“Temples and Eternal Marriage,” Ensign, Feb. 1995, 41
Blessings of Temples
Temples and Eternal Marriage
Temple marriage is a covenant that bridges death, transcends time, stretches unbreakable into eternity.
Life is eternal. Death does not terminate the existence of man. He lives on and on. Man, whether good or evil, will be resurrected. His spirit will be reunited with his body from the grave, and if he has perfected his life and magnified his God-given opportunities, that spirit and body will be brought together in a new, fresh, glorious immortality.
The greatest joys of true married life can be continued. The most beautiful relationships of parents and children can be made permanent. The holy association of families can be never-ending if husband and wife have been sealed in the holy bond of eternal matrimony. Their joys and progress will never end. Yet none of this will ever fall into place of its own accord.
The way is well defined and clear. Eternal marriage was known to Adam and others of the prophets, but the knowledge was lost from the earth for many centuries. God has restored the truths and has provided the way. With the restoration of the gospel in these last days through the Prophet Joseph Smith came also the genuine priesthood, and with it all keys, powers, and authorities held by Adam and Abraham and Moses and the early-day Apostles.
God has restored the knowledge of temples and their purposes. On the earth in our time are holy structures built for this special work of the Lord, and each is the “house of the Lord.”
In these temples, by duly constituted authority, are men who can seal husbands and wives and their children for all eternity. This is a fact, even though it is unknown to many.
This is one of the mysteries spoken of by the Redeemer, who taught the multitude in parables, saying:
“I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world” (Matt. 13:35).
These priceless truths are not understood by the casual reader of the scriptures:
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. …
“But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:11, 14).
It is inconceivable that otherwise intelligent, astute, and highly educated people should ignore or willfully disregard this great privilege. The doors can be unlocked. The gap can be bridged. And men can walk safely, securely, to never-ending happiness, making their marriages timeless and eternal.
Explaining the use of parables, the Savior said:
“It is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. …
“For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed” (Matt. 13:11, 15).
And then, speaking to those disciples who were near him and who understood, he said:
“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
“For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” (Matt. 13:16–17).
The Lord knew that those who were sincere in heart and who really wished to know the mysteries of the kingdom would seek and search prayerfully until they informed themselves.
It will be remembered how the Lord answered the hypocritical Sadducees who, trying to trap him, propounded this difficult problem:
The husband died leaving no posterity, and the wife married his brother, who also died without seed. She in turn married a third brother, a fourth, a fifth, a sixth, and a seventh, all in accordance with the law of Moses, and then the woman of the seven husbands died also. Now the frustrating question is:
“In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.” The Redeemer’s answer was clear and concise and unmistakable:
“Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?” (Mark 12:23–24.)
And now, we ask you, what does this mean? The Sadducees were discussing matters about which they knew little or nothing. Was there accusation in his voice? Was he saying to the Sadducees, “Open your blind eyes and see. Open your stony hearts and understand”?
My friends, do you understand the implication and truth of this statement of the Lord? Though somewhat veiled in scripture, it is clear and understandable when supported by modern revelation.
Elder James E. Talmage writes: “The Lord’s meaning was clear, that in the resurrected state there can be no question among the seven brothers as to whose wife for eternity the woman shall be, since all except the first had married her for the duration of mortal life only. … In the resurrection there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity” (Jesus the Christ, Salt Lake City: Deseret Book Co., 1982, p. 509).
Undoubtedly, the first husband married the woman for eternity by a ceremony that was not limited by time. She became a widow at his demise until she should also die and join her husband. Now, she married number two, “until death do you part,” and it definitely parted them even before posterity, and he went into the spirit world through the veil and with no wife, for their contract also had been terminated by death. And brothers numbers three and four and five and six and finally number seven in turn all married her in temporary marriage, in which ceremonies were the limitations, “so long as you both shall live.”
I knew of one young couple whose promising marriage was ended by a car crash one hour after the ceremony which included those perilous words, “till death do you part.”
Civil marriage is an earthly contract, dissolved by the death of either party. Eternal celestial marriage is a sacred covenant between man and woman, consecrated in the holy temple by servants of God who hold authoritative keys. It bridges death; it includes both time and eternity.
The Apostle Paul told the Corinthians:
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Cor. 15:19). And we could paraphrase it to say:
“If in this life only our marriages are firm, our marital bliss real, and our family life happy, we are of all men most miserable.”
Paul continues: “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another.
“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
“So also is the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:40–42).
Paul understood, as undoubtedly did many of his fellow Saints, these vital truths that have been veiled in parabolic language. Unfortunately, millions of Christians today do not understand. Heaven is not a single place or one single condition. It is as diverse as men’s behavior patterns are different, for men will be judged according to their deeds done in the flesh (see Rom. 2:6–8; Rev. 20:12–13).
