Endowed Vs. Non-endowed

[Martain]

Since I'd already read this quote earlier today while reading through the Eternal Marriage Student Manual and it quickly came to mind upon reading your question.

The Right Person
President Gordon B. Hinckley

“Be worthy of the mate you choose. Respect him or her. Give encouragement to him or her. Love your companion with all your heart. This will be the most important decision of your life, the individual whom you marry.

“There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time.

“Choose a companion of your own faith. You are much more likely to be happy. Choose a companion you can always honor, you can always respect, one who will complement you in your own life, one to whom you can give your entire heart, your entire love, your entire allegiance, your entire loyalty. . . .

“. . . I could not wish for any of you more than I have had in my companionship with my beautiful wife.

“A good marriage requires time. It requires effort. You have to work at it. You have to cultivate it. You have to forgive and forget. You have to be absolutely loyal one to another. Most of you will marry and have children. They will become the source of your greatest pride and happiness. . . .

“All of this can come to pass if you make this most important decision, one guided by prayer as well as instinct, of choosing a dear companion who will be yours through thick and thin forever, throughout all eternity” ( “Life’s Obligations,” Ensign, Feb. 1999, 2, 4 ).

[log2]

Originally Posted by Bini

Do you considered it "settling for less" when an endowed person marries a non-endowed person?

If I were to do it and not by revelation, then I would be settling for less. However, that is not necessarily the case for anyone else.

[clarissa]

I wouldn't say that they are settling for a lesser PERSON but I would say that marriage in the Temple is the highest, most exalting form of marriage that exists on earth. The person they are marrying may be a wonderful person, but it is sad that they may not choose to be sealed for eternity in the Temple. That says nothing about the worth of the people getting married, though.

[sunshinewai]

I'm endowed and married to a Non endowed Man.. I don't think of it as settling for less.. rather preparing for the BEST He has the desire to enter the Holy Temple and is on track with preparing to do so, its a blessing to accompany him We are both excited

[RMGuy]

Short answer:

No

-RM

[IRealtor007]

Nope. I don't think it's settling for less. ... Just because you each have a temple marriage doesnt mean its going to turn out. Its working together.. Having things in common. To me thats more important. But thats me. I havent been raised in the church my whole life either..

[BrendaM]

Originally Posted by Bini

First, this topic is not meant to offend those that are in this situation. Recently, I attended a family wedding where one spouse is endowed and the other is not. I'm very happy for both of them and wish them the best but I do have an overall question as an afterthought that I wanted to toss out there.


Do you considered it "settling for less" when an endowed person marries a non-endowed person?


I see a slight difference between this scenario and a LDS marrying a non-LDS because being a LDS does not necessarily mean that you are endowed. From my understanding, when you become endowed, you are accepting certain responsibilities and are held at a higher ante when sins are committed than those that are not endowed or are non-LDS. I understand we can't choose who we are attracted to but we can choose how we handle that attraction, whether we pursue it or not.

Bini, I agree, this is a great forum to ask these types of questions! For us to give a personal opinion, without attack on anyone.
For me personally, my answer is yes to the question. I'm a "mature" female who has never been married. I have however, before I came back to church, been in a couple of live-in relationships (not the same, I know). As a single, I would not date anyone that is not LDS (although I have had several friends and family members try)...I know, don't say it, but that's my choice.
If the person I was dating/going to marry was not currently endowed, because of new converstion/reactivation, then I would wait till we could marry in the temple.

On your second statement, I disagree, we can choose who we are attracted to.