President Henry B. Eyring joined international religious leaders in the Vatican for a colloquium on how men and women compliment each other in marriage on November 17-19.To the religious leaders gathered around him, Pres. Eyring presented “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” Of the proclamation, Eyring said, “Those are things people must do for us to have a renaissance of happy marriages and productive families. Such a renaissance will require people to try for the ideal—and to keep trying even when the happy result is slow to come and when loud voices mock the effort. We can and must stand up and defend the institution of marriage between a man and a woman.” Anita Olszowka, an administrative nurse at BYU-Hawaii thought the colloquium provided an ideal setting for religious leaders to get together to discuss families and marriage. “I think it is very important for church leaders to get together with people who think the same as we do, that we have a presence in the world today. Unless we do so, I think we’ll lose the basic concepts of the family and our purpose of being here on the earth. I think, in the world, such is being hidden and overpowered by people who think differently than we do,” said Olszowka. Newly married Nick Grayson, a sophomore in mathematics from Colorado, said, “Marriage gives you a continuous opportunity to serve. There is always someone you know you can do things for to make them feel loved. Marriage in the ideal situation for becoming selfless.” Pres. Eyring emphasized the selfless nature of marriage. “Where there is selfishness, natural differences of men and women often divide. Where there is unselfishness, differences become complementary and provide opportunities to help and build each other. Spouses and family members can lift each other and ascend together if they care more about the interests of the other than their own interests, ” said Eyring. President Henry B. Eyring said that upon meeting his wife-to-be he thought, “If I could only be with her, I could become every good thing I ever wanted to be.” Eyring said, “Most remarkable to me has been the fulfillment of the hope I felt the day I met my wife. I have become a better person as I have loved and lived with her. We have been complementary beyond anything I could have imagined. Her capacity to nurture others grew in me as we became one. My capacity to plan, direct and lead in our family grew in her as we became united in marriage. I realize now that we grew together into one, slowly lifting and shaping each other year after year. As we absorbed strength from each other, it did not diminish our personal gifts. Our differences combined as if they were designed to create a better whole.” Hiryu Shima, a sophomore studying graphic design from Japan, is grateful for eternal marriage. “Eternal marriage is good. I don’t have to feel alone all the time because I know I am with my wife forever,” said Shima.
Writer: Samone Isom ~ Multimedia Journalist