In modern revelation to the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord said: “Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same.
“For behold, I reveal unto you a new and everlasting covenant” (D&C 132:3–4).
Though relatively few people in this world understand it, the new and everlasting covenant is the marriage ordinance performed in the holy temple by the properly constituted officiators who have the genuine, authoritative power to perform them. This glorious blessing is available to men and women on this earth. The deep underlying purpose is clarified by the Redeemer himself:
“And as pertaining to the new and everlasting covenant, it was instituted for the fulness of my glory; and he that receiveth a fulness thereof must and shall abide the law, or he shall be damned, saith the Lord God” (D&C 132:6).
Paul spoke of telestial, terrestrial, and celestial areas, and people are assigned in accordance with their righteousness and their compliance with eternal laws. Even this celestial kingdom has three heavens or degrees. We quote our Lord further:
“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.
“He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase” (D&C 131:2–4).
The Lord then further clarifies eternal marriage:
“All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, … are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead” (D&C 132:7).
Marriages that are made only “so long as you both shall live” or “until death do you part” are terminated when the mortal breath is no more.
The Lord is merciful, but mercy cannot rob justice. His mercy extended to us when he died for us. His justice prevails when he judges us and gives us the blessings we have duly earned.
“No one can reject this covenant and be permitted to enter into my glory,” says the Lord.
“For all who will have a blessing at my hands shall abide the law which was appointed for that blessing, and the conditions thereof, as were instituted from before the foundation of the world” (D&C 132:4–5).
A civil marriage may be performed by any of the numerous people approved by laws of the respective countries, but eternal marriage must be solemnized by one properly authorized.
“Will I accept of an offering, saith the Lord, that is not made in my name?
“Or will I receive at your hands that which I have not appointed?” (D&C 132:9–10.)
It is the Redeemer who postulates:
“Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world” (D&C 132:15).
“I am the Lord thy God; and I give unto you this commandment—that no man shall come unto the Father but by me or by my word, which is my law, saith the Lord” (D&C 132:12).
He then reiterates that “everything that is in the world, whether it be ordained of men, by thrones, or principalities, or powers, or things of name, whatsoever they may be, that are not by me or by my word, saith the Lord, shall be thrown down, and shall not remain after men are dead, neither in nor after the resurrection, saith the Lord your God” (D&C 132:13).
How final! Since we know well that mortal death does not terminate our existence, since we know that we live on and on, how devastating to realize that marriage and family life, so sweet and happy in so many homes, will end with death because we fail to follow God’s instructions or because we reject his word when we understand it!
It is clear in the Lord’s announcement that righteous men and women will receive the due rewards of their deeds. They will not be damned in the commonly accepted terminology but will suffer many limitations and deprivations and fail to reach the highest kingdom if they do not comply. They become ministering servants to those who complied with all laws and lived all commandments.
He says concerning these excellent people who lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding:
“For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever” (D&C 132:17).
How conclusive! How bounded! How limiting! And we come to realize again as it bears heavily upon us that this time, this life, this mortality is the time to prepare to meet God. How lonely and barren will be the so-called single blessedness throughout eternity! How sad to be separate and single and apart through countless ages when one could, by meeting requirements, have happy marriage for eternity by marrying in the temple by proper authority and continue on in ever-increasing joy and happiness, growth, and development.
Listen to the Lord again:
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
“For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
“But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.
“This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.
“Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law” (D&C 132:21–25).
If a man receives the Lord, he believes in Him, lives His commandments, and performs the ordinances which He has required.
Are you willing to jeopardize your eternities, your great continuing happiness, your privilege to see God and dwell in his presence? For the want of investigation and study and contemplation, or because of prejudice, misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge, are you willing to forgo these great blessings and privileges? Are you willing to make yourself a widow for eternity or a widower for endless ages—a single, separate individual to live alone and serve others? Are you willing to give up your children when they die or when you expire? Are you willing to go through eternity alone and solitary when all of the greatest joys you have ever experienced in life could be “added upon” and accentuated, multiplied, and eternalized? Are you willing, with the Sadducees, to ignore and reject these great truths? I sincerely pray that you stop today and weigh and measure and then prayerfully proceed to make your happy marriage an eternal one. Our friends, please do not ignore this call. I beg of you, open your eyes and see; unstop your ears and hear.
An eternal marriage plus a worthy continuing consecrated life will bring limitless happiness and exaltation.
May I conclude with the words of the Lord:
“I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see” (Rev. 3:18).
Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood, by Kenneth Riley
Inset: A sealing room of the Salt Lake Temple. (Photo by Eldon K. Linschoten. Copyright by the Corporation of the President, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; no reproduction authorized or permitted.)
Detail from Spirit World, by Del Parson