Purity and Passion: Spiritual Truths about Intimacy That Will Strengthen Your Marriage

167 Pages·2004·0.86 MB·English

by  Wendy L. Watson

PRAISE FOR DR. WENDY L. WATSON AND PURITY AND
PASSION

“This book is mind expanding, inspirational, motivational, and full of hope.
The guidelines with lists of specifics and how-tos make the seemingly
impossible possible.”
—Ardeth Greene Kapp, Author, Lecturer, Church Leader

“A marvelous tapestry of truth, tenacity, and tenderness! Dr. Watson, a
talented, skillful, and creative marriage and family therapist, offers truths she has
learned through her study of the scriptures, current theory and research about
marriage, and experiences of counseling numerous LDS and non-LDS couples.
Through poignant questions and real-life examples, Dr. Watson provides hope
for all who dream of a celestial marriage.”
—Dr. Lorraine M. Wright, Director, Family Nursing Unit, University of Calgary

“I have long believed that a great marital sexual relationship involved
emotional bonding, passion, and deep spiritual experience. Now Dr. Wendy
Watson teaches us with clarity how these three forces come together to bring joy
to wives and husbands of any age. Purity and Passion should come with a
warning that the contents will definitely change a marriage—for the positive, of
course.”
—Dr. James M. Harper, Director, School of Family Life, Brigham Young University

“Over the years I have given a number of copies of Purity and Passion to
bishops in our stake. They didn’t just read the book, they devoured it. The
bishops describe the spiritual truths as enlightened, practical, and right on the
mark. It changed and improved the counsel given from these bishops to
struggling couples. The spiritual truths about intimacy taught by Dr. Wendy
Watson have blessed numerous homes, marriages, and families in our stake.”
—Boyd Ware, Stake President, Draper, Utah

© 2001 Wendy L. Watson All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P. O. Box 30178, Salt
Lake City, Utah 84130. This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the
position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company.
DESERET BOOK is a registered trademark of Deseret Book Company.
First printing in hardbound 2001
First printing in paperbound 2004
Visit us at deseretbook.com
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Watson, Wendy L., 1950-
Purity and passion : spiritual truths about intimacy that will strengthen your marriage / Wendy L.
Watson.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57345-910-0 (alk. paper) (hardbound)
ISBN 1-59038-410-5 (paperbound)
1. Sex in marriage—Religious aspects—Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 2. Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints—Doctrines.
I. Title.
BX8643.S49 W38 2001
248.8′44′088283—dc21
2001001647
Printed in the United States of America 72076
Publishers Printing, Salt Lake City, UT
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
For Brittney, Gabrielle, and Tyler
C
ONTENTS

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Purity, Passion, Intimacy, and Truth
PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO INTIMACY
1. Understanding Intimacy
2. Six Truths about Love
PART 2: OBSTACLES TO INTIMACY
3. The Devastation of Impurity
4. Lies That Blind and Bind
5. The Alienating Influence of Anger
PART 3: INCREASING INTIMACY IN YOUR MARRIAGE
6. Change Is Always Possible
7 The Healing Power of Apologies and Forgiveness
8. Learning a New Language of Marital Intimacy
PART 4: ETERNAL TRUTHS ABOUT MARITAL INTIMACY
9. Soulful Joining Brings Joy
10. Unity Is Power
11. Sacred Intimacy Can Be Sanctifying
PART 5: WHAT DO WE DO NOW?
12. Preparing for Intimacy
13. “Altaring” Your Marital Intimacy
Appendix: A Synopsis of God-Ordained Marital Intimacy versus Worldly
Sex
Sources Cited
Index
A
CKNOWLEDGMENTS

To thank all my family members and friends, colleagues and clients who have
so generously influenced the writing, refinement, and publishing of this book
would require yet another book!
How grateful I am to each of them for their wisdom, love, lives, and light.
I had loved before, but I knew not why.
But now I loved—with a pureness—
an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling,
which would lift my soul from the transitory things
of this groveling sphere and expand it as the ocean….
I could now love with the spirit and
with the understanding also.
—Parley P. Pratt, Autobiography of Parley P. Pratt, 280