One of my favorite doctrines of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is that of eternal marriage. I don’t think I’m supposed to have favorites but since I’m imperfect anyway I do. Eternal marriage is one of them, tied with the doctrine of Christ and the Plan of Salvation. Think of it: If we are righteous we are saved through the Atonement of Christ and we get to live forever in the presence of God. That’s miraculous! That tells us three beautiful truths:
1- Death is not the end. There is a life after this mortal trial and we all get to live forever.
2- Jesus Christ atoned for our sins so that we could live again in the presence of God if we are righteous here on earth.
3- We have a loving Heavenly Father who wants to be with us again after this life.
Those three truths are beautiful. They are an essential part of most Christian faiths and bring hope to millions of people every day. That alone gives hope to a world full of sorrow and misery. Now add to those key beliefs this thought; after we have been resurrected, proven worthy through the Atonement of Christ, and entered into the presence of a loving God and Father we not only get to live for an eternity but we get to spend it with our family and our spouse. Doesn’t that just make sense that we would get to spend eternity with the person and the people who we loved most on this earth? Why else would Heavenly Father create such a strong bond on earth if He didn’t intend for that loving bond to last through the eternities?
In his book Stand for Something, President Hinckley illustrates how God intended eternal marriage to be an essential part of His plan for His children on earth: “How wonderful a thing is marriage, a plan provided in the Almighty’s wisdom for the happiness and security of His children and the continuity of the race. He is our Creator, and He designed marriage from the beginning. At the time of Eve’s creation, “Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh:…Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:23-24). As Paul wrote, “Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 11:11). Surely no one familiar with the holy writ can doubt the divinity in the institution of marriage.”
President Hinckley goes on to say “The marriage relationship encompasses the most sacred of all partnerships. The sweetest and most reassuring feelings of life, the most generous and satisfying impulses of the human heart, find expression in a marriage that stands pure and unsullied above the evils of the world. Such a marriage is the desire—the hoped-for, the longed-for, the prayed-for desire—of men and women everywhere”.
As Ben and I have adjusted to life together I have seen some of the most beautiful marital relationships both in and outside of the church. There is a simple joy that is felt by people when they talk about their loved ones. I remember walking in the park with my friend Aurora. Her husband, Alessandro is Ben’s boss at ULB and they are both extremely dedicated to their research here. As I walked with Aurora we lagged behind Ben and Alessandro as they pushed the children around in the strollers. I looked up at the two of them walking and talking about who knows what then turned to Aurora and asked “Will he (Ben) ever figure out when to take a break?” She smiled and responded “No, Alessandro still hasn’t figured that out.” We both laughed a little and the looked ahead of us to our two little nerds and even though the next five minutes were spent planning a way to lock their computers up for a week both of our eyes sparkled with such loving pride. She loved her nerdy over-achieving husband, you could just see it in her eyes.
I have seen that same bright love in the eyes of my dear grandfather. My grandpa Schofield is probably the most amazing human on this earth. He is a brilliant, humble, righteous man who quietly blesses others every day. I look up to him as an perfect example of what it means to be a believer in Christ and felt impressed to ask him about his views on eternal marriage. He wrote:
“My parents were married just after Dad returned from his mission. He had served in Australia and Mom met him in San Francisco when he returned. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple. I always knew I wanted to have a Temple marriage, but when the time came there was no question in my mind. Marguerite and I had gone to a show in Farmington and when it was over we drove down to Shiprock and back talking to each other about an hour’s drive. We learned a lot about each other. We had known each other less than a month and had dated two or three times. I put my arm around her and kissed her goodnight and asked her to marry me. We were married in the Meza, Arizona temple and had a wonderful life together raising our five kids. After LaMont was born, things went downhill very fast so far as her health was concerned. She was diagnosed with bone cancer which affected her whole body. Both hips broke while she was flat on her back in bed. Her pain was intense. As I held her one day, her eyes brightened for a moment and she grimaced a couple of times and was gone. We had a little over eight years together. I knew then what I still know, if I am worthy she will be mine again.” My grandfather’s eyes still sparkle when he talks about his beloved Marguerite. He loves her dearly and shows the same love to my grandmother every day. Of her he writes “Gaye is a different story except the ending is the same. She was Jr. Sunday School coordinator in our Branch. She and the kids fell in love faster than I did. There was one girl who was intent on us getting together. She was a wonderful lady but a pain in the neck (a classic example of my grandpa’s ability to make everyone seem amazing). When she gave up on me , things worked pretty fast. I remember dancing with Gaye at a Branch dance. I had a sore on one of my gums so I left my teeth at home. Barbara caught Gaye and told her “you don’t have to marry Al, he doesn’t have any teeth”. Well it’s been 56 years since we were married in the Salt Lake City Temple. A couple more years and we might just make it work. Your grandma and I have a deep and abiding love for each other. I think that a deep and abiding love for the Savior in our lives has been one of the things that has kept our marriage strong. We have had our share of disagreements, but with our deep love we have worked these out. We can be one in purpose, one in core beliefs, one in almost everything and still have our own unique personalities. I love my sweet Gaye with all my heart and I know that if I can keep myself worthy she will be mine throughout eternity. Eternity to me is these to wonderful wives and our many children with their mates and children.” I’d like to thank my grandpa for sending that beautiful account and portrayal of love and devotion. I know that he strives hard every day to be worthy to live forever with his sweethearts.
