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I Will Go No Further! 4 Our time in this life is intended, according to scripture, to be a time of choosing, a time of experiences, a probationary period afforded us for working out our salvation. Alma 12:24 “…there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead”. Alma 34:32 “…the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 …do not procrastinate the day of your repentance …which is given us to prepare for eternity,” This is our time to “prepare for eternity”, there is however, for those that understand probation and have concern about their “state …after the resurrection,” a subtle danger. Our mortal existence seems to be fraught with milestones that when reached, make us feel content, for a season, with what we’ve accomplished, where we’re satisfied and subsequently feel less anxious about our own progression. In scriptural accounts of the pre-mortal war in heaven, there were those that declared a halt to their own progression by rebelling against Heavenly Father’s plan of redemption. “…a third part of the hosts of heaven turned he away from me because of their agency; And they were thrust down, and thus came the devil and his angels; And, behold, there is a place prepared for them from the beginning, which place is hell”. We’re taught that some rejoiced when the plan was presented and the Lord Jehovah was anointed to be our Savior and Redeemer. There must have also been, with our jubilation, sadness; we must have felt heart-breaking grief, as we watched our rebellious sibling spirits declare, by their choice to rebel: “I will go no further.” In spite of the impending penalty, of being cast out of Heavenly Father’s presence, numberless spirit beings chose to rebel; consequently limiting themselves to an eternity long spiritual death. Lacking the courage to believe and devoid of faith these beings sought for glory without effort by attempting to become a law unto themselves. It would’ve been fortunate for us, if that weakness, the impulse to plateau, had been purged from the family of man when, “a third part of the host of heaven …were thrust down”. Instead, in this mortal realm, many seem to stop progressing once they achieve or have overcome enough of their wicked nature that they can rationally say, “I’m a good person.” Whenever we, like a third of our spirit family, attempt to disregard, disbelieve, or rebel against the eternal laws that even God is subject to, are in danger of a fate different than theirs, but just as permanent. The deceived are content to allow the adversary to discount the validity and the power of a final Judgment Day. Desiring to live worldly ways and to maintain stiff-necked traditions some are content with the preaching of the day: “don’t worry everything’s gonna be okay.” Even good kids grow up with some bad habits and have a tendency to experiment with a “little sin.” As they grow up and develop more adult-like behavior, they are tempted by the doctrine: “I will go no further.” To succumb to this anti-doctrine is rebellion that is as dangerous now as when it was practiced by our pre-mortal siblings. Men and women marry, begin the building of a family, then they focus on the chores of life. Considerable time and energy is devoted to social, emotional, and financial needs. Diligent attention to these needs by the world’s standards, make up the dynamics of a good life. When all these elements are in place, life is good, and seems to be complete. The urge to pursue spiritual needs is often left to those that recognize the need for salvation; those with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Most seem to drift along content that “everything’s gonna be okay ‘cause “I’m a good person.” Others, those that recognize the promptings of the spirit, feel the need not just be a “good person” but to be saved. These “I need to be saved”, feelings prompt some of us to seek redemption. The danger of allowing ourselves to coast to a stop is that everything we hold dear is at risk. The Lord has given us, not just the commandments but also examples, formulas, and priesthood ordinances, and we are required to overcome and to repent. How then, do we avoid life’s plateaus? Is regular church attendance an assurance that our progress is acceptable? Is there any danger in an, “I’ll just live my life and hope for the best attitude”? When we realize that we’re