You Can Be a Family Forever
Families are a big part of God’s plan for our happiness. We are born into a family. We aspire to build strong family relationships. Home can be a place where we feel support, safety, and love. God does not want family ties to end when we die. Because of temples, we can be reunited with our families in the next life.
Till death do you part?
When Latter-day Saints get married, they understand that marriage is meant to last forever. Marriage ceremonies in temples contain the words “for time and all eternity,” not “till death do you part.” But it isn’t the words that make eternal marriage possible—it’s the power of God.
Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints get married, or “sealed,” in the temple for time and all eternity, not just “till death do you part.”
The family is the divine building block of society.
Watch as Brian tells his experience of being married inside a temple. Because he was married in the temple, his marriage will continue after this life, and he and his family can be together forever.
God’s power to join together
In the Bible, Jesus gave the Twelve Apostles the sealing power, or sealing “keys.” That power meant that marriage, and many other wonderful blessings, could last forever. The “keys” lock the marriage together. Nothing can break that lock except unfaithfulness to spouse or to God. The Bible teaches, “Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven” (Matt. 18:18).
When God restored His Church through Joseph Smith, He also gave him the sealing power. When couples are married in a temple, the person performing the ceremony has been given permission to use that power.
Hear How Families Have Been Blessed by the Knowledge of Eternal Families
Timmie
“When I was 16, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. There were countless times where my life was almost brought to an end. My knowledge of the fullness of the gospel is one of the main reasons I got through such a traumatic experience.”
Pocatello, ID
Jim
“My family is the most important thing in my life. I felt that way as a child, and now I feel that way with my own family that I’ve created with my wife. My family makes me feel that there is nothing I can’t overcome. Problems and hard times come to all of us at some point in our lives, and besides my Heavenly Father, I know that my family understands what I’m going through and are always there to help.”
Odem, TX
Carly
“The gospel blesses my family with an eternal perspective. We grow and bond together more as we all keep an eternal perspective in our lives and on how we are living to all end up together once again. The gospel has taught me that families are eternal, which has given a stronger importance to this life. We are living for more than just this earth life.”
Mesa, AZ
Celia
“My family means the world to me. They have taught me to give and receive unconditional love. The gospel gives us many opportunities to serve others and to grow spiritually.”
Hong Kong, China
Eliza
“As a convert to the Church, I am so grateful to know that families can be together for eternity. This has given me a greater perspective on our time here on earth and to have an answer of where we will go.”
Farmington, UT
Pieter
“I know that I was put in the family I have for a reason. I am grateful for them and all the love that is shown in families.”
Salt Lake City, UT
Ciara
“The gospel blesses my family by helping me feel safe. Raising kids in the world today is a frightening task. However, I know that with the gospel, I will be able to teach my children correct principles and create a home where they feel safe.”
Charleston, SC
Kan
“I am blessed with a happy family. A happy wife and happy kids. Everything we do is built upon the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are truly blessed because of it. I look into the world of confusion and see that the gospel has brought to pass nothing but good things.”
Wausau, WI
Ancestors and family history
The blessing of a forever family isn’t just for us today. What about your great-great-great-great-grandmother who was never sealed to her husband and children? Thankfully, God thinks eternal families are so important that He provided a way to make sure everyone can be united with their loved ones forever.
Latter-day Saints research their ancestors and keep careful records of who has been sealed. When they find people who have not been sealed, they go to the temple and do a stand-in ceremony in behalf of that ancestor. That ancestor can choose to accept the sealing or not. The sealing power is like a chain that links family generations together.