Gospel Principles
Unit 8: Family Salvation
Chapter 38: Eternal Marriage
Comments and Resources

'President Joseph F. Smith said: "God not only commends but he commands marriage.  While man was yet immortal, before sin had entered the world, our Heavenly Father himself performed the first marriage.  He united our first parents in the bonds of holy matrimony, and commanded them to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth." (Gospel Doctrine, p. 274).

During the study of this topic, we will learn that marriage can be for time and eternity and that only though such an eternal marriage can the blessings of eternal life received.


Resources
Gospel Principles, chapter 38.
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, chapter 14.

Scriptures:

Topical Guide: 
               Marriage, Celestial.
			   
Bible Dictionary: 
                  Marriage.'
 
Concept 1: Introduction
	
'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.

Discussion

When was eternal marriage first performed on the earth?'


Concept 2: Eternal Marriage Is Essential for Exaltation

'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).

Discussion

Why do we believe marriage is the most sacred relationship between a man and woman?'


Concept 3: Eternal Marriage Must Be Performed by Proper Authority in the Temple

'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.

Discussion

Who has the authority to perform an eternal marriage?  Why must it be performed in the temple?'


Concept 4: Benefits of an Eternal Marriage

'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.

Discussion

Consider the blessings of an eternal marriage in this life and in eternity.'



Concept 5: We Must Prepare for an Eternal Marriage

'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.
D&C 97:15-17
"15. And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
 16. Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
 17. But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples."
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. 
D&C 132:19-20:
"19. And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them--Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths--then shall it be written in the Lamb's Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
 20. Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them.  Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them."
 Temple marriage is worth any sacrifice. It is a way of obtaining eternal blessings beyond measure.

Discussion

Think about the temple interview questions as you reread them.  How can we prepare for an eternal marriage?

Additional Scriptures 

Genesis 1:26-28 (we should multiply and replenish the earth) 
  26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 
  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 
  28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. 

Genesis 2:21-24 (the first marriage was performed by God) 
  21 And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; 
  22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 
  23 And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 
  24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 

Matthew 19:3-8 (what God has joined) 
  3  The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? 
  4 And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, 
  5 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? 
  6 Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. 
  7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? 
  8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. 


D&C 132 (the eternal nature of the marriage law) 
<http://Scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/132>
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant, as also plurality of wives. HC 5: 501 507. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, it is evident from the historical records that the doctrines and principles involved in this revelation had been known by the Prophet since 1831. 

D&C 42:24-26 (marriage vows should be kept) 
  24 Thou shalt not commit adultery; and he that committeth adultery, and repenteth not, shall be cast out. 
  25 But he that has committed adultery and repents with all his heart, and forsaketh it, and doeth it no more, thou shalt forgive; 
  26 But if he doeth it again, he shall not be forgiven, but shall be cast out. 

Jacob 3:5-11 (blessings for keeping the law of marriage) 
  5 Behold, the Lamanites your brethren, whom ye hate because of their filthiness and the cursing which hath come upon their skins, are more righteous than you; for they have not forgotten the commandment of the Lord, which was given unto our father that they should have save it were one wife, and concubines they should have none, and there should not be whoredoms committed among them. 
  6 And now, this commandment they observe to keep; wherefore, because of this observance, in keeping this commandment, the Lord God will not destroy them, but will be merciful unto them; and one day they shall become a blessed people. 
  7 Behold, their husbands love their wives, and their wives love their husbands; and their husbands and their wives love their children; and their unbelief and their hatred towards you is because of the iniquity of their fathers; wherefore, how much better are you than they, in the sight of your great Creator? 
  8 O my brethren, I fear that unless ye shall repent of your sins that their skins will be whiter than yours, when ye shall be brought with them before the throne of God. 
  9 Wherefore, a commandment I give unto you, which is the word of God, that ye revile no more against them because of the darkness of their skins; neither shall ye revile against them because of their filthiness; but ye shall remember your own filthiness, and remember that their filthiness came because of their fathers. 
  10 Wherefore, ye shall remember your children, how that ye have grieved their hearts because of the example that ye have set before them; and also, remember that ye may, because of your filthiness, bring your children unto destruction, and their sins be heaped upon your heads at the last day. 
  11 O my brethren, hearken unto my words; arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death; and loose yourselves from the pains of hell that ye may not become angels to the devil, to be cast into that lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death. 

Matthew 22:23-30 (no marriage in the Resurrection)
  23  The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him, 
  24 Saying, Master, Moses said, If a man die, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 
  25 Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: 
  26 Likewise the second also, and the third, unto the seventh. 
  27 And last of all the woman died also. 
  28 Therefore in the resurrection whose wife shall she be of the seven? for they all had her. 
  29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures , nor the power of God. 
  30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. '


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Moroni 10:4-5
"4. And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
5. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things."

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