Above all else I wish to exude seriousness. I tend to be silly or over the top, but I am completely sincere and frank now only I am still me.
If nothing else I say or do effects your perceptions, let this be the thing that you listen to and obey. I may have failed you in providing a proper example of family life and it is understandable if you disregard my words because of my actions, but I KNOW this one thing is significant: who we marry and where is utmost important to our eternal life. You will live forever, you may doubt many things that could bring me such grief and sorrow, but nothing will compare to the sorrow you will feel if you are unequally yoked.
My parents just happened upon happiness, but for you it is a choice. If anyone asks you why you have to get married in the temple when clearly it does not necessarily mean it will be eternal. Just look at the damage my example has caused you all. We had to spend years apart because I tried to build upon a shoddy foundation. Think of more than the immediate. Think of your life forever and what you want and need. It will be clear.
I assume that you want to have a strong eternal family, it really really does matter who you start it with.
I cannot even begin to number the times I wasted wondering how I could make a family work, and at times I believed it would work merely because of my will, but I have been nothing but frustrated over and over realizing that in this instance, my smarty pants solution was not do smart. Had wisdom been my source, I would have heeded the prophet's counsel to be with the right person, at the right time, in the right place. I was so arrogant to think I knew better and that anyone would do as long as they were a good Mormon like me, but that is not enough.
Your purpose is to find happiness, it was why this whole world was created afterall. You are on a path, merely the begining, that will bring you the greatest possible happiness if you Marry well. So, Marry well. That is all.
