Focusing on the broad range of issues that College-age young adults will face during marriage, a new Church Educational System manual — unlike any produced in the past — is now available.
The Church's "Eternal Marriage Student Manual" contains a topical collection of teachings about dating, marriage and other pertinent topics, as taught by past and present Church presidents, other leaders of the Church and the scriptures, said David Giles, Director of Church Educational System Curriculum Services.
"I don't know that CES has ever done a manual like this. It is unique in type and organization," he said. "These are issues that are going to be faced in courtship and marriage relationships."
The new manual highlights topics such as abuse, debt, divorce, intimacy, pornography, same-gender attraction, and women's divine roles and responsibilities. It also addresses commitment and communication, education and eternal perspectives, mate selection, morality and modesty, and includes a lengthy section highlighting "The Family: A Proclamation to the World."
Organized topically in alphabetical order, similar to an encyclopedia, the manual contains an index that cross-references subjects. Most topics have selected teachings and one or more complete talks from the Brethren.
The manual replaces a preparation for marriage text written more than 20 years ago — outdated as far as current statements from Church leaders are concerned, said Brent Farley, CES manager of College Curriculum.
"Times have gotten tougher," Brother Farley said. Church leaders have addressed the difficult issues that young people face today. Their instruction, he added, is clear, direct and specific.
The manual supports two Institute courses — Religion 234: "Preparing for an Eternal Marriage," and Religion 235: "Building an Eternal Marriage." More than 40,000 college-age young adults worldwide enrolled in CES courtship and marriage courses worldwide last year.
Eventually, the manual will be translated into 19 languages and distributed for use of Institute students around the world. It is currently available in English in the Church's distribution centers.
Brother Giles said CES wants to help young adults gain the attitudes and perspectives that will help them build a successful marriage. And, he emphasized, "the roots for a happy marriage should be well established before the wedding vows are exchanged."
Brother Farley agreed. Finding the right marriage partner is critical, he said. "It is an eternal endeavor. Eternal happiness is based on who you spend your life with here and in the eternities."
Church leaders, he said, want young people to understand up front the importance of marriage. "We serve them up a plate of inspired teachings and they will digest the principles that will personally help them the most."
In the preface to the new manual Elder Henry B. Eyring of the Quorum of the Twelve and Commissioner of Church Education, is quoted on the importance of studying the counsel of Church leaders:
"In our own time, we have been warned with counsel on where to find safety from sin and from sorrow. One of the keys to recognizing those warnings is that they are repeated. . . . When the words of the prophets seem repetitive, that should rivet our attention and fill our hearts with gratitude to live in such a blessed time.
"Looking for the path to safety in the counsel of prophets makes sense to those with strong faith."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
