Intimacy L11

 Up until a year and a half ago I had never thought of sexual intimacy as something that would strengthen a marriage. I thought it was solely a carnal desire being met. I initially started learning about the true importance of intimacy when my now husband and I decided to take a preparing for eternal marriage course together. Since then my eyes have been open to the fact intimacy in marriage brings strength and is a beautiful way to demonstrate love and admiration.

   In my  culture many women often think that sexual intimacy is just for the male's pleasure, even before our wedding night Gabriel wanted to make sure that was not something I believed as well. I remember that being the sentiment ever since I was little in my family, that sexual intimacy was for  the pleasure of men and not women. I actually learned as I was older that this was not the case. I distinctly remember debating with close friends of mine and them trying to convince me that this was not the case. I now understand so much more about why this is not and will never be true! We as daughters of God have such a special place. As Elder Clark said "You husbands: be kind and considerate of your wives. They are not you property; they are not mere conveniences; they are your partners for time and eternity.” I learned my place as a daughter of God and the importance of believing that, this has helped me understand the real and deep importance forming that physical connection with my soulmate. This doesn't mean that this important part of our marriage has been a walk through the park.

   In my marriage intimacy has been something we have had to figure out and be purposeful about. We are only in our first year of marriage and we both work, go to school and run an online business so intimacy is not our biggest priority . I guess since we are still quite new at this whole marriage thing we forget the importance of that aspect of our marriage. I still catch myself thinking with the mindset of Suleima of 3 years ago, and I have to actively change it. We have improved our communication on this and made it a priority, we do not want 10 years down the road to have an unhappy marriage and  intimacy to be at the source of it. We both want to do everything possible in our marriage to make it work and be happy in all aspects. 

Quote - J. Reuben Clark, Conference Report, Oct. 1949, 194-195.

-S