Within the collection of LDS marriage poetry, you'll find notable works such as "This Momentary Marriage" and "Count the sides" by John Piper. For those uncertain about where to begin in selecting a poem, these two make an excellent starting point. Additionally, here are some more LDS marriage poems for your consideration. They will inspire reflections on your marriage and eternity. Should you be on the lookout for something distinctly unique, the poem "Count the sides, there are three sides to every coin." is worth exploring.
John Piper
Many LDS men struggle to keep their wives happy and keep their marriages strong. This can be a challenge, but John Piper has a solution for any marriage crisis. In his book, Desiring God, he exhorts men to be godly servant leaders in their homes. His advice to wives includes being gentle and loving. In the end, it will pay off in the long run, as your husband will be happier and more grateful for the work you put in.
"This Momentary Marriage" focuses on the theological significance of marriage, while "Velvet Steel" highlights the emotional side of marriage. The poems in this book were written by John Piper for his wife Noel, over the course of their 42-year marriage. The poet aims to fan the readers' affections for their spouses and for Christ, who is the Creator of marriage.
This Momentary Marriage
In This Momentary Marriage, LDS author Stephen Piper describes marriage as a covenant-keeping act of God. As the people of Christ, we must live our lives to make clear to each other what the gospel is all about, and what we will be doing by staying married. It is not about staying in love, but about being true to the covenant and putting Christ's love on display in real life.
Many LDS leaders point to the polyandry of biblical characters to justify polygamy, but the Bible only rarely mentions it. Further, Smith never justified polyandry. Nevertheless, he does explain his motivations for marrying a woman. During the time that Smith was alive, none of these women divorced their first husbands. Instead, they continued living with their civil spouses while married to Smith. The purpose of marriage for these women was to offer salvation, not to gain material success. In the context of this poem, women would have wanted to marry a righteous man who was a good husband, and unworthy men would have left.
The Lord commanded plural marriage in the latter days, and the principle of plural marriage was accepted by Joseph Smith and his followers. In Nauvoo, the principle of plural marriage raised the seed of God for the LDS Church. Today, a substantial number of members are descended from these plural marriages. Although many scholars have written about plural marriage, the Church acknowledges their work and uses it with permission.
The Latter-day Saints understood that they were living in the latter days, and ancient principles would be restored. Plural marriage is one of those principles, but it was not a normal practice. It can only be supported if God had commanded it. This Momentary Marriage is a LDS marriage poem and a good choice for many people. It is important to be aware of the principles of plural marriage, and to live by them.
Velvet Steel
While John Piper's book This Momentary Marriage focuses on the theological meaning of marriage, his collection of marriage poems, Velvet Steel, shows the emotional side of a marriage. He shares poems that he wrote for his wife Nol over the course of their first 42 years of marriage. Piper hopes these poems fan readers' affection for their spouses and the Maker of marriage. Here are a few examples of the poems included in this book.