Eternal marriage is something that the Lord teaches us throughout the scriptures. From the beginning of time God planned for husband and wife to be partners in this life and eternity. “And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should beaalone; I will make him ban help meet for him. 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; And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a awoman, and brought her unto the man.” (Genesis 2: 18, 21-22). In his epistle to the Hebrews Paul wrote “Marriage is honourable in all” (Hebrews 13:4) And in the gospel of Mark the Savior himself said “But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a aman leave his father and mother, and cleave to his bwife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath ajoined together, let not man putbasunder.” (Mark 10: 6-9).
In that last scripture Christ is speaking of an eternal marriage one that is performed with the correct keys and authority. “The Savior Himself spoke of this sacred marriage covenant and promise when He gave the authority to His disciples to bind in heaven sacred covenants made on earth: “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kindom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:19) ”
This scripture is referring to the priesthood keys given to Moses and Elias during their time here on earth. These keys were used to perform sacred ordinances in the temple which included marriage ceremonies but had been lost due to the unrighteousness of the children of Israel. In the next chapter of St. Matthew we go to the transfiguration of Christ and read: “ And after six days Jesus taketh aPeter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, And was atransfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. And, behold, there appeared unto them aMoses and bElias talking with him.”(Matt 17: 1-7) Here, in the presence Moses and Elias, Christ restored the priesthood keys to the earth and bestowed them upon Peter, James, and John. These restored priesthood keys made it possible for couples to be married and sealed together in the holy temple of God for time and for all eternity.
After Christ’s death and the death of his ordained apostles the keys of the priesthood were once again lost to the children of God. The apostasy and dark ages took away the plain and precious truths of Christ’s gospel and holy Temples along with their sacred ceremonies which sealed spouses and families here on earth and in heaven, were destroyed. The promise of eternal family was gone until the gospel was once again restored to this earth.
Said Elder Robert D. Hales “In this latter day the promise of eternal families was restored in 1829 when the powers of the Melchizedek Priesthood (the priesthood held by Moses, Elias, and Christ) were restored to the earth. Seven years later, in the Kirtland Temple, the keys to perform the sealing (marriage) ordinance were restored, as recorded in the Doctrine and Covenants: “Elijah the prophet, who was taken to heaven without tasting death, stood before us, and said: “Behold, the time has fully come, which was spoken of by the mouth of Malachi testifying that he [Elijah] should be sent, before the great and dreadful day of the Lord come—To aturn the bhearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse— “…The keys of this dispensation are committed into your hands” (D&C 110:13-14, 16). With the restoration of the keys and priesthood authority comes the opportunity for all who are worthy to receive the blessing of eternal families”.
I can’t think of any greater blessing than one of an eternal family. What a blessing it is and I love the invitation given in that scripture “all who are worthy to receive the blessing”. Brothers and sisters the place to receive this great blessing is in the house of the Lord. Only within the walls of the Holy Temples are these sacred ordinances performed. Therein lies our only opportunity to be together forever with the family and spouse we love so dearly. Russell M. Nelson said it best when he said “Celestial marriage is a pivotal part of preparation for eternal life. It requires one to be married to the right person, in the right place, by the right authority, and to obey that sacred covenant faithfully. Then one may be assured of exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God.” I encourage our youth to be worthy to be married in the temple of the Lord. Don’t settle for less. You deserve the hope that comes with a marriage that lasts beyond the veil and the deep love that comes with it. Richard G. Scott describes the blessing of a temple sealing in these words “The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment.”
To those of you who aren’t yet married strive to be married in the temple. For those who are married but not yet sealed in the temple make it a goal to be sealed to your family in the house of the Lord. Insure that you will have the opportunity to become an eternal family by doing everything you can in this life.
For those lucky saints who are already married I be grateful for your spouses. Tell them how much you love them. Live worthy of the covenants that you made in the temple and follow these four cornerstones outlined by President Hinckley. 1-Have Mutual Respect and loyalty to one another. 2-Use the Soft Answer. 3- Have Financial honesty. 4-Pray together.
I echo Elder Scotts words “It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. I have no power to describe the peace and serenity that comes from the assurance that as I continue to live worthily, I will be able to be with my beloved and our children forever because of that sacred ordinance performed with the proper authority” I have a testimony that through the restoration of sacred priesthood keys we are able to live together forever as husband and wife and as families. I testify that no greater joy can come from life than the joy that comes from being married for time and eternity. That we may all be worthy to receive those blessing in our lives is my prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Sources:
Hales, Robert. "The Eternal Family." Ensign. 1996:
Hinckley, Gordon. Stand for Something. New York: Times Books, 2000. Print.
Nelson, Russell. "Celestial Marriage." Ensign. Nov. 2008:
Scott, Richard. “The Eternal Blessings of Marriage.” Ensign. Oct. 2011
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