Divorce?

Marriage is ordained of God and central to our Heavenly Father's eternal plan. The celestial law of marriage treats the bonds of marriage as permanent. The Lord taught, "From the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder (Mark 10:6-9.)
President Hinckley said that "There is now and again a legitimate cause for divorce. I am not one to say that it is never justified. But I say without hesitation that this plague among us is not of God."
Similarly, Elder Oaks taught that "When a marriage is dead and beyond hope of resuscitation, it is needful to have a means to end it."
 
President Faust said, "I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply "mental distress" nor "personal differences," nor "having grown apart," nor "having fallen out of love." This is especially so where there are children."
Researchers have estimated that only about 30% of U.S. couples who divorce actually attempt to reconcile before divorcing. Research has also shown that 80% of couples may see improvement in their relationship after visiting a marriage counselor, and almost half say all of their major problems were resolved.



I have strong feelings about if or when a marriage should end in divorce. I love what the above prophets have said regarding divorce, and firmly believe that a marriage should not end, especially if done by the sealing powers of the temple, unless there is abuse or otherwise concern for danger of either spouse or children. If the marital issues are related to personal differences or not being in love with the spouse anymore, I agree completely with what President Faust has said. I feel that being in a marriage is a lot of work. It's not always easy, and loving your spouse should be something you should work for every day. If you are trying whole-heatedly to love and support them, then with the companionship of the spirit, you will be able to find a way to make things work.
I think that sometimes it is a choice that needs to be made every day to love your spouse. What made you fall in love once is still inside of you. I also have a strong testimony of using the Atonement as a mechanism for strengthening a marriage. Through daily prayer and scripture study together with your spouse, the adversary will have a much harder time in his attempts to destroy your marriage. When a marriage is between you, your spouse, and God, Heaven will accompany you! Praying for your spouse is another way to strengthen that love for them, as well as praying for the patience or means to love them through times of struggle.

Here is a sweet prayer/poem I found:


And here is a talk by Elder Oaks that I loved:
Divorce, Elder Dallin H. Oaks