Richard L. Evans wrote:
It has been some two and a half centuries since Richard Steel, English essayist, wrote: “Two persons who have chosen each other out of all the species, . . . to be each other’s mutual comfort and entertainment, have, in that action bound themselves to be good-humored, affable, discreet, forgiving, patient and joyful, with respect each other’s frailties and imperfections.” It is a good summary, or at least a good beginning of what one might expect of marriage.
Marriage isn’t a matter of shallow considerations—nor should it be. It isn’t a matter of quick decision—nor should it be. It requires durable qualities of character—devotion to duty—facing up to facts—solving problems, working—solvency—honest ambition—making a home, teaching children, adjusting to life, to people, to disappointments. Day after a day, it is a relationship that requires resourcefulness of mind, resilience of spirit, and an absolute honesty. And yes, there must be manners in marriage—manners, kindness, courtesy.
Strangers we can see, and back away from as we want to; friends we can see from time to time; but marriage is among the most constant relationships of life. And how important that those who marry have common convictions, common purposes, common interests and ideals, and in unity teach their children, and avoid the tragedy of two parents pulling their children in different directions, sometimes confusing, sometimes destroying faith, and pulling the family apart.
It would be difficult to conceive of a more far-reaching decision than marriage, remembering that the family was meant to be forever. And it would be difficult to think of a better place than the home to do our best. No place in all this world should we be more kind, more courteous, more honest, more honorable. no place should we be more clean, more considerate. No place than at home should we show the better side of ourselves. ~Richard L. Evans, The Man and the Message, (Salt Lake City, Bookcraft Inc. 1973) 109-110
