Mormon Quotes

Divorce

David O. McKay
Such parents may be sincere, even if misguided; but in most cases the desire not to have children has its birth in vanity, passion, and selfishness. Such feelings are the seeds sown in early married life that produce a harvest of discord, suspicion, estrangement, and divorce.
David O. McKay, Prophet David O. McKay, Relief Society Magazine, v. 3, no. 7, July 1916
Spencer W. Kimball
Justifiable divorces are rare. I know there are many who feel that they have been justified, and there may have been some who were justified. We are not talking to them or of them. We are talking of the great majority that could have been salvaged, could have been saved if we had tried and tried hard enough.
Spencer W. Kimball, Spencer W. Kimball, The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, pp. 314‑315
First Presidency
It is our further feeling that married couples should seek inspiration and wisdom from the Lord that they may exercise discretion in solving their marital problems, and that they may be permitted to rear their children in accordance with the teachings of the gospel.
First Presidency, First Presidency (David O. McKay, Hugh B. Brown, N. Eldon Tanner), The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, Office of the First Presidency, April 14, 1969
Janice Graham
Our Declaration of Independence says that we have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But should people have a right to pursue their personal idea of happiness by any and every means? Of course not. Our society has all kinds of restrictions and outlaws a number of behaviors such as rape, murder, stealing, etc. The writers of the Declaration on which our country is founded meant that all people have the right to pursue happiness by lawful and moral means. [...] Increasingly, since the 1920s, the original meaning of the pursuit of happiness has been redefined, even high‑jacked, to include unlimited sexuality, the opposite of virtuous family life. We've seen how co‑habitation, out‑of wedlock pregnancy, divorce, abortion, homosexuality and the like, have become de‑stigmatized, then championed, all in the name of individual sexual freedom, fulfillment, or happiness.
Janice Graham, Standard of Liberty ‑ Stephen Graham and Janice Graham
Janice Graham
In the 1940s C. S. Lewis, in his essay "We Have No 'Right' to Happiness,'" (God in the Dock) discusses this societal trend, adding, "Our sexual impulses are thus being put in a position of preposterous privilege. The sexual motive is taken to condone all sorts of behaviour which, if it had any other end in view, would be condemned as merciless, treacherous and unjust." He is right. If our society did not embrace irresponsible sexual freedom as happiness, but rather the pursuit of classic family life as happiness, a "gay" man's abandonment of his wife and children, an adulterous woman's convenience abortion, a public school teaching children that homosexuality is normal and having a father who objects arrested, a little boy being encouraged by the adults around him to dress and act as a girl in preparation for hormones and surgeries that will confuse and mutilate his healthy young body, and many other behaviors, would not be condoned as they now are, but summarily condemned as merciless, treacherous, and unjust.
Janice Graham, Standard of Liberty ‑ Stephen Graham and Janice Graham, The Pursuit of Happiness and the Fatal Principle
Peggy Fletcher Stack
Fewer than 70 percent of Mormon marriages are intact after 10 years ‑ the lowest percentage among whites citing religious affiliation.
Peggy Fletcher Stack, Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 1991
Tim B. Heaton
The number of LDS marriages intact after 10 years is significant. Most people assume the reason is because Mormons marry young or have too high expectations. However, those Mormons who marry at an older age ‑ defined as any time after 23 ‑ are much more likely to divorce. There is a great deal of pressure on "older" Mormon singles to marry and they might not make good choices.
Tim B. Heaton, Salt Lake Tribune, August 9, 1991
Mark A. Taylor
Utah has the highest birthrate and the largest families in America. More than 50% of all births are by teenage mothers, with seven of ten out of wedlock, and it has one of the highest divorce rates in the nation.
Mark A. Taylor, Affirmation: Sin & Death in Mormon Country: A Latter‑day Tragedy
© 2011