigate through life’s challenges and mistakes. To have “no poor” between a husband and wife requires more than physical nourishment; it also requires spiritual, emotional, and social nourishment. To “dwell in righteousness” requires humility and repentance, forgiveness and love, respect and service, and a desire to keep striving and never giving up. The following ideas and activities may help as you build a Zion marriage:
- What does your spouse recognize and appreciate as an expression of love? How do you like love to be demonstrated? Safe and loving communication is essential. Share specific examples of when you have felt loved and understood.
- After you have built your spiritual altar of principles, spend time creating a plan for how to practice and live those principles more fully in your life. Be creative in developing righteous daily habits together.
- Talk about the four areas of growth in the Children and Youth program—spiritual, social, physical, and intellectual (see Luke 2:52). Write down one activity or goal in each of the four areas you can do together. Set a date to celebrate and talk about what you learned together.
- Talk about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ can help you heal, trust, forgive, and look forward in faith. If you feel stuck or alone, prayerfully seek help from your ministering brothers or sisters or a member of your elders quorum or Relief Society presidency.
- Find something that you will enjoy accomplishing together. Counsel, listen, and draw from each other’s insights, opinions, and feelings. Let this be something that reflects both of your efforts.
Reflections
- What does it mean to be of “one heart” and “one mind”?
- How does God help us become one, even in our weaknesses?
- Seeking to establish Zion is not easy. What helps you keep going?
- How would these experiences bless someone you know?