drifting off course; that we’re not as focused on eternal life as we should be, when job, leisure, and recreation begin to interfere with Sabbath-day observance and our church callings what do we do? The Lord provided section 20 of the Doctrine and Covenants as His answer for these questions. This section contains instruction for the Ordinance of the Sacrament. Verse 75 sets the criteria for observance of this ordinance: “It is expedient that the church meet together often to partake of bread and wine in the remembrance of the Lord Jesus;” Per this verse, “it is expedient”; necessary for our salvation that we participate in this ordinance, often. Weekly we are allowed to renew our covenants with the Lord and to recommit to full repentance; given one more chance to stay the course. The next verses contain the covenant that, when diligently observed and properly prepared for, can be the Lord’s formula for mortal progression. When kept, the covenant of the Sacrament prevents our being lulled into carnal security and aids in our battle with temptation. According to verse 77 we, by “always remembering” the Lord and for keeping “his commandments …may always have his spirit to be with” us. The required degree of commitment is evidenced by the Lord’s use of the word “always”. We are making a covenant to remember the Lord each minute of every day. Weekly we covenant with God to remember Him in each choice, with every decision, and to search all thoughts and feelings for their source. This is to determine whether they come from the Lord or if their origin is our adversary. And, to do all this, beginning with our morning prayer and ending with the final clearing of our mind to allow for slumber. A covenant of this magnitude warrants attentive preparation. Nothing casual applies to a covenant that involves all of anything, especially our time. Proper preparation would include prayer and pondering the moment. Preparation for this ordinance is, in itself, keeping the covenant to always remember Him. The ordinance of the sacrament is a time for reflection, a time for searching our souls and for analyzing our standing before the Lord. It is an opportunity for course correction and the perfect chance to plan the coming week of repentance. It is our sure course; if we make this covenant the focus of our week, each week, the Lord promises that we “may” have His spirit to be with us “always”. Elder Henry B. Eyring said; “Even a child can understand what to do to have the Holy Ghost as a companion. The sacramental prayer tells us. We hear it every week as we attend our Sacrament Meetings. The Holy Ghost remains with us only if we stay clean and free from the love of worldly things. Pride and rebellious choices to be unclean repel the Holy Ghost. The Lord’s spirit dwells with and aids, by revealing all things, only those that truly seek salvation by the correct course. The Prophet Joseph Smith, in an interview with the President of the United States, when asked, “wherein we differed in our religion from the other religions of the day,” answered, “the gift of the Holy Ghost”. Our weekly challenge is to, much more than just partake of the sacrament, it is to adequately prepare for and then to honestly renew our covenants. The great promised blessing of this ordinance is, that if we “always” remember Him we “may always” enjoy the companionship of His spirit. Within this generous ordinance the Lord has promised spiritual nourishment and has provided the sure pattern for our salvation, especially for times when our testimony has stalled or when temptation threatens to overcome us. This is the “Gift of the Holy Ghost,” the ordinance of the Sacrament is the key to having the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, and, the Holy Ghost is the key to returning to our Heavenly Father’s presence. How gracious of the Lord to provide, for those of us that “believe” and that desire exaltation, this grand plan of redemption and with it, countless examples, sure formulas, and the still small voice of the Holy Ghost. This is, for us, a familiar spiritual whisper that offers comfort and tells us “this is for you”. How appropriate it is for those that have made sacred covenants, as we learn and live the laws of the celestial kingdom to begin each week with a sacramental covenant, not to forget. May we “always” remember Him that we can have His spirit to be with us, “always”.

