31110, Gospel Principles, Unit Eight: Family Salvation, 38: Eternal Marriage, 241
Marriage is ordained of God. The Lord has said, "Whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man" (D&C 49:15). Since the beginning, marriage has been a law of the gospel. Marriages are intended to last forever, not just for our mortal lives.
Adam and Eve were married by God before there was any death in the world. They had an eternal marriage. They taught the law of eternal marriage to their children and their children's children. As the years passed, wickedness entered the hearts of the people and the authority to perform this sacred ordinance was taken from the earth. Through the restoration of the gospel, eternal marriage has been restored to earth.
* When was eternal marriage first performed on the earth?
Many people in the world consider marriage to be only a social custom, a legal agreement between a man and a woman to live together. But to Latter-day Saints, marriage is much more. Our exaltation depends on marriage. We believe that marriage is the most sacred relationship that can exist between a man and a woman. This sacred relationship affects our happiness now and in the eternities.
Heavenly Father has given us the law of eternal marriage so we can become like him. We must live this law to be able to have spirit children. The Lord has said:
"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it" (D&C 131:1-3).
* Why do we believe marriage is the most sacred relationship between a man and woman?
An eternal marriage must be performed by one who holds the sealing power. The Lord promised, "If a man marry a wife by ... the new and everlasting covenant ... by him who is anointed, ... it ... shall be of full force when they are out of the world" (D&C 132:19).
Not only must an eternal marriage be performed by the proper priesthood authority, but it must also be done in one of the holy temples of our Lord. The temple is the only place this holy ordinance can be performed.
In the temple, Latter-day Saint couples kneel at one of the sacred altars in the presence of their family and friends and two special witnesses. They make their marriage covenants before God. They are pronounced husband and wife for time and all eternity. This is done by one who holds the holy priesthood of God and has been given the authority to perform this sacred ordinance. He acts under the direction of the Lord and promises the couple the blessings of exaltation. He instructs them in the things they must do to receive these blessings. He reminds them that all blessings depend on obedience to the laws of God.
If we are married by any authority other than by the priesthood in a temple, the marriage is for this life only. After death, the marriage partners have no claim on each other or on their children. An eternal marriage gives us the opportunity to continue as families after this life.
* Who has the authority to perform an eternal marriage? Why must it be performed in the temple?
As Latter-day Saints, we are living for eternity and not just for the moment. However, the blessings of an eternal marriage can be ours now as well as for eternity.
The blessings we can enjoy in this life are as follows:
1. We know that our marriage can last forever. Death can part us from one another only temporarily. Nothing can part us forever except our own disobedience. This knowledge helps us work harder to have a happy, successful marriage.
2. We know that we can have our children with us throughout eternity. This knowledge helps us be careful in teaching and training our children. It also helps us show them greater patience and love. As a result, we should have a happier home.
Some of the blessings we can enjoy for eternity are as follows:
1. We can live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of God.
2. We can be exalted as God is and receive a fulness of joy.
3. We can, at some future time, increase our family by having spirit children.
* Have class members discuss the blessings of an eternal marriage in this life and in eternity.
President Spencer W. Kimball taught that "marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects. ... It affects not only the two people involved, but their children and ... their children's children. ... Of all the decisions, this one must not be wrong." He recommended "that all boys and girls from their infancy up plan to be married only in the temple ... to keep their lives spotless so that this can be accomplished" ("... The Matter of Marriage," devotional address, Salt Lake Institute of Religion, 22 Oct. 1976).
President Kimball also said:
"We say to all youth regardless of what country is your home, and regardless of the customs in your country, your Heavenly Father expects you to marry for eternity and rear a good, strong family.
"It would be our hope that parents would train you ... to earn some money, and to put it away for your missions and your marriages. ...
"There will be a new spirit in Zion when the young women will say to their boyfriends: 'I am sorry, but as much as I love you, I will not marry out of the holy temple' " ("Marriage-The Proper Way," New Era, Feb. 1976, p. 4).
An eternal marriage should be the goal of every Latter-day Saint. This is true even for those already married by civil law. To prepare for an eternal marriage takes much thought and prayer. Only members of the Church who live righteously are permitted to enter the temple (see D&C 97:15-17). We do not suddenly decide one day that we want to be married in the temple, then enter the temple that day and get married. We must first meet certain requirements.
Before we can go to the temple, we must be active, worthy members of the Church for at least one year. Men must hold the Melchizedek Priesthood. We must be interviewed by the branch president or bishop. If he finds us worthy, he will give us a temple recommend. If we are not worthy, he will counsel with us and help us set goals to become worthy to go to the temple.
After we receive a recommend from our bishop or branch president, we must have it signed by a member of the stake presidency or the mission president.
We are asked questions like the following in interviews for a temple recommend:
1. Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost? Do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?
2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator? Do you recognize him as the only person on earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?
3. Do you live the law of chastity?
4. Are you a full-tithe payer?
5. Do you keep the Word of Wisdom?
6. Are you totally honest in your dealings with others?
7. Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and priesthood meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
When you ask for a temple recommend, you should remember that entering the temple is a sacred privilege. It is a serious act, not something to be taken lightly.
We must seek earnestly to obey every covenant that we make in the temple. The Lord has said that if we are true and faithful, we will pass by the angels to our exaltation. We will become gods. (See D&C 132:19-20.) Temple marriage is worth any sacrifice. It is a way of obtaining eternal blessings beyond measure.
* Ask each person to think about the temple interview questions as you reread them.
* How can we prepare for an eternal marriage?
* Genesis 1:26-28 (we should multiply and replenish the earth)
* Genesis 2:21-24 (the first marriage was performed by God)
* Matthew 19:3-8 (what God has joined)
* D&C 132 (the eternal nature of the marriage law)
* D&C 42:24-26 (marriage vows should be kept)
* Jacob 3:5-11 (blessings for keeping the law of marriage)
* Matthew 22:23-30 (no marriage in the Resurrection)