The Spirit Brings us Unity

President Gordon B. Hinckley was the prophet of our church. He and his wife had a great relationship that I've always admired. Sister Hinckley is a spirited woman who I love to read about. In our studies this week I came across an interview with President and Sister Hinckley. I love what they have to say so I'm going to share it.



Church magazines: Sister Hinckley, you have said that your husband “always let me do my own thing. He never insisted that I do anything his way, or any way, for that matter. From the very beginning he gave me space and let me fly.” How has he done that?

Sister Hinckley: He never tells me what to do. He just lets me go. He has made me feel like a real person. He has encouraged me to do whatever makes me happy. He doesn’t try to rule or dominate me.

Church magazines: President, you have said: “Some husbands regard it as their prerogative to compel their wives to fit their standards of what they think to be the ideal. It never works.” How have you avoided doing this with Sister Hinckley?

President Hinckley: I’ve tried to recognize my wife’s individuality, her personality, her desires, her background, her ambitions. Let her fly. Yes, let her fly! Let her develop her own talents. Let her do things her way. Get out of her way, and marvel at what she does…If there is anything that concerns me, it is that some men try to run their wife’s life and tell her everything she ought to do. It will not work. There will not be happiness in the lives of the children nor of the parents where the man tries to run everything and control his wife. They are partners. They are companions in this great venture that we call marriage and family life (Marjorie Pay and Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, October 2003, pp. 22, 27). (Who is the Boss. Power Relationship in Families Richard B. Miller, PhD)

I think these two are a beautiful example of how a marriage thrives. They let each other be themselves. They trusted each other and encouraged the other to learn and grow.



In the marriage companionship there is neither inferiority nor superiority. The woman does not walk ahead of the man; neither does the man walk ahead of the woman. They walk side by side as a son and daughter of God on an eternal journey (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 2002, p. 52).



Our sisters do not wish to be indulged or to be treated condescendingly; they desire to be respected and revered as our sisters and our equals. I mention all these things, my brethren, not because the doctrines or teachings of the Church regarding women are in any doubt, but because in some situations our behavior is of doubtful quality (Spencer W. Kimball, TSWK, pp. 317–318).



I love these two quotes. In my marriage I do feel like I walk side by side with my husband. I'm grateful to live in a time where woman are treated as equals. I'm glad we belong to a church where we are taught that woman are equals with men. In the second quote listed it says that we don't wish to be indulged or treated condescendingly. This is so true and I love that this was taught long before out time.



President Eyring discusses that, "When people have the Spirit with them, we can expect harmony." Right now in our world we are dealing with CoVid-19. In one way or another, all of us are affected by it. Whether our kids our out of school, our missionaries are coming home, our jobs are put on hold or changed in some way, all of these changes can lead to uneasy and irritating feelings. I love this thought that President Eyring gave. If we have the Spirit with us, we can expect harmony. I want harmony in my home. So I'm going to take this very seriously and invite the Spirit to be my constant companion during this time of uncertainty. (LDS.org - Ensign Article - That We May Be One)