The Broken Heart… 3 Chapter -2- reviewed the only prevention for the dread and subsequent heartbreak of being alone forever. This study will continue by addressing “the broken heart” itself. Anciently, the Mosaic Law that included animal sacrifices, was fulfilled by the atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets; I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” The Lamb of God fulfilled the Law of Moses and during His mortal ministry established the fullness of the Gospel, a higher law. The offering required by the New and Everlasting Covenant of the Gospel is, instead of blood sacrifices, a “broken heart and a contrite spirit”. Everyone, some more than others, wonder about the life, after this life. Those without a testimony of Jesus Christ, as Savior and Redeemer, that value their own life and the companionship of loved ones eventually realize that all that they cherish, because of death, will be lost. This is the broken heart, with it comes contrition, an overwhelming desire to be saved from death and this loss or hell. All that have faith in and hope for redemption have experienced this broken heart. Contrition comes, as we understand that our lives, lived without repentance and spiritual nourishment, are an offense to the great plan of redemption. Those that understand the Law of Justice are at times reminded, generally following transgression and the withdrawal of the Lord’s spirit that their broken heart can last forever. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read: “Thou shalt offer a sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in righteousness, even that of a broken heart and a contrite spirit”. The required broken heart and contrite spirit must, by covenant, be offered and then humbly maintained for the remainder of our lives. If our covenants with the Lord are broken we lose our promised blessings: “I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise”. The Lord’s promises are withdrawn, meaning that if we are not “valiant” in keeping the covenants made with God we will not be granted exaltation. It has been established, that a broken heart and a contrite spirit are required, before we can receive all the blessings of the New and Everlasting Covenant. But, what of them that don’t embrace the Gospel, that don’t accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer, or worse, them that fight against the Church of the Lamb. Is their rejection of the Savior a way to avoid this broken heart? The answer is no, it may be delayed but a broken heart, for each of us, is inevitable; the differences will be measured in magnitude and duration. Modern scripture speaks of the degree of suffering reserved for those that fail to repent in these words: ”But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit-and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink-“ And, the duration will be forever: ”Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment”. How will broken hearts last forever? First, the prospect of hell looms ominously over each of us. Everyone is afraid of torment like that described in the scriptures. For times when we stray into forbidden paths or when our choices are wrong, the Lord has mercifully provided the light of Christ; our conscience, this gift to all men manifests itself with feelings of guilt whenever we sin. It is merciful, as it generates sick sober feelings that are intended to be an alarm, a signal to correct a course that is leading us off the strait and narrow path, given to hopefully prevent our transgressions from becoming more severe. However, if these tugs on our spiritual ear are ignored, the day will come when, as the Lord declared, we will lament: “The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and my soul is not saved!” Second, there will come a day when all that we hold dear, things precious even to the wicked, are lost or moved beyond our power to recover. A day when the privileges of exaltation, that most take for granted in this life, will be taken from us forever. Lost will be our claim on our loved ones, the promised “fullness of joy”, and our prospects for inheriting the blessings of exaltation. And finally, after the loss of these treasures and the opportunity to repent is forever past, the broken heart described above will be nothing short of “an unquenchable flame.” Forever knowing what could have been will make it unquenchable. Knowing that in spite of whatever progress we are allowed to make, in our assigned sphere of existence, we will be left ”to endure a never-ending torment.” The chore of this life is to choose. Our options are; to come unto Christ, to live just lives indifferent to spiritual enticements, or we can list to obey the devil and, in the extreme, fight against all righteousness. For each choice there are consequences, a reward or a punishment. Subsequent, to each mortal life chosen, is a broken heart. For a few, those that elect to make their broken heart a “sacrifice unto the Lord,” there will be, ultimately an inheritance of life eternal. And for the foolish, those that procrastinate the day of their repentance, or worse, that seek always to do evil, there will be a dreadful broken heart; broken, not as a sacrificial offering, nor as a plea for salvation, but as the sad eternal consequence of their choices. Awareness of blessings forever lost will vividly accompany the sadness described by Mosiah: “And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames are unquenchable, and whose smoke ascendeth up forever and ever”. May we be cognizant of our own heart, sensitive to our own happiness; our heart, broken will be offered to the Lord, in this life, or broken forever if it isn’t. Let’s be careful which altar we place it on; shall we humbly offer it to the Lord, broken and contrite, or will we ignore scriptural warnings and suffer the eternal torment, “whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever”, reserved for the rebellious and apathetic?

