Chapter 11—Hasty, Immature Marriages
Dangers of Childhood Attachments—Early marriages are not
to be encouraged. A relation so important as marriage and so far-
reaching in its results should not be entered upon hastily, without
sufficient preparation, and before the mental and physical powers are
well developed
Boys and girls enter upon the marriage relation with unripe love,
immature judgment, without noble, elevated feelings, and take upon
themselves the marriage vows, wholly led by their boyish, girlish
passions....
Attachments formed in childhood have often resulted in very
wretched unions or in disgraceful separations. Early connections,
if formed without the consent of parents, have seldom proved happy.
The young affections should be restrained until the period arrives when
sufficient age and experience will make it honorable and safe to un-
fetter them. Those who will not be restrained will be in danger of
dragging out an unhappy existence.
A youth not out of his teens is a poor judge of the fitness of a
person as young as himself to be his companion for life. After their
judgment has become more matured, they view themselves bound for
life to each other and perhaps not at all calculated to make each other
happy. Then, instead of making the best of their lot, recriminations
take place, the breach widens, until there is settled indifference and
neglect of each other. To them there is nothing sacred in the word
“home.” The very atmosphere is poisoned by unloving words and bitter
reproaches
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Immature marriages are productive of a vast amount of the evils
that exist today. Neither physical health nor mental vigor is promoted
by a marriage that is entered on too early in life. Upon this subject
altogether too little reason is exercised. Many youth act from impulse.
This step, which affects them seriously for good or ill, to be a lifelong
1
The Ministry of Healing, 358
.
2
Messages to Young People, 452
.
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