Matt. 19:3-9; Eph. 5:25; Titus 2:4; Companion to Your Study of the Book of Mormon Companion, Ludlow, pp. 266-267; Jesus the Christ, Talmage, p. 474; Mormon Doctrine, McConkie, p. 203-4; Ensign, Nov. 1993, p. 17; Doctrines of Salvation, Smith, 2:84; refer in this text to 2 Ne. 7:1
“There may be 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, which seems to be growing everywhere, is not of God, but rather is the work of the adversary of righteousness and peace and truth.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, May 1991, p. 74)
“There are too many broken homes among our own. The love that led to marriage somehow evaporates, and hatred fills its place. Hearts are broken, children weep. Can we not do better? Of course, we can. It is selfishness that brings about most of these tragedies. If there is forbearance, if there is forgiveness, if there is an anxious looking after the happiness of one’s companion, then love will flourish and blossom… . There are good families everywhere. But there are too many who are in trouble. This is a malady with a cure. The prescription is simple and wonderfully effective. It is love. It is plain, simple, everyday love and respect. It is a tender plant that needs nurturing. But it is worth all of the effort we can put into it.” (Gordon B. Hinckley, Ensign, Nov. 1997, p. 69)
“Those marriages performed in our temples, meant to be eternal relationships, then, become the most sacred covenants we can make… . What, then, might be ‘just cause’ for breaking the covenants of marriage? … In my opinion, ‘just cause’ should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationship which is destructive of a person’s dignity as a human being. At the same time, I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply ‘mental distress,’ nor ‘having grown apart,’ nor having ‘fallen out of love.’ This is especially so where there are children.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1993, p. 36)
“Divorce is not part of the gospel plan no matter what kind of marriage is involved. But because men in practice do not always live in harmony with gospel standards, the Lord permits divorce for one reason or another, depending upon the spiritual stability of the people involved. In ancient Israel man had power to divorce their wives for relatively insignificant reasons. (Deut. 24:1-4). Under the most perfect conditions there would be no divorce permitted except where sexual sin was involved. In this day divorces are permitted in accordance with civil statutes, and the divorced persons are permitted by the Church to marry again without the stain of immorality which under a higher system would attend such a course.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:547)
“With divorce rates escalating throughout the world today, it is apparent that many spouses are failing to endure to the end of their commitments to each other… . An enduring [temple] marriage results when both husband and wife regard their union as one of the two most important commitments they will ever make. [The other commitment is membership in the Lord’s Church]. Without a strong commitment to the Lord, an individual is more prone to have a low level of commitment to a spouse… . If Satan can get you to love anything—fun, flirtation, fame, or fortune—more than a spouse or the Lord with whom you have made sacred covenants to endure, the adversary begins to triumph… . When priorities are proper, … they will protect you from cheating—in marriage, in the Church, and in life.” (Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, May 1997, pp. 71-72)