this is chapter 2 Is it good to be alone? It seems that everyone, given the choice, wants companionship. In fact, the question posed by the title of this chapter brings to the heart of those that have given it sufficient thought, a dread ranking second to few other fears. In the arena of normal relationships being without a spouse is akin to the loneliness of solitary confinement. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the doctrine of eternal marriage, the only permanent antidote for being alone, said: “I think that if we had the capacity to teach effectively this one doctrine, it would capture the interest of millions of husbands and wives who love one another and who love their children, but whose marriage is in effect only "until death do you part." Marriage is universal, except in rare cases everyone marries. Most of us have no desire to be alone; we are not content except as a couple. Marriage is all-important and yet every wedding ceremony includes the statement: “until death do you part”? What does this termination clause mean and how did it become part of these legal contracts? Surely those that “love one another” will still be married after death? Questions like these reflect the uneasiness of this great Christian mystery: why did God, in Genesis 2, declare; “It is not good that the man should be alone;” and then, during His mortal ministry, teach that men and women will not be married after the resurrection? For all that profess to be Christian, the following verses, from the bible, must be accepted as the Lord’s law regarding marriage. Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: When asked, “whose wife shall she be”, the Savior’s answer was that after the resurrection she wouldn’t be married to anyone. His answer, recorded three times in the New Testament, instituted what eventually became the termination cause, “until death do you part,” in marriage ceremonies. There are some that “err, not knowing the scriptures,” who take it upon themselves to create a God, of their own design. They say, “God won’t separate my family because we love each other,” they are satisfied that marriage by earthly authority, in spite of these verses, will be recognized by the Lord. They are convinced that a loving God would never separate married couples that love each other. Take a few minutes and ponder each of these questions: o Have you ever felt concern about being alone forever? From childhood, visions of future options revolved around one constant; marriage, plans fail, goals change but the intent to marry was never permanently cancelled. Marriage is never intended to be temporary, but even following the unhappiness of a divorce it once again finds its way back to the top of our priority list. In the book of Matthew we read: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh;” only in marriage do we find that sense of being complete. All are born and grow to adulthood feeling that until they’re married they’re not quite whole. o Do thoughts about your own future hinge on the dread of being alone? In spite of the hard work, the challenges, and the occasional disappointments associated, even with good marriages, men and women devote their whole life to preserving these covenant relationships. o Do these New Testament scriptures make being alone forever inevitable? We all know older couples that, as they approach the end of their lives together, cling to each other for dear life. Because of their love for one another and the dread of being alone, they willingly expend all their combined resources to delay the inevitable separation. o In the light of these questions, do you fear anything more than being alone …forever? As members of the Lord’s church we often speak of going back to Heavenly Father’s presence. We talk and teach and think eternal marriage but we seldom even consider being eternally alone. We really have no way of knowing anything about living in the presence of exalted beings, nor do we have, even in the scriptures, a description of what a celestial world will look like but we all know from experience, what being alone feels like. It’s a terrible empty feeling that gets worse the longer it lasts. These questions, included to provoke thought, when given sincere attention make one shudder at the very thought of the weeping inherent in being alone forever. They bring to mind this sobering realization: either my marriage is forever or it isn’t. Fortunately for mankind Jesus Christ redeemed us not only from death but also from the hell of being “alone”. Along side the Lord’s law governing civil marriage, stands the biblical key to the doctrine of eternal marriage. Six days before the Savior took Peter, James, and John into a high mountain apart "and was transfigured before them” He promised Peter: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 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”. Keys to bind; modern inspiration tells us that the keys of Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances were given to Peter, James, and John under the administration of the Savior, Moses, and Elias. Even those that