Our Story

I met my wife Sharon by following several spiritual promptings. At the time, I was double majoring in physics and molecular biology at BYU and in the process of applying to medical school. I felt impressed that I needed to write a document recording my spiritual experiences. After preparing this document, I felt impressed that I needed to share this document on Facebook. At first, I resisted. I thought that sharing it through that means might lead to misunderstandings. But I followed the impression. Nearly two thousand miles away in the state of Pennsylvania, Sharon—a recent convert to the church but longtime follower of Christ—discovered my document and became interested in meeting me. She too was a seeker of spiritual things. Friendship progressed to dating. Dating to engagement. We married in the Payson, Utah temple shortly before moving to Texas—where I began medical school and she completed her bachellors of science in nursing. We now have our first child and feel deeply grateful for the journey that brought us together.

Why This Course?

Helping individuals and families prepare for exaltation—including being sealed in the temple—is a central purpose of the Lord’s restored Church. I have long found it interesting that stakes often offer self-reliance courses, addiction recovery programs, and emotional resilience classes—yet marriage preparation is not a standard, churchwide offering. Of course, living the gospel itself is powerful preparation for marriage. Still, I believe there is real value in creating intentional space for thoughtful, guided discussion about marriage—especially for youth and young adults who face an unprecedented number of competing and often conflicting messages about relationships, communication, and family life.

Speaking from personal experience, Sharon and I used a marriage preparation book during our courtship that included numerous reflective questions and structured discussion topics. Working through those materials together was tremendously beneficial, helping us address important issues before marriage and align our expectations in meaningful ways.

In creating this course, my goal was to offer a resource specifically tailored to Latter-day Saints—one that provides a structured, gospel-centered way to explore essential topics as individuals prepare for eternal marriage while walking the Savior’s covenant path.

While I am excited to share this course, I will be the first to acknowledge that it is by no means perfect. And there are many challenges inherent in approaching such vast subject matter—compounded by the complexities of mortal living—in just 14 modules. Your suggestions, comments, experiences, and feedback are welcome and can help make this course better!

How to Use This Course

This course is designed to be ready “out of the box” for flexible use by parents, group discussion facilitators, or individuals preparing for marriage—whether working through it alone or with a significant other. It can be adapted for a variety of settings, including family discussions, youth or young adult groups, and personal study.

The structure of the course intentionally mirrors the format of the Come, Follow Me curriculum. Section headings are framed as doctrinal or relationship principles, anchoring each lesson in eternal truths rather than techniques alone. Throughout the course, teachings are grounded in scripture and reinforced by the counsel of modern prophets and apostles.

Frequent Pause and Reflect moments invite learners to slow down, ponder, and apply what they are studying to their own circumstances. These reflections are designed to encourage meaningful conversation, personal insight, and prayerful consideration—helping learners not only understand the principles being taught, but also begin living them.

Each section also concludes with a small selection of invitations to act. Learners may choose from these suggested goals or follow personal inspiration to create their own. This emphasis is intentional: preparing for marriage goes beyond acquiring information or discussing concepts. It involves developing the habits, patterns, and spiritual qualities that enable joyful, resilient, and eternal family relationships.