The statistics are alarming--in the world, in the Church, in temple marriages. Divorce is all too common among today. Of every 100 U.S. couples who marry, 40 to 50 couples will eventually divorce. In this new collection, a variety of mental health professionals and others present their Latter-day Saint perspectives on divorce and related issues. The book discusses women and divorce, men and divorce, children and divorce, dating again, blended families, remarriage, marriage counseling, and so on. All but one of the contributing authors can speak from personal experience about divorce. This book, which will help couples contemplating divorce and men and women who are working through divorce, offers guidance, ideas, comfort and gospel perspective for those struggling through the painful experience of divorce. Author Dr. A. Dean Byrd writes, "After divorce lives can be put back together. Healing can occur." This hopeful message can help people begin that healing process.
Surprisingly blah for such an important topic. I didn't expect to relate very well, though I have my doubts that very many target audiences will take much out of this. Sure, there's a little bit about relationship strengthening, a few good statistics and observations, but it just didn't pack much punch.
I expected more from a team of professionals, most of whom were sharing from personal experience. In fact, I feel that their comments contributed in part to a dangerous fallacy that both parties in a divorce MUST assume blame, whether or not both contributed to the demise of the marriage. I was grateful for the lady who finally shared this view:
"I have wondered what it would be like to share parenting responsibilities with a divorced man who faithfully took his children to church, read scriptures with them, and talked with them about missions and temple marriages. But I find it impossible to visualize that scenario without wondering why I would divorce such a man" (145).
Oh, and a small hurrah for the boldness to print what one can expect from such an event: "A woman said, 'I don't have good days anymore. My best days are days when nothing bad happens'" (213).
All told, an accurate enough assessment of the spiritual trauma and realistic piecing together of lives afterward, adequate coverage of vital Atonement issues, and perhaps a ray of hope for those in need...but not the strongest, most penetrating ray, by any means.
So I know it's a book about divorce but there is a great amount of wonderful information on learning to be who you are and some great inssight on how to have a happy relationship. I would suggest it to anyone getting redy to make any type of major relationship changes.