Marriage for Eternity

In a little over two months, I’ll be getting married and sealed for eternity to my fiancée, Tayloré. I decided to write about what “eternal marriage” means to me.

As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we believe in marrying more than only for this mortal life. We believe, through living the gospel, keeping our covenants and being faithful, we can be together, as husband and wife, for eternity. In the world, marriage is considered to only last “until death do you part.” While finding love is an amazing thing, thinking that this mortal life is all you have with your spouse is, well, depressing.

I was at Institute a few weeks ago and the institute director gave an interesting perspective on what marriage actually is. He spoke of welding. Welding is the process of taking two halves and connecting them together into one inseparable whole. When members of the church are sealed for time and all eternity in the temple, the sealing is the process of taking two halves; a man and a woman; and welding them together into one inseparable whole.

Think about that for a minute. You aren’t welded together for a few decades, but FOREVER.

Neither half will be perfect. But you aren’t looking for perfection, because none of us are perfect. You are looking for someone with potential, someone you want to progress with through this life and beyond.

Elder Richard G. Scott taught, “It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together.”

Marriage is of extreme importance in the gospel. Elder Scott continues:

“If you are a young man of appropriate age and are not married, don’t waste time in idle pursuits. Get on with life and focus on getting married. Don’t just coast through this period of life. Young men, serve a worthy mission. Then make your highest priority finding a worthy, eternal companion.“

When a man and woman are sealed in the temple, they make covenants with God. The covenants we make come with eternal blessings beyond our comprehension. Elder F. Burton Howard proclaimed, “To those who keep the covenant of marriage, God promises the fulness of His glory, eternal lives, eternal increase, exaltation in the celestial kingdom, and a fulness of joy.”

Eternal marriage is not only between man and woman, but it is a sacred covenant with our Heavenly Father Himself. Jesus Christ revealed to Joseph Smith the expansiveness of God’s blessings if we uphold our end of the bargain:

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. (D&C 132:20)

In closing, I would like to leave you with a quote from one of my favorite past prophets, President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“There is no substitute for marrying in the temple. It is the only place under the heavens where marriage can be solemnized for eternity. Don’t cheat yourself. Don’t cheat your companion. Don’t shortchange your lives. Marry the right person in the right place at the right time.“

To all of you who are single; stop wasting time and make it your highest priority to find a worthy, eternal companion. Covenant making and keeping is our highest priority, and with it, comes our greatest blessings.

Supplemental reading:

• “The Eternal Blessings of Marriage” -Elder Richard G. Scott, April 2011
• “Eternal Marriage” – Elder F. Burton Howard, April 2003
• “The Family: A Proclamation to the World”

Matt writes on his own blog at PrayThrice. You can follow Matt on Twitter @Matthew_7_14.

Editor’s note: Tay-low-ray turned out to be a psycho hosebeast, surprising no one but Matt. However, TJ does not retract any other part of this article.