Growing up my parents lived from paycheck to paycheck and we moved often. Most of my life I lived in a trailer, that my parents would move every few years...we never owned a home. My dad taught us to work hard and he was always a hard worker, but I always had a secret goal to never live from paycheck to paycheck and to own a home.

Little did I know that my father would die when I was only 19. I had started working for the State of Utah at age 18 and so at age 20 I was able to purchase the first home that my family had ever lived in. My mother lived in that home for 30 years, until she could not live on her own anymore and came to live with us in our home.

Money was something I did not want to fear…

When I got married, I did not even want to get a debit card, because I had such a fear of going into debt. I also didn’t want money to be a reason for argument between me and my husband. We have made financial mistakes but have learned from them.  Our financial stability, credit and overall ability to manage our money has improved. When I went in to fund our last vehicle, the bank employee told me I had the highest credit score she had ever seen and we are not wealthy people (823 credit score).

I absolutely agree with the following statement:

“In reality, your money problems may not be money problems at all. As Dr. Bernard E. Poduska points out…, most financial problems are actually behavior problems… Only by examining that interaction can family members establish a successful financial management program.”

It is so important to understand the concepts taught by Poduska. Marriage is hard enough without the worry of financial problems.

Money worries rank among the highest causes of marital stress and divorce. Yet few people recognize that their spending habits might have more to do with their emotions, their upbringing and their communication skills than with their income.

In Till Debt Do Us Part, Dr. Bernard Poduska helps you learn:

• Where your financial problems might have their roots
• How to manage debt when it seems out of control
• How to recognize and overcome addictive spending
• How to make it through the month with the money you have
• How to plan for the future.

Church Leaders teach of the importance of being debt free

• Elder L. Tom Perry

"The Time has come to get our houses in order'"
President Gordon B. Hinckley

“The current cries we hear coming from the great and spacious building tempt us to compete for ownership in the things of this world. … Often these items are purchased with borrowed money without giving any thought to providing for our future needs. …

“… Wisely we have been counseled to avoid debt as we would avoid the plague. …

“… A well-managed family does not pay interest—it earns it” (in Conference Report, Sept.–Oct. 1995, 45, 47; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 35–36).

Scriptures teach us the pitfalls of debt!

Proverbs 22:7 (Links to an external site.)

“The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.”

Romans 13:8 (Links to an external site.)

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.”

Mosiah 4:28 (Links to an external site.)

“And I would that ye should remember, that whosoever among you borroweth of his neighbor should return the thing that he borroweth, according as he doth agree, or else thou shalt commit sin; and perhaps thou shalt cause thy neighbor to commit sin also.”

Doctrine and Covenants 64:27 (Links to an external site.)

“Behold, it is said in my laws, or forbidden, to get in debt to thine enemies.”

Doctrine and Covenants 104:78 (Links to an external site.)

“And again, verily I say unto you, concerning your debts—behold it is my will that you shall pay all your debts.”

Doctrine and Covenants 136:25 (Links to an external site.)

“If thou borrowest of thy neighbor, thou shalt restore that which thou hast borrowed; and if thou canst not repay then go straightway and tell thy neighbor, lest he condemn thee.”

I personally have a testimony of staying out of debt and have see how the Gospel of Jesus Christ has blessed us in this area and improves our family, generation to generation.

Fixing our financial behavior issues, will allow us to focus on the most important parts of our marriage. Families are meant to be eternal and the Lord is giving us all the help we need to strengthen our family relationships if we will listen, obey and make internal changes.

May we all remember what Hugh B Brown said:Marriage is and should be a sacrament. The word sacrament is variously defined, but among Christian people it signifies a religious act or ceremony, solemnized by one having proper authority. It is a pledge, or solemn covenant, a spiritual sign or bond between the contracting parties themselves and between them and God. That marriage was instituted and sanctified by the Lord himself is shown by the following quotations:

“And the Lord God said, it is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” (Gen. 2:18, 24 (Links to an external site.).)