ATLANTA, Georgia — With a passion for strengthening marriages, LDS marriage leaders from around the world are coming together to organize their efforts to help build stronger and more fulfilling marriage relationships within the LDS community.

With the vision of Sean Brotherson, PhD, Assistant Professor and Extension Family Life Specialist at North Dakota State University; Maurine Proctor, editor of Meridian Magazine, and Wally Goddard, CFLE, Extension Family Life Specialist at the University of Arkansas, this new organization is prepared to support individuals and couples in preparing for, developing, and building healthier and happier marriage relationships.

One of the first efforts of the LDS Marriage Network is their first annual Smart Marriages Pre-conference in connection with the national Smart Marriages conference held annually. The LDS Marriage Network welcomes all those who will be attending the Smart Marriages conference, as well as those who would like to attend the free LDS Marriage Network Pre-conference on Thursday, June 22. You can join many others who will be part of history in the making — whether your interest is in promoting stronger marriages, or simply in strengthening and celebrating your own.

(The Smart Marriages conference will be held in Atlanta, Georgia this year, June 22 – 25, 2006. For more information about the Smart Marriages conference, visit www.SmartMarriages.com.)

The details of the LDS Marriage Network Smart Marriages Pre-conference are as follows:

What? 1st Annual LDS Marriage Network Smart Marriages Pre-conference When? Thursday, June 22, 2006, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (as well as other networking sessions during the rest of the Smart Marriages conference)

Where?Marriott Marquis Hotel (Atlanta, Georgia)

Who? For all people interested in strengthening LDS marriages

Why?
  • To gather members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are interested in pursuing their passions for strengthening marriages
  • To share a vision of the LDS Marriage Network in strengthening marriages
  • To facilitate sharing of current marriage building efforts
  • To impart what is currently known about LDS marriages
  • To provide education on key marital issues
  • To network with fellow marriage leaders to brainstorm positive, engaging, and innovative action to strengthen the marriages of our 11 million LDS members worldwide
  • To be a catalyst for empowering ongoing collaborative efforts to strengthen marriage

To pre-register for this free LDS conference, or to sign up for information updates regarding the LDS Marriage Network, send an email to: LD************@St*******************.com. If you have additional questions, feel free to contact Dr. Sean E. Brotherson at se*************@nd**.edu (701) 231-6143.

For the Pre-conference Agenda visit: https://www.strengtheningmarriage.com/smartmarriage-agenda.html

For the LDS Marriage Network “Mission Statement and Guiding Principles,” visit: https://www.strengtheningmarriage.com/smartmarriage-missionstatement.html

We encourage you to share this information with anyone who would like to be a part of this great effort to strengthen marriages. President Spencer W. Kimball has provided a vision for all of what is possible in marriage, “Real lasting happiness is possible, and marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can conceive. This is within the reach of every couple, every person” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Oneness in Marriage,” Ensign, Oct. 2002, 42).

Coming soon to Meridian Magazine (from the LDS Marriage Network) — the “LDS Newlyweds’ Smart Start Kit,” a power pack of articles with action items for easy application to help any marriage get off to a great start!

Also coming soon — the online resource…www.LDSMarriageNetwork.org.