claim the authority held anciently by Saint Peter don’t profess possession of the power to perform marriages that will be valid beyond this mortal life. More questions: if marriage covenants are binding after death why then did Jesus teach that they weren’t, why is there a termination statement in all-wedding ceremonies, and why did the Lord deem it necessary to bestow the authority to “bind …in heaven”, upon His apostles? If the Lord truly values families and patriarchal lineage, which is really the theme of the Bible, then wouldn’t He, in spite of His New Testament teachings, provide a means to “bind” families together forever. Is there any way for our marriages here to be, “bound in heaven”? The answer is yes; the Savior was speaking of the power to “bind” in this life for the life to come. The authority to “bind on earth” is the priesthood authority given to the Mortal Messiah’s chief apostles to seal couples and their children together “in heaven.” But, what of those that won’t believe the words spoken by the Lord, are they to be separated forever at death? The thought of marriages being dissolved seems harsh and unloving until we understand that the Lord in his love for mankind, by the power of the atonement, has restored the priesthood authority to, if accepted, seal husbands and wives together forever. Eternal marriage is an essential part of the Lord’s plan of salvation. For the countless ages of our pre-mortal existence we were all separate single individuals. As we prepared for our mortal sojourn here on earth we must have anxiously looked forward to possessing this body and to the countless sensations associated with a physical existence. I submit that more than anything else we anticipated that great day when we could finally become a couple; when we would be flesh, not “twain, but one flesh.” We lived for millennia in the presence of our Heavenly father and other glorified beings of flesh and bone; we witnessed first hand an exalted existence and yearned to experience the “fullness of joy” we saw in their lives, and because we brought these pre-mortal longings with us; we came to earth, literally wired to be a couple. I would further submit that when we leave this life our desire for companionship will not only go with us, but because of our mortal experiences, it will now be stamped into our very being. We came to earth with the promise that, if accepted, the Lord’s plan would allow us to return to his presence and spend eternity sealed to someone we love. The plan has never been to dissolve marriages between couples that love each other. From before time He has provided the means, in his Kingdom, for marriages to be eternal. However, if by choice, the plan with its associated covenants is rejected our fate is to return to the single separate pre-mortal condition we came from; in the mortal Christ’s own words: “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”. He was speaking of anyone that has been married, in this earthly kingdom, by earthly authority only. The scriptures are clear that this “being alone” will be forever. Modern scripture provides true doctrine about the consequences of marriages performed by earthly authority only. Note the correlation with the New Testament scriptures: ”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… 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels… 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation… Joseph Fielding Smith interprets ancient and modern scripture, regarding marriage performed by earthly authority, with this warning: Unless young people who marry outside the temple speedily repent, they cut themselves off from exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God… …When they marry outside of the temple, they cut themselves off. If they are content with that kind of marriage outside, when they come forth in the resurrection, they have no claim upon each other, or their children upon them, and there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord further decreed: "Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory" Love for my wife, Christine, and my desire to spend eternity with her keeps the future in an eternal perspective. I think we could easily, in the verse, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” replace the words “not good” with the word, dreadful. I hope this dread, of a future without the love of my life, is part of the broken heart the Lord requires of me. Along with the prospect of being forever “alone” comes, sober contrition and an urgency to “do what ever it takes” to avoid it. The Savior established Priesthood authority anciently and it has now been restored again to the earth. One of its purposes is to seal husbands and wives together forever. Like mankind in all previous dispensations, we are given choices. The choices are: a “fullness of joy” or to be “alone” forever, great care must be taken as these choices have eternal consequences. So, is it good to be alone, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is no. Can this being alone be avoided, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is yes.

