I loved that we were able to talk today in class about the effects of finances on marriages. I think the most important thing was helping us recognize that Jesus Christ is our ultimate creditor. I think that once individuals and couples understand that, money for tithing, missions and other things that can help build up the Lords kingdom can be recognized as blessings rather than burdens.  Concerning tithing Elder Hales said that by paying tithing “It is one of the simple ways we show our obedience and faith to him.” Tithing also teaches us to control our desires. Elder Holland made the statement  that we should  “pay your tithing as a declaration that possession of material goods and the accumulation of worldly wealth are not the uppermost goals of your existence… we are God’s peculiar people. In a society that tells us money is our most important asset, we declare emphatically it is not.”  We value most the family unit and the time we spend with them. When things like money and worldly pursuits get in the way of that, Elder Holland might be suggesting that Satan is winning because we know that money is not our most important assets, family is.  I loved the advice given on budgeting and reserving a fund too. Elder Worthlin described, “All too often a family’s spending is governed more by their yearning than by their earning.” We should yearn to please our family and God. Once we do that, all other pursuits and desires can be aligned in their proper perspective.  Someone once said  “Overindulgence and poor money management place a heavy strain on marriage relationships. Most marital problems, it seems, originate from economic roots- either insufficient income to sustain the family or mismanagement of the income that is earned.” We need to learn to not let money be the source of our happiness within our relationships. One of the most important relationships being with God. Brigham Young stated, “The worst fear I have about this people is that they will get rich in this country, forget God and his people, wax fat, and kick themselves out of the Church and go to hell. This people will stand mobbing, robbing, poverty, and all manner of persecution, and be true. But my greater fear… is that they cannot stand wealth.” Whether it be we become entirely poor to afford anything or we become too rich to enjoy the simple things, we cannot let the relationship between man and women, and us and God ever be affected by it in a negative way.