In this week’s lesson, Peter gives guidance to Christians who were exiled in a pagan land 2,000 years ago. He addresses husbands and wives and teaches them how to create God-honoring relationships within their marriage. This is especially remarkable, considering the culture and context of society thousands of years ago.
Peter counsels husbands to be “considerate” as husbands and to “dwell with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman … since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). In the most beautiful way, Biblical scholars explain that the word Peter uses for “honor” here means “a valuing by which the price is fixed.” This shows the remarkable value of women in God’s eyes and teaches us that the value of every child of God is worth the death of His Son, Jesus Christ. What a profound and humbling thought!
“The Family: A Proclamation to the World” echoes Peter’s teachings about men and women honoring one another in marriage: “Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. … In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners.”
Of this, Elder Soares taught:
“I testify to you that as we—women and men—work together in a true and equal partnership, we will enjoy the unity taught by the Savior as we fulfill the divine responsibilities in our marriage relationships. I promise you, in the name of Christ, that hearts will be “knit together in unity and in love one towards another,” we will find more joy in our journey to eternal life, and our capacity to serve one another and with one another will multiply significantly.”