the is chapter one “We Believe, But Do We Understand?” -1- The Privileges of Exaltation… To begin this review of restored gospel doctrine, it is important that we “understand” something about the blessings promised to those that hope to inherit eternal life and that brings to mind what we all have at risk. Even the Lord’s great plan of redemption has a bottom-line. On the line are precious things, dear to our hearts that we already possess. Even now we are participating in a plan that will culminate in a final, “every man, according to his works” Day of Judgment. It will be divine merciful judgment but it will contradict the belief that we will all eventually, as a universal course of events, to one degree or another, receive the same reward. The prophet Alma outlining the applicable laws and the required sacrifices of the plan of redemption, taught: “and thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God”. In this probationary period, this time of trial, we are given several gifts that are essential, even for participation in such a test and abilities without which, success would be beyond our reach. Without these gifts and our agency, a fair judgment of our labors would not be possible. Provided for us in this life, a gift that is ours forever, without which our labors could not be performed, is a physical body; a body of flesh and bone with senses subject to the stimuli of a temporal existence and suited to the labor of personal salvation. With this body, receptive to countless physical sensations and endless emotional and spiritual signals, the Lord allows us temporary possession of a few of the privileges held by exalted beings. Like our Father in heaven, we are allowed to marry; to be “one flesh” with a fellow probationary soul. This is a temporary privilege that will be lost by everyone except those that make themselves worthy of celestial glory. And also, like the Lord, our physical body has within itself the power of procreation; a power given unearned, to be exercised by all, even the most wicked, during this earthly sojourn. This too is temporary. With this power to procreate comes the patriarchal right to preside; those that marry, bear children and organize a family, preside over that which is potentially an eternal unit; a status Heavenly Father reserves for Himself and other exalted bearers of the priesthood. This divine package of privileges is a stewardship, not unlike “the portion of goods” the “prodigal son” asked his father for; his inheritance, which he then “gathered …together” for “his journey into a far country.” We bring with us into this mortal life an endowment of powers, privileges and the agency to do with them as we choose; they can be “ wasted …with riotous living” or sealed upon us by covenant, here on earth, until our return to the Father. Our “probationary time” though fraught with danger, both subtle and bold, is a time wherein we’re allowed to sample the privileges of exaltation. Like our Heavenly Father we now have, not only a body, but we can marry, we can become parents, and we are allowed to preside over our posterity. We have within our grasp an eternal kingdom complete with the makings of a grand patriarchal order, ours to enjoy, ours to magnify, ours forever. The Doctrine & Covenants states: “And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father's kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him”. We already have a sample of the powers that made the God of Heaven our Father. Even the most precious of gifts, when possessed by everyone tends to become common and is often taken for granted. For instance, procreation when viewed in less than a sacred reverent manner becomes nothing more than a function of nature. These treasures, all privileges of exaltation, are given us to weigh in the balance with the evil counterfeit options offered by the adversary. It takes little wisdom to be grateful to the Lord for giving us these advantages in our struggle against evil. For sharing with us, that are not yet worthy, sacred gifts that dispel the dread of a future without family. For us to choose good over the wicked enticements of the world we had to know and to feel and to experience the joy and fulfillment of these special gifts. Sadly, possession of these privileges will be temporary for many, as most will not make and then honor the covenants associated with such blessings. Elder Maxwell taught us about those blessings in these words: “Each soul must-now or later-surrender to God. At that moment the universe becomes a vast home, rather than a majestic but hostile maze. Surprisingly with such surrender comes victory, and never have any received such surrender terms. To yield to him is to receive all that he has! Man’s fondest desires are expressed in the funerals we conduct. We teach of the promised resurrection and the subsequent reuniting of families that have been separated by death. This yearning, for a forever family, demands access to the privileges reserved for those that willingly covenant, with the Lord, to live the laws of His kingdom. These covenants are sacred and must be made by His authority to be valid for privileges in His kingdom. We must covenant and then live, the laws of chastity, sacrifice, and consecration and upon the condition that we honor these and other temple covenants and are sealed to our family we retain the privilege of marriage, of eternal increase, and secure the right to preside over our posterity, from this life right on into the next.

