Love of God, Love of Spouse, Similar Process / Lloyd

newlyweds

When we start out as newlyweds we proceed with hope and faith in the process of marriage, often based on the desirable relationships we've witnessed in the lives of others, often our parents’ lives.

faith, to be faith

In another but similar context Elder Boyd K. Packer explains the process of coming to know and love God:

Faith, to be faith, must center around something that is not known. Faith, to be faith, must go beyond that for which there is confirming evidence. Faith, to be faith, must go into the unknown. Faith, to be faith, must walk to the edge of the light, and then a few steps into the darkness. If everything has to be known, if everything has to be explained, if everything has to be certified, then there is no need for faith. Indeed, there is no room for it. (Mine Errand from the Lord,2008, p 61)

insight into developing love

Judy, my wife, often points out that love is not so much an ethereal feeling towards someone as it is concrete action on their behalf--caring service, e.g., doing the dishes. 

“Do you love me” from Fiddler on the Roof (lyrics by Sheldon Hamick) offers a view into the process of developing love:

(Tevye)

Do you love me?

(Golde)

Do I what?

(Tevye)

Do you love me?

(Golde)

Do I love you?

With our daughters getting married

And this trouble in the town

You're upset, you're worn out

Go inside, go lie down!

Maybe it's indigestion

(Tevye)

"Golde I'm asking you a question..."

Do you love me?

(Golde)

You're a fool

(Tevye)

"I know..."

But do you love me?

(Golde)

Do I love you?

For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes

Cooked your meals, cleaned your house

Given you children, milked the cow

After twenty-five years, why talk about love right now?

(Tevye)

Golde, The first time I met you

Was on our wedding day

I was scared

(Golde)

I was shy

(Tevye)

I was nervous

(Golde)

So was I

(Tevye)

But my father and my mother

Said we'd learn to love each other

And now I'm asking, Golde

Do you love me?

(Golde)

I'm your wife

(Tevye)

"I know..."

But do you love me?

(Golde)

Do I love him?

For twenty-five years I've lived with him

Fought him, starved with him

Twenty-five years my bed is his

If that's not love, what is?

(Tevye)

Then you love me?

(Golde)

I suppose I do

(Tevye)

And I suppose I love you too

(Both)

It doesn't change a thing

But even so

After twenty-five years

It's nice to know