Ten Commandments of a Happy Marriage

1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.
In Marriage: Thou shalt make your spouse your number 1. Our number 1 stewardship next to God is to love our spouse with all of our hearts, might, mind and strength. 

Elder Quentin L. Cook taught, "With respect to our stewardship for our families, some have taught that when we report to the Savior and He asks us to give an account of our earthly responsibilities, two important inquiries will relate to our families. The first will be our relationship with our spouse, and the second will be about each of our children."

" A man wants a woman who will place him at the top of her priority list -not second, but FIRST. He wants to be the king-pin around which all other activities of her life revolve. He doesn't want to be the background music to her other interests and dreams. This desire is not necessarily a conscious one, but an inner need.." - Helen B. Andelin, Fascinating Womanhood, p.107

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
In Marriage: Thou shalt have no other priority higher than your spouse.

What are some of the things men and women tend to place ahead of their spouse?
Answer: Children, Homemaking, Appearance, In-laws, Money and Success, Career, Talents, and activities. When husband and wife take good care of each other well, each can perform better in all of their other responsibilities and assignments.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain.
In Marriage: Thou shalt not take the name of your husband/wife in vain. No matter how mad, disappointed or when you are in conflict with your spouse, it is wiser to keep it to yourself and share your feelings with the Lord. He listens very well and gives the best advice.

We also honor the priesthood when we treat our husbands with the same gentleness, kindness, and love they should maintain as bearers of the priesthood. The Prophet Joseph Smith counseled the Relief Society to "teach women how to behave towards their husbands, to treat them with mildness and affection. When a man is borne down with trouble, when he is perplexed with care and difficulty, if he can meet a smile instead of an argument or a murmur -- if he can meet with mildness, it will calm down his soul and soothe his feelings; when the mind is going to despair, it needs a solace of affection and kindness (History of the Church, 4:606-7)



4. Remember the Sabbath to keep it Holy.
In Marriage: Thou shalt go to church together.

"The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. Imagine that the Savior has positioned at the apex a triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now Consider what happens in the relationship between the Mann and the woman as they individually ad steady 'Come unto Christ', and strive to be perfect in Him" (Moroni 10:32). Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and the woman come closer together. - Elder Bednar

Learn more about the importance of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy


5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother
In Marriage: Honor your Father-in-Law and your Mother-in-Law.

The Apostle Paul taught, " Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord." (Col. 3:20)

If we truly honor [our parents], we will seek to emulate their best characteristics and to fulfill their highest aspiration for us. No gift purchased from a store can begin to match in value to parents some simple, sincere words of appreciation. Nothing we could give them would be more prized than righteous living for each youngster. (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1982, p348)

6. Thou shalt not kill.
In Marriage: Thou shalt not keep grudges nor harbor anger, resentments, and bitterness.
"If husbands and wives would only give greater emphasis to the virtues that are to be found in one another and less to the faults, there would be fewer broken hearts, fewer tears, divorces, and much more happiness in the homes of our people." (Teachings of Gordon B. Hinckley, 322).

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
In Marriage: Thou shalt be loyal to your spouse.

8. Thou shalt not steal.
In Marriage: Thou shall be transparent in all of your budgeting and expenditures.

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
In Marriage: Thou shalt be honest to your spouse at all times and in all things and in all places.

10. Thou shalt not covet.
In Marriage: Thou shalt not compete with your spouse.