Husbands and Wives in the Book of Mormon

While there aren’t many examples of husbands and wives in the Book of Mormon, there are I believe several important lessons that we learn from the couples that are described.  For example, the book starts off with one couple, Lehi and Sariah, who passed through a stressful time together as they left their home in Jerusalem.  When Sariah struggled with the worry that her sons had been lost, Lehi did what a good husband should do: he did “comfort” Sariah, testifying of his knowledge of the Lord and “the goodness of God” (1 Nephi 5:4-6).  He helped her through those difficult days while still staying true to the witness he had received from the Lord.  One of the roles of a spouse is indeed to comfort the other and to strengthen them in the Lord, especially in times of concern and worry.  Nephi’s wife gave us another example to follow as she showed her concern and love for her husband.  When Nephi was tied up on the boat in the midst of the storm, she gave “tears and prayers” for him while they were on the brink of death (1 Nephi 18:19).  Nephi was indeed delivered, and surely the prayers and pleadings of his wife made a difference in bringing that about.  She taught us that we should earnestly pray for and even cry over one’s spouse in times of difficulty.   

Two Lamanite wives also gave us examples of love and loyalty to follow.  The wife of the father of King Lamoni also showed great concern and love for her husband when she found him in danger: “And she came in unto the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also Aaron and his brethren standing as though they had been the cause of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay them.”  While the command was certainly rash, it was spoken out of fierce loyalty to the husband she loved, and when she couldn’t get anyone to do that, “she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren” (Alma 22:19, 21).  She was determined to protect and avenge her husband, and even if it was out of ignorance that she made these requests, she showed us the kind of loyalty we should have to our spouse.  The wife of Lamoni similarly showed us an example of devotion to one’s spouse.  She watched over her husband when he was in a comatose state for several days, and when Ammon promised her that Lamoni would rise up again, “She watched over the bed of her husband, from that time even until that time on the morrow which Ammon had appointed that he should rise” (Alma 19:1).  What an example of love and devotion!  She stayed up all night watching over her husband whom some said was already dead.  Though she may not have had the gospel yet, she was an example to us of love to one’s spouse.

These Book of Mormon stories give us examples to follow of how we should treat our spouses.  We should show love and concern, loyalty and devotion, comfort and care for our husband or wife,  and I’m grateful especially this day for my faithful wife who does just that for me and our children.    We have had ten years married together today, and I’m grateful for her devotion to me, our family, and the Lord: she has the love of Nephi’s wife and the determination of those Lamanitish women to do what is right and bless our family.