JOEL - The church considers the family the single most important organization in the entire church. Men and women are expected to be married "for time and all eternity". Through ordinances performed in the temple, couples make sacred promises to God and each other to be true and faithful to each other and to God and to love and support each other unconditionally. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially disapproves of divorce but does permit both divorce (the legal dissolution of a marriage bond) and annulment (a decree that a marriage was illegal or invalid) in civil marriages and "cancellation of sealing" in temple marriages. But members are encouraged to pray for guidance, and counsel with each other and with priesthood leaders to resolve any differences to prevent divorce.

Part of the selection criteria of those who are to be Bishops of a congregation, are men of strong character, who have been married in the temple and who are completly devoted to their wife and to God. In rare circumstances, problems may occur in a marriage between a Bishop and his wife that may lead them towards a possible divorce situation. When this happens the Bishop is usually released from his position long before a divorce becomes final, so that he can devote all his time and energy into saving his marriage if possible. His relationship with his wife is much more important and has greater effect on his eternal life than his position as a Bishop.