When "SHE" stopped believing.

[_Drifting]

If God pitches up to me in heaven and says "look Drifting, I know Mrs Drifiting didn't live up to her covenants so I'm casting her out and giving you a new one" He would get a knee to the Omnipotent Grollies. I choose who I am married to, not Him and frankly I love her more than I love Him covenants or no covenants.

Looks like Mrs. Drifting a a very lucky woman. But what is greater in the eyes of your most hardened and devout Peter priesthood holder, the power of love or power of priesthood? Can you really see some of these guys say in regard to their unbelieving wife that they would become more loving and not bring up the things which is bringing about apostate feelings? Isn't in the mindset of these men that the priesthood can move mountains? I know what some of you will say: Priesthood is Love!

I think true believing Mormon men would conduct themselves as Abraham did when God asked him to murder his son. "Of course God, whatever you say (or really whatever I think it is you say) God."

[_Called2Swerve]

Can we get a doctrinal ruling here? Just because it's published in the Ensign does it constitute an official position of the church? I mean this is a published letter from a member and not even written by the FP/Q12. If the woman or man wants a divorce just because their spouse is apostatizing I would think the local clergy will be right there supporting and helping (character witnesses) in making sure the apostate not only pays in the life to come, but will pay in this life too.

[_Drifting]

Can we get a doctrinal ruling here? Just because it's published in the Ensign does it constitute an official position of the church? I mean this is a published letter from a member and not even written by the FP/Q12. If the woman or man wants a divorce just because their spouse is apostatizing I would think the local clergy will be right there supporting and helping (character witnesses) in making sure the apostate not only pays in the life to come, but will pay in this life too.

Noooooooooooooooo.......ooooooooo.....oooooooo

Please delete this before bcspace see's it....

[_Yoda]

Do you think that the husband would be encouraged to leave the wife? Personally, I don't see that being the case, either. If the brethren advise according to the doctrine, the husband would stay married to the wife, continue keeping his covenants and being active in Church, and if the wife didn't change her ways, the husband would be given another wife who was faithful in the hereafter.

I don't think divorce would be advised in either case. But where the woman is possibly encouraged to be submissive and be more loving, in the case of a man having a wife that stops believing, I believe the strategy would be much different. It would be more in line of using priesthood authority and power to bring about change. I also believe that a man would be made to feel more responsible for letting things getting to that point. Having attended many EQ meetings, the pressure to keep your family in line seems to be routinely emphasized.

How, exactly, would he be encouraged to "use his priesthood authority"? Put her over his knee if she refuses to go to Church?

Seriously, though...would he be encouraged to "order" her to get back in line? And, yes, I do see the men getting an extreme amount of pressure to keep their families in line..that everything is ultimately their responsibility as the priesthood holder. I think that as much emphasis that is given to how the patriarchal order of the Church is often unfair to women, it also takes its toll on the men.

[_Yoda]

Can we get a doctrinal ruling here? Just because it's published in the Ensign does it constitute an official position of the church? I mean this is a published letter from a member and not even written by the FP/Q12. If the woman or man wants a divorce just because their spouse is apostatizing I would think the local clergy will be right there supporting and helping (character witnesses) in making sure the apostate not only pays in the life to come, but will pay in this life too.

There is another thread where Rollo addressed this. I will see if I can find it. According to the Bishops Handbook of Instructions, bishops are counseled to not encourage divorce in these situations.

[_Called2Swerve]

How, exactly, would he be encouraged to "use his priesthood authority"? Put her over his knee if she refuses to go to Church?

I was thinking more like, giving priesthood blessings, doing an apostate purge incantation or anything in which the Bishop and local leaders directed the priesthood holder to do. The woman on the other hand could always get her unbelieving husband's name on a prayer roll.

[_Yoda]

How, exactly, would he be encouraged to "use his priesthood authority"? Put her over his knee if she refuses to go to Church?

I was thinking more like, giving priesthood blessings, doing an apostate purge incantation or anything in which the Bishop and local leaders directed the priesthood holder to do. The woman on the other hand could always get her unbelieving husband's name on a prayer roll.

My idea sounds more fun.

[_Samantabhadra]

Can we get a doctrinal ruling here? Just because it's published in the Ensign does it constitute an official position of the church? I mean this is a published letter from a member and not even written by the FP/Q12. If the woman or man wants a divorce just because their spouse is apostatizing I would think the local clergy will be right there supporting and helping (character witnesses) in making sure the apostate not only pays in the life to come, but will pay in this life too.

Noooooooooooooooo.......ooooooooo.....oooooooo

Please delete this before bcspace see's it....

[_Tchild]

I cannot help but think that your typical Peter priesthood holder would not have the same type of reaction and new submissiveness to his wife and marriage. Nor do I think that the FP/Q12 would endorse this submissive attitude toward an apostate wife.

Think about it logically. A man would have to divorce a person he loves, pay child support, alimony and live without a sexual outlet potentially for years...and for what? Because someone doesn't believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet? Not going to happen.

Worse, how many single and available LDS women would there be for a 30ish, 40ish or 50ish year old man? You would be taking on another marriage to a person who you barely know, raising her kids, dealing with her past divorce issues and baggage...and because the person you now love doesn't believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet?

If you divorced, it would NOT be due the ridiculousness of disbelief, but for some other real and material reason(s).

Mormonism just isn't that important to most of its members.

[_Called2Swerve]

Think about it logically. A man would have to divorce a person he loves, pay child support, alimony and live without a sexual outlet potentially for years...and for what? Because someone doesn't believe that Joseph Smith was a prophet? Not going to happen.

It happens, and some people do put the temple marriage and the possibilities of attaining Celestial glory over whatever love or relationship they might have. And many TBM women are clearly confused about what it is they should love. Women all the time give testimony how they admire and love the fact that their husband honors his priesthood. This is the true standard of a good man anything less is failure in their TBM eyes. The same can be said even about politics, yes I know it's shallow, but some men would even divorce their wives if they voted for a Democrat.