Lesson 140: Doctrine and Covenants 129–132

Doctrine and Covenants 131

The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage

Marriage between a man and a woman is an essential part of Heavenly Father’s plan for His children. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Lord revealed that when husbands and wives are sealed by the power of the priesthood and are faithful to their covenants, their marriage will last beyond death. This lesson can help students understand the importance of eternal marriage in Heavenly Father’s plan.

Possible Learning Activities

Understanding marriage

Consider writing the following statement on the board and inviting students to discuss their thoughts about what it teaches. For example, you could place students in small groups and discuss the questions that follow.

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles declared:

One of the great tasks of our time … is to help people understand the true meaning and purpose of marriage. (David A. Bednar, “The Divine Pattern of Eternal Marriage,” Ensign, Sept. 2020, 41)

• How would you define “the true meaning and purpose of marriage”?

• What are some examples of misunderstandings people have about marriage today?

Students might share misunderstandings such as some people feeling they are better off being single or that marriage does not need to be between a man and a woman.

Invite students to create a heading in their study journals titled Why is marriage important to God? Invite them to write how they would answer that question. They could also be invited to ponder their personal feelings or questions they have about marriage.

Encourage them to add answers to their study journals throughout the lesson. Testify that as they humbly seek to understand why marriage is important to God, the Holy Ghost can strengthen their testimony of marriage and help resolve their questions or concerns.

Eternal marriage

Consider sharing or summarizing the following paragraph to help students understand the context for the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants 131:

In May 1843, while in Ramus, Illinois, Joseph Smith told Benjamin and Melissa Johnson he intended to marry them according to the law of the Lord. Because they were already married, Benjamin joked he would marry Melissa again only if she courted him. But Joseph was serious. The Prophet taught them the doctrine of eternal marriage, then sealed the couple for eternity. William Clayton was serving as Joseph’s scribe at the time and recorded his teachings, which are now found in Doctrine and Covenants 131 (see “Our Hearts Rejoiced to Hear Him Speak,” in Revelations in Context [2016], 279–280).

Before you invite students to read the following verses, it may be helpful for them to know that the highest degree of the celestial kingdom is often referred to as eternal life or exaltation. Those who are exalted will live eternally with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and become like Them. “The new and everlasting covenant of marriage” refers to the covenant couples make in the temple that enables them to be sealed for time and all eternity.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4, looking for what the Prophet taught about marriage.

Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4 is a doctrinal mastery passage. Consider inviting students to mark doctrinal mastery passages in a distinctive way so they can locate them easily.

• What do these verses teach you about the importance of marriage in Heavenly Father’s plan?

  Write a truth similar to the following on the board using students’ words, if possible: To become like God and live with Him again in the celestial kingdom, we must enter the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Invite students to add this truth to the list of answers in their study journals.

• How do you think marriage can prepare us to become more like God?

The importance of marriage in God’s plan

Invite students to continue learning about the importance of marriage in God’s plan. They could work through the following activity individually or in small groups. If needed, consider printing talks or articles from Church leaders that students could study. Invite students to record what they learn in their study journals.

As part of this activity, you could also show the video “Eternal Marriage, an Apostolic Perspective” (5:26), available on the Inspiration blog at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Choose one or more of the following suggestions to discover additional answers to the question “Why is marriage important to God?” Add truths you learn to the list of answers in your study journal.

1. Search the scriptures. Study Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17; 132:19. Find additional passages to study by looking up “marriage” in the Topical Guide or Guide to the Scriptures.

2. Study the teachings of Church leaders. Search “marriage” in the Gospel Library app or in the topics section of the general conference address archive.

3. Send a text message to a family member or trusted adult asking how they would answer the question “Why is marriage important to God?”

When students have finished studying, invite them each to write on the board one truth they learned about why marriage is important to God. They could also include the source they used to find that truth. Invite the class to look at what their classmates have written and identify truths they could add to their study journals. Consider discussing what students have learned by asking questions such as the following:

• What is something you learned that you did not know before?

• How can these teachings help you when you notice ideas in the world that are contrary to God’s laws about marriage?

• How can looking at marriage from God’s perspective influence your feelings about marriage?

Explain the doctrine of marriage

If you feel students would benefit from summarizing what they have learned, consider placing them in pairs. Invite them to respond to the following scenario and questions with their partner:

Imagine you are discussing your future goals with a friend. When you mention that you hope to get married, your friend asks, “Why does marriage even matter?”

• How would you respond to your friend using the teachings you have studied today?

