Have you thought about being married?  Are you married now? Do you ever wonder how you can have a lasting marriage? Are you scared of divorce? Do you want to re-marry but are unsure it's right?

Think about how much work you put into preparing for a career.  Most people also carefully plan for major purchases.  Weddings as well often take a large amount of planning and preparation. Think about what happens after the honeymoon, though. Have you simply planned your wedding, or have you prepared for your future? When it comes to preparing for your marriage, something that will affect your entire future and your family's, preparation is often not part of the picture.  It's time for this to change.we are advocates for thorough marriage preparation and education as one of the keys to preparing for a lasting marriage.  Here are some important steps in the process:

Primary Steps in the Marriage Preparation Process

                    Step 1     Lay the Foundation: Before You Begin
                    Step 2     Get Yourself Ready: Starting Your Search
                    Step 3     Walk Carefully: Becoming a Couple
                    Step 4     Explore Compatibility: Learning Together
                    Step 5     Come to Commitment: You and Your Parents
                    Step 6     Move Forward: The Wedding and Marriage

1.  Understand and develop your own character and learn each other's      character qualities, such as truthfulness, trustworthiness, and      confidence

2.  Develop great marriage partner skills , including      being responsible for your words and actions

3.  Develop a deep and caring friendship with a      potential partner

4.  Assess your ability to be a compatible and harmonious couple

5.  Develop excellent communication skills

6.  Bring the gift of chastity to your relationship

7.  Build family connections and unity

8.  Consult about how you, as a couple, will manage      and handle difficult issues, such as money,      disagreements, family issues, and so on

9.  Communicate about your expectations and roles       within the family and with children

10. Establish a spiritual bond between you that you        intend to last for all eternity

Marriage Preparation Resources

*To learn more in-depth about each step, see Both Eyes Open: The Adventure of Relationships and Marriage Can Be Forever--Preparation Counts!.