i was just released as bishop. before serving i had never written anything but the past few yrs wrote several papers that were compiled into one manuscript. this is the preface. hope you enjoy it. “We Believe, But Do We Understand?” -PREFACE- …do We Understand? To begin this study, ask yourself these questions: o Do I know the gospel is true but lack the faith to repent? o Is it easier to bear my testimony than it is to magnify my callings? o I believe, but do I understand? Each time we hear a gospel message, be it the first time or later as we study to learn gospel doctrine, it comes with spiritual confirmation; the spirit of the Lord testifies to our spirit of the truthfulness of this knowledge. Physical impressions or feelings that the gospel is true come as a result of this spirit-to-spirit communication. The Holy Ghost, by testifying directly to our spirit makes this knowledge of the plan of redemption undeniable. When gospel truths are received our physical self can be deceived or even choose to ignore the message but our spirit, regardless of our passion to convince it otherwise, knows and will always know the truth. Eventually everyone, because of multiple spiritual witnesses will have to confess or admit that they recognized, in their heart, that the gospel is true. Someday after our spirit steps out of this physical form it will, now unrestrained by the flesh, recall these truths, even those that were physically ignored or suppressed in mortality. Sadly many will recall or come to understand that the spiritual impressions that influenced their mortal choices were from the wrong source; the adversary and that they will “receive their wages of whom they list to obey”. This newly acquired knowledge, in the words of the prophet Alma: “when planted in your heart and nourished …with much care” can be compared “unto a seed” that will “… take root; …springing up unto everlasting life.” According to the prophet a testimony of the gospel will be followed by: “understanding” that “doth begin to be enlightened.” Understanding comes after we believe, but not without study, nor without prayer and fasting and sacrifice, and only as a product of continued learning and the associated personal revelation. Let us preface with the focus of our belief. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth, was born in a manger, under a new star, with an angelic chorus heralding his birth. We believe that He healed the sick, caused the blind to see, raised the dead, and finally, was condemned to die on a cross on Calvary. We believe that He was buried in a borrowed tomb and on the third day rose from the grave and more than this we believe that he died for us. We believe that He is our Savior, our Redeemer, the Creator of heaven and earth. We believe that He was the Great Jehovah of the Old Testament and the Messiah of the New Testament, and that it was His finger that wrote upon the tablets of stone given to Moses on Mount Sinai. We believe He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the source of inspiration for all the ancient prophets. We believe that Jesus Christ, the author of our salvation, has overcome the grave and that because of His infinite atonement each of us can receive eternal life. And we, members of the Lord’s restored Church, believe that following the Savior’s resurrection, our Heavenly Father, speaking to the Nephites and Lamanites gathered at the Temple in the land of Bountiful, said: “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased, in whom I have glorified my name-hear ye him.” That first day, in the promised-land Jesus taught many pure and simple Gospel principles, then concluded with this instruction; “Therefore, go ye unto your homes, and ponder upon the things which I have said, and ask of the Father, in my name, that ye may understand.” The Savior instructed them and subsequently us to “ponder and ask of the Father” that we could understand. Each of us is grateful for the atonement and resurrection of the messiah, we believe, but do we understand? To know what the Lord wanted us to understand, we must look to the preceding chapters. In chapter eleven of third Nephi, the same chapter that describes the appearance of the resurrected Christ to the people in Bountiful we read: “Behold, verily, verily, I say unto you, I will declare unto you my doctrine”. In the next nine verses the Savior repeated the declaration: “this is my doctrine” three more times. Starting in verse 32, the Savior gives this instruction: “all men, everywhere …repent and believe in me”. The next few verses add the necessity of being baptized for an inheritance in His Kingdom: ”And whoso believeth in me, and is baptized, the same shall be saved; and they are they who shall inherit the kingdom of God.” Then, the anointed Christ promises the ‘Gift of the Holy Ghost’ in these words …”he will visit him with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” In verse 37 and again in verse 38 we are given the command: ”ye must repent, and be baptized in my name,” as conditions for membership in God’s kingdom. In just a few verses the risen Lord declared ownership of these principles and ordinances: first, we are to have faith in Him; the Lord Jesus Christ, that He alone can and will, as our Savior, redeem us from the grave and hell. Next, we are to repent and then be baptized. And finally, upon condition of the preceding principles, we are promised the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This, His “doctrine,” is expressed, in our dispensation, as the 4th Article of Faith: “believe that the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are: first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins; fourth, Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.” This doctrine, given us by the Risen Lord, is essential for defense against and at times for recovery from, wandering away from the “strait and narrow path”. The application and practice of these principles is indispensable in our progression toward salvation. It is our measuring stick, a formula to be used for plotting our course and to gauge our progress. Properly understood, this formula can help us know whether our sacrifice is acceptable to the Lord at any point along life’s journey. Complete repentance with the subsequent worthiness to “receive the Holy Ghost” is the Lord’s doctrine of progression. May we “ponder upon the things” that the Savior taught, that we “may understand,” His doctrine.