Encourage students to prepare to receive the blessings of eternal marriage. Testify that as they exercise faith in Jesus Christ, they will experience the blessings He desires to give them.

Memorize

You may want to help students memorize the doctrinal mastery reference and key scripture phrase during this lesson and review them in future lessons. The key scripture phrase is “The new and everlasting covenant of marriage.” Ideas for memorization activities are in the appendix materials under “Doctrinal Mastery Review Activities.”

Additional Resources

Where can I learn more about eternal marriage?

• “About Temple Sealings,” temples.ChurchofJesusChrist.org

• “The Divine Pattern of Eternal Marriage,” David A. Bednar, Ensign, Sept. 2020, 34–41

Does the new and everlasting covenant include only marriage?

See Guide to the Scriptures, “New and Everlasting Covenant,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

What blessings can we receive when we are married in the temple?

President Russell M. Nelson taught:

If it were possible for me to speak one-on-one with every young adult, I would plead with you to seek a companion with whom you can be sealed in the temple. You may wonder what difference this will make in your life. I promise it will make all the difference! As you marry in the temple and return repeatedly, you will be strengthened and guided in your decisions.

If I could speak with each husband and wife who have still not been sealed in the temple, I would plead with you to take the necessary steps to receive that crowning, life-changing ordinance. Will it make a difference? Only if you want to progress forever and be together forever. Wishing to be together forever will not make it so. No other ceremony or contract will make it so. (Russell M. Nelson, “The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation,” Liahona, Nov. 2021, 95)

How can those who are not currently married receive the blessings of eternal life?

God’s promise of eternal life includes eternal marriage, children, and all other blessings of an eternal family. This promise applies to those who are not currently married or are without family in the Church (see 38.1.4). These blessings are assured to all who strive to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. (General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2.1)

Doctrine and Covenants 132:19. What does it mean to be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise?

Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

The Holy Spirit of Promise is the ratifying power of the Holy Ghost. When sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, an ordinance, vow, or covenant is binding on earth and in heaven. (See Doctrine and Covenants 132:7.) Receiving this “stamp of approval” from the Holy Ghost is the result of faithfulness, integrity, and steadfastness in honoring gospel covenants “in [the] process of time” (Moses 7:21). However, this sealing can be forfeited through unrighteousness and transgression. (David A. Bednar, “Ye Must Be Born Again,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2007, 22)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Expiration dates

If possible, bring a packaged food item that contains an expiration date.

• What is the purpose of an expiration date?

• What can be done to preserve food beyond its expiration date?

• How can this relate to marriage?

Read or watch the following. Look for what Elder Enrique R. Falabella, formerly of the Seventy, and his wife did to remove the expiration date from their marriage.

When I returned from my mission, I met a beautiful young woman with long black hair down to her waist. She had beautiful, big honey eyes and a contagious smile. She captivated me from the first moment I saw her.

My wife had set the goal to get married in the temple, although back then the nearest temple required a trip of over 4,000 miles (6,400 km).

Our civil marriage ceremony was both happy and sad, for we were married with an expiration date. The officer pronounced the words “And now I declare you husband and wife,” but immediately after, he said, “until death do you part.”

So with sacrifice we set out to purchase a one-way ticket to the Mesa Arizona Temple.

In the temple, as we were kneeling down at the altar, an authorized servant pronounced the words I longed for, which declared us husband and wife for time and for all eternity. (Enrique R. Falabella, “The Home: The School of Life,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2013, 102)

Our divine potential

Bring a seed to class, or display a picture of a seed for the students to see. Tell the students what kind of seed it is.

• What does this seed have the potential to become?

• What must happen for the seed to fulfill its potential?

Then show a picture of a married couple in front of the temple and invite students to discuss how eternal marriage can help us fulfill our potential as sons and daughters of heavenly parents.

Renaissance of marriage

For another example of the blessings available through marriage, consider watching President Henry B. Eyring of the First Presidency share his experience and testimony in “Renaissance of Marriage” (2:36), available at ChurchofJesusChrist.org.

Creating a strong and eternal marriage

Elder F. Burton Howard, formerly of the Seventy, shared an experience from his marriage that illustrates the importance of treating marriage as sacred. Consider showing the video “Eternal Marriage” from time code 6:42 to 12:00.

After students watch the video, invite them to share insights they gained about the role husbands and wives play in helping marriage become eternal. You could also invite them to discuss what they can begin doing now to prepare to have a strong marriage in the future.