But now, to both of you, as you enter the marriage covenant, never a cross word. It is neither necessary nor desirable. There are many who teach that it is normal and expected for domestic difficulties and bickering and strive to be a part of that marriage relationships, that is false doctrine. It's neither necessary nor desirable. And I know, it is possible to live together in love with never the first cross word ever  passing between you.

 President Joseph Fielding Smith,  (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2:357-58)

It is only in the celestial kingdom that the privilege of marriage and eternal increase will be found. Even in that kingdom there will be servants who are denied this privilege and glory. (D & C Sections 131 and 132:16-17.) All who refuse to accept this principle and live in accordance with this covenant cannot be enlarged, but must remain separately and singly through all eternity. They cannot become sons and daughters of God.

Those who enter the terrestrial kingdom will have terrestrial bodies, and they will not shine like the sun, but they will be more glorious than the bodies of those who receive the telestial glory. In both of these kingdoms there will be changes in the bodies and limitations. They will not have the power of increase, neither the power or nature to live as husbands and wives, for this will be denied them and they cannot increase. (DS 2:287)

President Joseph F. Smith

... while it is said that the desires of the woman shall be to her husband, and he shall rule over her, it is intended that rule shall be in love and not in tyranny. (Gospel Doctrine, [GD], p. 274.) 

President David O. McKay

Marriage is a state of mutual service. (Improvement Era, [IE], 6/69:5.)

The wedding ring give no man the right to be cruel or inconsiderate, and no woman the right to be slovenly, cross, or disagreeable. (Conference Reports, 4/56:8.)

In the light of scripture, ancient and modern, we are justified in concluding that Christ's ideal pertaining to marriage is the unbroken home, and conditions that cause divorce are violations of his divine teachings. Some of these are: Unfaithfulness on the part of either the husband or wife, or both, habitual drunkenness, physical violence, long imprisonment that disgraces the wife and family, the union of an innocent girl to a reprobate--in these and perhaps other cases there may be circumstances which make the continuance of the marriage state a greater evil than divorce. But these are extreme cases-- they are the mistakes, the calamities in the realm of marriage. If we could remove them I would say there never should be a divorce. It is Christ's ideal that home and marriage should be perpetual--eternal. (Treasures of Life, pp. 66-67.)

Let me assure you, brethren, that some day you will have a personal priesthood interview with the Savior himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthy responsibilities. First He will request an accountability report about your relationships with your wife [husband]. Have you actively been engaged in making her [him] happy and ensuring that her [his] needs have been met as an individual? Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child. (Statement given in June 1965, from the notes of Fred A. Baker, a managing director of the Church's Department of Physical Facilities.) Also found  in Alexander B. Morrison, Feed My Sheep: Leadership Ideas for Latter-day Shepherds [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1992], 157.)

President Harold B. Lee

I fear some husbands have interpreted erroneously the statement that the husband is to be the head of the house and that his wife is to obey the law of her husband... the wife is to obey the law of her husband only as he obeys the laws of God. No woman is expected to follow her husband in disobedience to the commandments of the Lord. (Maintain Your Place As A Woman Ensign, 2/72:50.)

President Spencer W. Kimball

Now, all latter-day Saints are not going to be exalted. All people who have been through the holy temple are not going to be exalted. The Lord says, "Few there be that find it." For there are the two elements: (1) the sealing of a marriage in the holy temple, and (2) righteous living through one's life thereafter to make that sealing permanent. (BYU Speeches of the Year [BYUSY] 1974, pp. 265-66)

There is no bias nor prejudice in this doctrine. It is a matter of following a certain program to reach a definite goal. If you fail in following a program, you fail in attaining the goal. (The Importance of Celestial Marriage, Ensign, 10/79:5)

One of the most provocative and profound statement in the holy writ is that of Paul wherein he directs husbands and wives in their duty to each other and to the family. First, he commands the women: 'Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband his head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church; And he is the Saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.' (Ephesians 5:22-24.) If you analyze that very carefully, you can see that the Lord is not requiring women to be subject to their husbands if their husbands are bad and wicked and demanding. This is no idle jest, no facetious matter. Much is said in those few words 'as unto the Lord.' As the Lord loves his church and serve it, so men should love their wives and serve them and their families. (Stockholm Sweden Area Conference Report, 1974, pp. 46-47.)

