Week 11 Intimacy

President Ezra Taft Benson (1899–1994) said, “What does it mean to love someone with all your heart? It means to love with all your emotional feelings and with all your devotion.”

When speaking about fidelity, we often put emphasis on the importance of sexual intimacy as something to safeguard within marriage. Physical intimacy in a marriage is intended for both husband and wife to nurture. 

"In the parable of the talents, Jesus taught that we should improve on whatever has been entrusted to our care. (See Matt. 25:14–30 (Links to an external site.).) And in marriage we are often given joint guardianships, such as children, fidelity, and the day-to-day maintenance of family members." Brent A. Barlow

Just as President Benson speaks of devotion as an expression of loving with your whole heart,  devotion to the intimacy in marriage can be an expression of the deep love that deepen those bonds. One person is not in control of the physical relationship in a marriage, instead it takes a diligent commitment to nurture the relationship. 

Barlow make some suggestions for husbands that include: spending time together, being attentive to your wife's needs, show her affection in a non-sexual way. For wives, he suggests: recognize the needs and aspirations of your husband, spend time together and show affection. 

Intimacy in a marriage goes beyond procreation or recreation.  Barlow explains that, "When we see sexuality as a vital part of marital harmony and happiness, it becomes more than something we simply give or receive. I like to think of it as something a husband and wife can share. It might be called a sexual guardianship."