Christ is our Redeemer and has promised that if we go to him, through his Atoning Sacrifice he will lighten our burdens being yoked to him.
Matthew 11: 28-30
28 “...Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in eheart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
1828 Definition of YOKE = YOKE, noun [G., Latin , Gr.]
1. A piece of timber, hollowed or made curving near each end, and fitted with bows for receiving the necks of oxen; by which means two are connected for drawing. From a ring or hook in the bow, a chain extends to the thing to be drawn, or to the yoke of another pair of oxen behind.
YOKE, verb transitive
1. To put a yoke on; to join in a yoke; as, to yoke oxen, or a pair of oxen.
2. To couple; to join with another.
Cassius, you are yoked with a lamb.
So this is how you and the Savior through His atonement are yoked together.
There are days, days that marriage feels like a huge burden. The person you dearly love, seems to speak in a language you don't understand nor understands you. Communication feels stiffened, patience is low, daily trials feel heavy, change is stagnant or slow. Trials and personal imperfections burden marriage. Many people struggle to approach these challenges and find joy and love.
Bruce C Hafen spoke about marriage:
"Every marriage is tested repeatedly by three kinds of wolves. The first wolf is natural adversity. Second, the wolf of their own imperfections will test them. The third wolf is the excessive individualism that has spawned today’s contractual attitudes."
However, there is a dialogue in these difficult moments, that I have forgotten. A remembrance and rejoicing I have neglected. Through baptism and confirmation, I covenanted that I would follow my brother, my Savior (our Savior) Jesus Christ! I would take his name upon me. I would follow his commandments, his example. In that promise that I recommit weekly through the sacrament, I am turning all I have, all I am over to my Lord. Everything. He paid the price for me, for you.
Now, I do not mean to be trite here. I can definitely list the terrible struggles that afflict us in life but do we remember that the Lord suffered everything for us?
He knows the struggle of debt, the joy of paying it off, he felt it all. He knows how it feels to struggle months and months on end with a disabling sickness in pregnancy. He knows the immense pain of giving birth. He knows the depression onset when the dishes are not done and the laundry is piled high. He knows how complacency feels, laziness feels, and even the struggle of when a spouse is not on the same page. For our Lord bore it all, for all of us.
Then the joy that comes through the Lord, willingly, lovingly, plentifully. That immense, beautiful, never-ending joy.
In the beginning of the marriage covenant we are yoking our marriage to the Savior through the covenants we make in the temple.
We together yoked as one complete whole. His sacrifice is seen in tandem. His sacrifice was truly for ALL sorrow and ALL joy. The sorrow is swallowed up, literally and the joy is poured out, overflowing. I think that is a pretty good deal, don't you?
Let's explore covenant marriage again.
Marriage is a covenant by nature:
"Marriage is by nature a covenant, not just a private contract one may cancel at will. Jesus taught about contractual attitudes when he described the “hireling,” who performs his conditional promise of care only when he receives something in return. When the hireling “seeth the wolf coming,” he “leaveth the sheep, and fleeth … because he … careth not for the sheep.” By contrast, the Savior said, “I am the good shepherd, … and I lay down my life for the sheep.”2 Many people today marry as hirelings. And when the wolf comes, they flee. This idea is wrong. It curses the earth, turning parents’ hearts away from their children and from each other." Bruce C Hafen
How can we treat marriage as a covenant?
The Lord Has promised:
Mosiah 18:8
“...as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;”
"When we observe the covenants we make at the altar of sacrifice, we discover hidden reservoirs of strength." Bruce C Hafen
The principle of the number 3 is unity.
Being yoked equally in marriage
is only attainable when we are 1st yoked to Christ.
Gimmel is the third Hebrew letter and number 3.
Anciently they wrote the letter at a foot. It means to carry, lift up,
gather, walk, gives direction, charity; all qualities of Christ.
For more study on the number three and the triangle go to: http://www.keystoneed.com/numbers1.html
When we are Yoked in Christ and trust/obey him completely
equal yoke is attainable and a relief and joy in marriage.
The principle of the equilateral triangle =
When growing closer to Christ we form healthy boundaries,
good attributes that form Christlike love for our spouse.
This can draw us closer togeather. This keeps each of us clear as to how to act in Faith in our marriage. Any marriage. _
So these
Peace be with you my friends and may you have strength to act in faith! -Sharee Jones
For More study please read Bruce C Hafen's conference talk on Marriage: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1996/10/covenant-marriage?lang=eng
For more study for bearing our burdens with Christ and applying this chart to every relationship[ see: April 2013 Conference Talk
By David A Bednar
“Bear up their Burdens with Ease” https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/bear-up-their-burdens-with-ease?lang=eng
What are our loads in life? Are our loads providing spiritual traction? When we are yoked to Christ, what are the loads we are pulling?
The unique burdens in each of our lives help us to rely upon the merits, mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah. - Elder Bednar
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