Fidelity and Physica Intimacy

This week's lesson was a touchy subject in my marriage and family class. We talked about fidelity and physical intimacy. After God commanded Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiple and replenish the earth (Genesis 1:28), he commanded them to become one flesh (Genesis 2:24).Not only were they to procreate, they were to bond together emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Physical intimacy is something that we should not express outside of our marriage bond. Goddard, in his book, "Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage," says, "Celebrate the sweet gift of companionship. The amazing message from our marriage partners is: I'm trusting you with my life, my body, my hopes, my dreams. Please be kind and gentle. Each of us should rejoice in the sacred gift of spousal trust. If we have squandered any part of it, we should work to requalify for it." (Goddard, 95)

Infidelity is a subtle process. Sometimes, we think if we are married in the temple, our marriage will take care of itself. Just because a couple is married in the temple doesn't guaranteed that the marriage will be perfect. We all have good intentions, but we need to maintain loyalty and fidelity with one person and that is our spouse. A wonderful example of not giving in to infidelity was Joseph of the Old Testament. He was tempted by Potiphar's wife. "Potiphar's wife was alluring and powerful. Yet, he resisted without hesitation. What an example!" (Goddard, 87)  There are situations in work and in church assignments that cause men and women to be together. I had an incidence when I went to the temple with a neighbor of mine. He picked me up and the whole time, as I was riding in his car, to and from the temple, I felt awkward. Nothing happened, but I did not feel right. From the book, Drawing Heaven into Your Marriage, we read: " Today Satan attacks us with subtle and indirect mans. He gets us inappropriately clos to someone who is not our spouse under the guise of missionary work, friendship, or helpfulness. Perhaps this is Satan's favorite ploy with those who desire goodness and are filled with compassion." (Goddard, 89-90) Another way is through social media. I wanted to reconnect with former boyfriends from high school and see what they were doing, so I friended them and they accepted my request. After reading this week's lesson, I immediately went back and unfriended them.

President Howard W. Hunter said: "Tenderness and respect--never selfishness must be guiding principles in the intimate relationship between husband and wife. Each partner must be considerate and sensitive to the other's needs and desires. Any domineering, indecent or uncontrolled behavior in the intimate relationship between husband and wife is condemned by the Lord." (Ensign, Nov. 1994, 51)

References:

Goddard, H. Wallace, PhD. Drawing heaven into your marriage: Eternal doctrines that change relationships. (2009)

Hunter, Howard W. Being a righteous husband and father. Ensign, November 1994.