After digging around for about an hour in my closet, I found my old tape that had that song "The Last Touch". I don't know who sang it; and I will admit that the music is kind of cheezy, but I still love the song. I just thought of it when I thought of the Hinckley's, and I know that I hope someday that my husband and I will be like that.

I look forward to all the things that a new marriage brings, but I also look forward to the child-raising years and later, the golden years. I look forward to all that comes with marriage; I know how hard it is to live with someone. I know how hard it is to put aside petty differences, and sometimes even bigger differences, but still be determined to love each other.

I guess love really can't be defined in the way the world defines it. To me, the most important aspects of marriage are friendship, charity, sacrifice, and unconditional love. Ephesians puts it well in chapter 5, verses 25-28.

"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself." (emphasis added).

Men are supposed to love their wives as Christ loved his church. What kind of love is that? The most glorious love that ever existed on this earth. Unfeigned, merciful, kind, forgiving, charitable, unjudging, accepting, willing to sacrifice....

Sometimes I confuse love for what it isn't. But looking deep into my own heart, I already know what love is. Love is a choice, just as every other emotion and action is. Christ literally chose to love His people, His church...to love us. He lived the same law that we do; that which was decreed from the beginning of time - the law of free agency.

One thing I also have learned is that before we are able to love others, we must choose to love ourselves. "For he that loveth his wife, loveth himself." If I am unable to truly accept myself and love myself enough to want what is best for me, to truly understand that God wants only the best for me; for all of his children, to love myself enough to want to obey God, to be teachable, and to forgive myself, well, if I was unwilling to do this, how could I love another? If we choose to not love ourselves, how can we possibly choose to love someone else?

I don't believe falling in love is the fairytale and giddiness that is portrayed by Hollywood. Sometimes we expect so much out if it; and end up bitterly disappointed when it doesn't turn out the way we believe it should. Falling in love is a choice...albeit a difficult, and sometimes frightening, one.

President and Sister Hinckley chose to love each other, to spend 67 years together, and to sacrifice for and support each other. They loved each other as Christ loves us. My Uncle Mike and Aunt Maureen portray the same kind of relationship, they too love each other as Christ loves us. Their sacrifice and willingness to persevere through the trials and the challenges that came before them proved not only that their love was indeed a choice, but a beautiful, eternal choice at that.

What better examples of true love, not as portrayed in the world, but truly as it is on the spiritual plane where we all reside...what better examples of this truth could there possibly be?

Let me end by confessing that I don't entire know what love is. I may not until I am old and grey, but I am content to wait and to learn. I understand I do not have to fully comprehend it to know it is true; just as I do not fully comprehend the gospel, yet I know that the gospel is true. These things are taught line upon line, precept upon precept. However, not fully understanding it will not prevent me from choosing to experience love. If I give all that I can, that is all that is needed.