I have the guidebook and read that all I need to do is become the Thane of Whiterun. I also have the amulet of Mara and it is equipped. I have tried to unequip it and I have tried to send Lydia home. Is there a solution to this at all? I have seen some people with the same issue on other site, but no solutions.

Aye, same issue here. I've seen on other forums that people know people who have managed it but no one has directly come forward to post that I know of.
Hopefully this will be fixed/implemented in the next patch (hint hint Bethesda).