MARRIAGE
For the past several weeks, a beautiful young couple has been attending our Trade Fair ward. Getting to know them and learning their story was a real treat. Jhuel (Jewel) is from Jamaica, has been attending BYU Idaho for the past couple of years and will graduate next year to teach Spanish in secondary schools). Josh is from Nigeria, is an aritist and expert in hair braiding and lashes (he prepared Jhuel's hair and lashes for their wedding day). Jhuel & Josh met online. After communicating for some time, they decided to meet. The easiest location for both of them with Jhuel's student visa was Ghana. So, a year ago they met in Ghana and became engaged. Their relationship continued apart for the next year. In mid July, they met again in Ghana to be married. The process is lengthy. They must submit documentation to the city office and wait for a minimum of 21 days for approval to be married civilly. This is what they needed to be sealed in the Accra temple.
Last Thursday, they asked us to attend their civil ceremony and be a witness. It was a very interesting process. We arrived to a small, dark, old and worn out building with no air conditioning (which I'm sure this young couple did not even notice, as today was going to be a very special day!). After waiting about 1 hr, we were ushered into a stuffy conference room with a table too large for the space and chairs stacked upon each other and crammed together around the table. Jhuel and Josh were asked to sit close to the front with witnesses down one side of the table friends on the other side of the table, along with many many others joining by zoom on a Jhuel's phone, while using a hotspot from my phone.
Eventually, the assembly man arrived (someone certified and assigned to certain roles within a community) and the ceremony began. He held in his hand a very old and tattered book, with a bookmark in place. He opened and began to read the outlined speech, much of which talked about the punishment of marrying anyone else while this marriage was still in force, and that bigamy is a very serious crime. The now officially married couple and witnesses, signed the certificate and the ceremony was finished. We all went to lunch and ate traditional Ghanaian food of rice, beans and chicken or fish.
The true joy came later that day, when Jhuel and Josh were sealed for time and all eternity in the Accra Ghana temple.
"Here appears one of the foremost blessings of the temple marriage. Those who have been sealed in the temple have their eyes fixed upon eternity. They dare not forfeit the promised blessings. The family is to them an everlasting possession."
BRIDE PRICE
A custom that exists and is important in many cultures around the world is the Bride Price. The Bride Price is a payment made by the groom or his family to the family of the bride. This payment is made as a sign of respect and gratitude to the bride's family for taking care of and raising their daughter well. The amount of the bride price varies widely from country to country and family to family. In some cultures, rather than pay the bride price with money, it is paid in other valuable assets such as jewelry, land or livestock. The payment is seen as a way of cementing the relationship between the two families and also seen as good fortune for the newlyweds.
As with all customs, difficulties may arise. The rising generation can choose to accept or reject such traditions. The bride price can be grossly manipulated so as to cause financial harm to the couple and bad feelings. This was not the true intention of the bride price. It was started as a way to foster good will and support between the families. Hopefully, those who continue with this tradition will find the deeper meaning of goodness that lies within the custom.
NAQ
There is a darling gal in the Human Resource department on our floor and her name is Naq. When I asked her about her name origin, she said: "Never ask questions!" At first I thought I may have offended her by asking the meaning of her name. Then she explained, "I was the last child for my parents and a little bit of a surprise. They worried about this unexpected child, but soon received the answers from above. Never question God's plan. To remember this lesson they named me Naq... Never Ask Questions." 😇 God's plan is always better than ours!
I'm grateful for the knowledge of a loving Father in Heaven that watches over and guides me as I ask in faith. Of course, I do not understand so many things in the world, especially suffering. Why are some so much more fortunate than others? Why is depression and anxiety rampant among this generation? What can be done to alleviate the suffering, sadness and depression?
The only answer I have is continued faith. Faith in Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement that can save and heal and bless all humanity. One day, all will be made right. This I do know.
💓💛💚
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