Wives, come home with all your interests, fidelity, yearnings, loyalties, and affections--working together to make your home a blessed heaven. Thus would you greatly please your Lord and Master and guarantee yourselves happiness supreme. (Faith Precedes the Miracle, p. 148.)

Marriage presupposes total allegiance and total fidelity. Each spouse takes the partner with the understanding that he or she give totally to the spouse all the heart, strength, loyalty, honor, and affections, with all dignity. Any divergence is sin; and sharing of the heart is transgression. As we should have 'an eye single to the glory of God, so should we have an eye, an ear, a heart single to the marriage and the spouse and family." (FPM, p. 143).

There are those married people who permit their eyes to wander and their hearts to become vagrant, who think it is not improper to flirt a little, to share their hearts and have desire for someone other than the wife or the husband. The Lord says in definite terms: "Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else." (D & C 42:22) The words none else eliminate everyone and everything. The spouse then becomes pre-eminent in the life of the husband or wife and neither social life nor occupational life nor political life nor any other interest nor person nor thing shall ever take precedence over the companion spouse. We sometimes find women who absorb and hover over the children at the expense of the husband, sometimes even estranging them from him. This is in direct violation of the command: "none else." ( The Miracle of Forgiveness. [MF], pp. 250-51.

Happiness does not come by pressing a button, as does the electric light; happiness is a state of mind and comes from within. It must be earned. It cannot be purchased with money; it cannot be taken for nothing. Some think of happiness as a glamorous life of ease, luxury, and constant thrills; but true marriage is based on a happiness which is more than that, one which comes from giving, serving, sharing, sacrificing, and selflessness. (Oneness In Marriage Ensign, 3/77:2.) 

Selfishness is the element that breaks and corrodes and destroys marriages, as it destroys lives and all that is good. (BYUSY, 1974, p. 258.)

Elder Russell M. Nelson

I cannot seek the kingdom of God without loving and honoring first that family he has given to me. I cannot honor that family without loving and caring first for my wife!" (Applying Divine Laws Ensign, 6/84:12.) 

President Marion G. Romney

They (husband and wife) should be one in harmony, respect, and mutual consideration. Neither should plan or follow an independent course of action. They should consult, pray, and decide together. In the management of their homes and families, husbands and wives should counsel with each other in kindness, love, patience, and understanding... Remember that neither the wife nor the husband is the slave of the other. (In the Image of God Ensign, 3/78:2,4.) 

President Hugh B. Brown

Marriage is at all times, in every culture and under the widest of circumstances, one of the supreme tests of human character. (Improvement Era, December 1966, p. 1096.)

President Gordon B. Hinckley

True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well being of one's companion ... I know of no more certain way to keep it on a lofty and inspiring plan than for a man occasionally to reflect upon the fact that the helpmeet who stands at his side is a daughter of God, engaged with Him in the great creative process of bringing to pass His eternal purpose. I know of no more effective way for a woman to keep ever radiant the love for her husband than for her to look for and emphasize the godly qualities that are a part of every son of our Father and that can be evoked when there is respect and admiration and encouragement. The very processes of such actions will cultivate a constantly rewarding appreciation for one another... There is a need for a vast amount of discipline in marriage, not of one's companion, but of one's self.. (Except The Lord Build The House,  Ensign, 6/71:71-72).

Elder David B. Haight

Middle-age divorce is particularly distressing, as it indicates that mature people, who are the backbone of our society, are not working carefully enough to preserve their marriages. (Marriage And Divorce,  Ensign, 5/84:13-14.)

Elder Robert L. Simpson

... don't you agree that perhaps the most important questions that will need to be answered by a divorced person in the hereafter will be these: 1. "Did you do everything possible to save your marriages? 2. Were gospel truths applied to the fullest? 3. Did you see out, listen to and abide by priesthood counsel? (A Lasting Marriage,  Ensign, 5/82:23)

President James E. Faust

What, then, might be 'just cause' for breaking the covenants of marriage? Over a lifetime of dealing with human what might be considered 'just cause' for breaking of covenants ... In my opinion, 'just cause' should be nothing less serious than a prolonged and apparently irredeemable relationships which is destructive of a person's dignity as a human being. At the same time I have strong feelings about what is not provocation for breaking the sacred covenants of marriage. Surely it is not simply 'mental distress,' nor 'personality difference,' nor 'having grown apart,' nor having 'fallen out of love.' This is especially so where there are children. (Father Come Home,  Ensign, 5/93:36-37.)