"Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World").

Marriage between a man and a woman is a central part of God's plan for His children here on earth. Temple marriage is a sacred covenant between husband and wife that also involves a covenant with the Lord. Couples must do everything in their power to protect this sacred covenant and commitment by building healthy and enduring relationships. President Gordon B. Hinckley stated, "I am satisfied that a happy marriage is not so much a matter of romance as it is an anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one's companion" (In Conference Report, Apr. 1991, 96).