“You can’t pray for a celestial marriage if you’re living a terrestrial life.”
– Tad Callister
“Being happily and successfully married is generally not so much a matter of marrying the right person as it is being the right person.”
– Howard W. Hunter
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“One good yardstick as to whether a person might be the right one for you is this: In her presence, do you think your noblest thoughts, do you aspire to your finest deeds, do you wish you were better than you are?”
– Ezra Taft Benson
“Although his time is not always our time, we can be sure that the Lord keeps His promises.”
– Henry B. Eyring
“Everywhere in nature we are taught the lessons of patience and waiting. We want things a long time before we get them, and the fact that we want them a long time makes them all the more precious when they come.”
– Joseph F. Smith
“I know you’ve been waiting to hear me talk about marriage. I don’t want to disappoint you. Brethren: Wake up! Sisters: Don’t walk around looking like men. Put some lipstick on. It’s that simple. I don’t know why we complicate things. Don’t look for perfection. Life is a process of becoming perfect. Your companion helps you on that journey. Come unto Christ and be perfected in Him.”
– M. Russell Ballard
“Now, just one word to those of our single brethren who follow the deception that they first have to find the ‘perfect woman’ before they can enter into serious courting or marriage. My beloved brethren, may I remind you, if there were a perfect woman, do you really think she would be interested in you?”
– Dieter F. Uchtdorf
“Since faith in the timing of the Lord may be tried, let us learn to say not only, ‘Thy will be done,’ but patiently also, ‘Thy timing be done,’ but when your heart is aching – perhaps you’re not yet married and you desire to be – it would be wise to also say, ‘Thy timing be done.'”
– Neal A. Maxwell
Regarding dating: “Don’t ask what am I doing wrong. Ask what more can I do that is right.”
– Kristen Oaks
“I realize there are many reasons why you may be hesitating to take that step of getting married. If you are concerned about providing financially for a wife and family, may I assure you that there is no shame in a couple having to scrimp and save. It is generally during these challenging times that you will grow closer together as you learn to sacrifice and to make difficult decisions. Perhaps you are afraid of making the wrong choice. To this I say that you need to exercise faith. Find someone with whom you can be compatible. Realize that you will not be able to anticipate every challenge which may arise, but be assured that almost anything can be worked out if you are resourceful and if you are committed to making your marriage work. Perhaps you are having a little too much fun being single, taking extravagant vacations, buying expensive cars and toys, and just generally enjoying the carefree life with your friends. I’ve encountered groups of you running around together, and I admit that I’ve wondered why you aren’t out with the young ladies. Brethren, there is a point at which it’s time to think seriously about marriage and to seek a companion with whom you want to spend eternity. If you choose wisely and if you are committed to the success of your marriage, there is nothing in this life which will bring you greater happiness. When you marry, brethren, you will wish to marry in the house of the Lord. For you who hold the priesthood, there should be no other option. Be careful lest you destroy your eligibility to be so married. You can keep your courtship within proper bounds while still having a wonderful time.”
– Thomas S. Monson
“There are many single adults in the Church well beyond their early adult years. While finding their present life different than they had anticipated, they keep the law of chastity. It can be a trial of their faith. I express my deep respect and admiration for these disciples of Christ.”
– Neil L. Andersen
“Be worthy of the mate you choose. Respect him or her. Give encouragement to him or her. Love your companion with all your heart. This will be the most important decision of your life, the individual whom you marry. There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley
“Boys seldom criticize a girl for using too little makeup. Sometimes they say, ‘She’s a nice girl, but I wish she’d dress up, and she uses to much makeup.’ To be overdressed, to be gaudily dressed, to be dressed to look sexy, to be overdecorated is bad taste, to say the least. The young woman is smart who can don just enough powder and lipstick to convince the fellows it isn’t makeup at all, but the ‘real you.'”
– Spencer W. Kimball
“The Lord has His own timetable for His children. In life’s experiences, including marriage, parenthood, and may other things, each timetable will be different. We must have faith and trust in the Lord to know that He is there and that He loves us. All promised blessings will one day be yours.”
– Dallin H. Oaks
“To you single [people] who wish to be married, I repeat what I recently said in a meeting for singles in this Tabernacle: ‘Do not give up hope. And do not give up trying. But do give up being obsessed with it. The chances are that if you forget about it and become anxiously engaged in other activities, the prospects will brighten immeasurably… I believe that for most of us the best medicine for loneliness is work, service in behalf of others. I do not minimize your problems, but I do not hesitate to say that there are many others whose problems are more serious than are yours. Reach out to serve them, to help them, to encourage them. There are so many boys and girls who fail in school for want of a little personal attention and encouragement. There are so many elderly people who live in misery and loneliness and fear for whom a simple conversation would bring a measure of hope and happiness.”
– Gordon B. Hinckley
