When a Spouse Is Less Activeby Miriam Caldwell | More from this Blogger 22 Jun 2006 09:26 PM One difficult thing that many members of the church face is when their spouses choose to stop attending church. This can happen for a variety of reasons. You may have joined without your spouse and so you attend church alone, or your spouse may be going through a difficult time in his or her life. It can be difficult to continue to attend church on your own. However it is important that you continue to do so. Your example and faith will influence your spouse for the better. Here are some tips that might make it easier. 1) Attend church regularly. It is easier to keep a good habit up than it is to start going again. If you go on a regular basis, your spouse will know what to expect each Sunday morning. Your example of making it a priority will bear simple testimony of the importance of the church to you. 2) Take your children with you to church. This is important for your children so that they can continue to grow in the gospel. It may seem difficult to take your children all by yourself, especially when they are toddlers. Children learn behavior at a young age, and they will enjoy church more if they go on a regular basis. You may ask other ward members for help if you need it. I am sure that they would be willing to help you. 3) Continue to have family home evening, scripture study and family prayer together. If your spouse does not want to participate then do not pressure her to do so. You may want to plan family home evenings around lessons, which are not as gospel oriented because this will give her the opportunity to continue to bond with the family in a positive way. 4) Do not nag your spouse to attend church. This can cause feelings of resentment to grow between you. Be accepting and supportive of your spouse. You may want to invite him to attend church with you occasionally, but do so in a non-threatening way. These suggestions will help bring a spirit of peace into your home. Sometimes spouses return to church activity after awhile; sometimes they do not. This can be a heartbreaking experience for any family. Remember to pray for your spouse, and continue to love and support him. I have seen people change because of the good examples their families set. What are some things you have done when your spouse has chosen to stop attending church? Learn more about Miriam Caldwell  Miriam is a SAHM mom of three children. She has a daughter who is seven, and two sons, four and two. She loves being a parent and spending time with her children. Relevantlds tags User Comments  babydawn (7008) 26 Jun 2006 04:50 PMMy husband is fully active, thank goodness, but his father was not. His mother still faithfully attended church every Sunday with her kids. Last year for Mother's Day, my husband was asked to speak in Sacrament Meeting. He thanked his mother for all of those hard years of leading the family in a religious sense on her own. It made a great impact on his life. If your husband or wife is inactive or a non-member, here are some encouraging words. 1 Corinthians 7:13-14 "And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband:" Then, in the March 2006 Ensign First Presidency message, by President Gordon B. Hinckley: "Support, sustain, uphold, and bless your husbands with your love and your encouragement; and the Lord will bless you. Even if they are not members of the Church, bless them with kindness and reach out to them every good way that you can. The chances are that they will become members of the Church before they reach the time the die. It may be a long time and you may have a lot to put up with, but if that happens, you will think it is all worth it."  Miriam Caldwell (8030) 26 Jun 2006 05:55 PMThose are great comments. Thanks for sharing! It is true that you should support your spouse through the time that they are not attending church. My husband's aunt was active for years and years before her husband joined just a few years ago. The family never expected it to happen, but they were all happy when he did. It seemed like a miracle. Community Tags church, lds, marriage Discuss this article
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