The Truth About Intimacy

                     The Truth about Intimacy

            I recently had a conversation with my son that may surprise, or possibly bring judgment or a feeling of being uncomfortable among the LDS community. I brought up the subject of sex and intimacy between my son and his future wife. And thought there was a little squirming my son and I are very open, so by the end of the conversation he wasn't squirming and even asking question. The reason I felt that this was important was because I believed that many are ignorant in understanding sex within a marriage and how to bring intimacy into their marriage in a sacred  and important way. I believe many young adults feel a sense of shame or ickiness around this subject, so this confusion can cause problems in a new marriage. I also am saddened by what the world teaches about this. And I would rather my son hear it from me than the media, or friends. This week I read an article by Sean E. Brotherson titled, Fulfilling the Sexual Stewardship in Marriage. I really enjoyed reading this article because it tackled a subject that I had previously been speaking about with my son. In the article Brotherson says this, "As Latter-day Saints, most of the dialogue that we hear about sexual matters consists of two primary categories:

(1) The incessant chatter and noise of the world, Satan, and related sources that constantly hype and sensationalize sexual intimacy with distorted images of sensuality and misplaced or twisted values and expressions of sexuality.

(2) The powerful and compelling warnings of prophetic leaders and caring Church members who seek to steer us away from pornography, sexual exploitation, and immorality in sexual matters.

But there is a third part of the dialogue, seldom heard or discussed, and yet it comprises perhaps the most important and powerful portion of our understanding about sexual intimacy. It is the dialogue about the sanctity, power and emotional depth of proper sexual intimacy in the companionship of a married husband and wife." (pg.2)

President Hugh B. Brown, who served as a counselor in the First Presidency, wrote the following about sexual intimacy in his book You and Your Marriage:
“Thousands of young people come to the marriage altar almost illiterate insofar as this basic and fundamental function is concerned. The sex instinct is not something which we need to fear or be ashamed of. It is God-given and has a high and holy purpose … We want our young people to know that sex is not an unmentionable human misfortune, and certainly it should not be regarded as a sordid but necessary part of marriage. There is no excuse for approaching this most intimate relationship in life without true knowledge of its meaning and its high purpose.” (Bookcraft, 1960, pp. 73, 76)

       I love how this quote testifies truth of the role of intimacy in a marriage. I have the desire to help my children understand more clearly this role in their future marriages. I plan on sharing this article with my son. And with my daughters when appropriate. In hopes to educate them on the spiritual nature of intimacy within a marriage. Below is the link to the article for your own viewing. 

https://byui.instructure.com/courses/36384/files/4914978/download?wrap=1

References:

Brotherson, S.E. (2003). "Fulfilling the Sexual Stewardship in Marriage." Meridian Magazine, www.meridianmagazine.com