HOSEA
A Love Story
HOSEA
Hosea was a prophet in the
Northern Kingdom of Israel who
prophesied before the Israelites
were carried away captive by
the Assyrians. At that time the
Northern Kingdom of Israel had
formed alliances with other
nations, and many Israelites
were practicing idolatry,
including rituals that violated
God’s law of chastity.
FAMOUS WEDDINGS
HOSEA
 The book of Hosea begins with the Lord
giving Hosea an unusual
command: Hosea 1:2–3
 In what ways does marriage symbolize
the covenant relationship between
Jesus Christ and us?
Hosea 1:4–2:4
HOSEA
The Lord will destroy
Israel
No love
Not my people
JOHN AND GAYLE
(Elder Poelman, "God's Love for Us,"
April 1982 General Conference
John was a thoughtful, kind, young, and affectionate man. He sincerely tried to
obey the Lord’s commandments and found honest contentment in the joys
of family life.
Gayle, his wife, was young, very attractive, but inclined toward more worldly
interests and activities.
In the early years of their marriage, John and Gayle were blessed with children,
first a boy and then a girl; but Gayle seemed uninterested in her domestic
responsibilities. She longed for glamour and excitement in her life and was
frequently away from home at parties and entertainments, not always with her
husband.
In her vanity, Gayle encouraged and responded to the attentions of other men
until eventually she was unfaithful to her marriage vows.
JOHN AND GAYLE
(Elder Poelman, "God's Love for Us,"
April 1982 General Conference
Throughout, John was patient and kind, but to no avail.
Shortly after the birth of a third child, a son, Gayle deserted John and their
children and joined her worldly friends in a life of self-indulgence and immorality.
John, rejected, was humiliated and brokenhearted.
JOHN AND GAYLE
(Elder Poelman, "God's Love for Us,"
April 1982 General Conference
Soon, however, her so-called friends tired of her and abandoned her. Then each
successive step was downward, her life becoming more and more degraded. She
felt completely unworthy of love.
JOHN AND GAYLE
(Elder Poelman, "God's Love for Us,"
April 1982 General Conference
One day, walking through downtown streets, John recognized Gayle. She was
completely broken. As he observed the effect of her recent life, a feeling of
compassion came over him—a desire to reach out to her. Soon John realized that
he still loved Gayle.
Learning that Gayle had incurred substantial debts, John repaid them and then
took her home.
Out of his love grew a feeling of merciful forgiveness, a desire to help Gayle
overcome her past and to…
accept her again fully as his wife.
HOSEA AND
GOMER
1. Read Hosea 2:5. What did Gomer do after her marriage to Hosea?
1. How can Hosea’s experience with Gomer help us understand how the
Lord might feel when we break our covenants by sinning?
2. Read the consequence of her unfaithfulness: Hosea 2:6
1. In what ways might the consequences of sin be a blessing to us?
3. Read Hosea 2:14–15, 17, 19–20, 23, looking for what the Lord would
eventually do.
1. What do these actions teach you about the Lord?
4. Read Hosea 3:1–3, looking for what the Lord commanded Hosea to do for
Gomer.
5. Read Hosea 13:9-10, 14:1,4
1. How does Gomer's story give us hope?
2. What stories in the scriptures also teach of the Lord’s forgiveness and
love?
3. Have you experienced the Lord’s mercy and His love?
WHO SAID IT?
“Marriage requires a high degree
of tolerance ”
President Gordon B. Hinckley
MARRIAGE: A COVENANT SYMBOL
“There seems to be a superstition
among many thousands of our young
men and women who hold hands and
smooch in the drive-ins that marriage
is a cottage surrounded by perpetual
happiness to which a perpetually
young and handsome husband comes
home to a perpetually young and
beautiful wife. When the happiness
withers and boredom and bills appear
the divorce courts are jammed.”
Gordon B. Hinckley,
Quoting Jenkins Lloyd
Jones, Ensign, Mar.
1997, 60
MARRIAGE: A COVENANT SYMBOL
“Anyone who imagines that bliss in
marriage is normal is going to waste a lot
of time running around shouting that he
has been robbed. “The fact is most putts
don’t drop. Most beef is tough. Most
children grow up to be just people. Most
successful marriages require a high degree
of mutual toleration. The trick is to thank
the Lord for letting you have the ride”.
Webster’s dictionary (Tolerance):
Gordon B. Hinckley,
Quoting Jenkins Lloyd
Jones, Ensign, Mar.
1997, 60
1: capacity to endure pain or hardship
 2: sympathy for beliefs or practices differing from one's own
Below are tips for successful marriage by Elder Joe J. Christensen
(April 1995 General Conference). With your partner, relate his marriage
advice to maintaining a good relationship with the Lord.
1. Remember the importance of your marriage
2. Pray for the success of your marriage
3. Listen
4. Avoid “ceaseless pinpricking” (being critical)
5. Keep your courtship alive (date)
6. Be quick to say, “I’m sorry”
7. Learn to live within your means
8. Be a true partner with family responsibilities
HOSEA AND GOMER
"Sometimes people think that they have sinned
so much the Lord will never accept them. They
may even stop praying because they feel so
unworthy. The story of Hosea teaches us the God
will always love us; we can repent; he does want
us back.
"God is our father; he loves us; his love is infinite
and unconditional. His sorrow is great when we
disobey his commandments and break his laws.
He cannot condone our transgressions, but he
loves us and wants us to return to him.
"I know of no greater inducement to repentance
and reconciliation with our Father in Heaven than
an awareness of his love for us personally and
individually." (Elder Poelman, "God's Love for Us," p. 29)
HOSEA
A Love Story