my name is gordon. while serving as a bishop i wrote this paper to help several in the ward that were struggle the way you are. please read it and see how important marriage is. Is it good to be alone? It seems that everyone, given the choice, wants companionship. In fact, the question posed by the title of this chapter brings to the heart of those that have given it sufficient thought, a dread ranking second to few other fears. In the arena of normal relationships being without a spouse is akin to the loneliness of solitary confinement. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the doctrine of eternal marriage, the only permanent antidote for being alone, said: “I think that if we had the capacity to teach effectively this one doctrine, it would capture the interest of millions of husbands and wives who love one another and who love their children, but whose marriage is in effect only "until death do you part." Marriage is universal, except in rare cases everyone marries. Most of us have no desire to be alone; we are not content except as a couple. Marriage is all-important and yet every wedding ceremony includes the statement: “until death do you part”? What does this termination clause mean and how did it become part of these legal contracts? Surely those that “love one another” will still be married after death? Questions like these reflect the uneasiness of this great Christian mystery: why did God, in Genesis 2, declare; “It is not good that the man should be alone;” and then, during His mortal ministry, teach that men and women will not be married after the resurrection? For all that profess to be Christian, the following verses, from the bible, must be accepted as the Lord’s law regarding marriage. Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: When asked, “whose wife shall she be”, the Savior’s answer was that after the resurrection she wouldn’t be married to anyone. His answer, recorded three times in the New Testament, instituted what eventually became the termination cause, “until death do you part,” in marriage ceremonies. There are some that “err, not knowing the scriptures,” who take it upon themselves to create a God, of their own design. They say, “God won’t separate my family because we love each other,” they are satisfied that marriage by earthly authority, in spite of these verses, will be recognized by the Lord. They are convinced that a loving God would never separate married couples that love each other. Take a few minutes and ponder each of these questions: o Have you ever felt concern about being alone forever? From childhood, visions of future options revolved around one constant; marriage, plans fail, goals change but the intent to marry was never permanently cancelled. Marriage is never intended to be temporary, but even following the unhappiness of a divorce it once again finds its way back to the top of our priority list. In the book of Matthew we read: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh;” only in marriage do we find that sense of being complete. All are born and grow to adulthood feeling that until they’re married they’re not quite whole. o Do thoughts about your own future hinge on the dread of being alone? In spite of the hard work, the challenges, and the occasional disappointments associated, even with good marriages, men and women devote their whole life to preserving these covenant relationships. o Do these New Testament scriptures make being alone forever inevitable? We all know older couples that, as they approach the end of their lives together, cling to each other for dear life. Because of their love for one another and the dread of being alone, they willingly expend all their combined resources to delay the inevitable separation. o In the light of these questions, do you fear anything more than being alone …forever? As members of the Lord’s church we often speak of going back to Heavenly Father’s presence. We talk and teach and think eternal marriage but we seldom even consider being eternally alone. We really have no way of knowing anything about living in the presence of exalted beings, nor do we have, even in the scriptures, a description of what a celestial world will look like but we all know from experience, what being alone feels like. It’s a terrible empty feeling that gets worse the longer it lasts. These questions, included to provoke thought, when given sincere attention make one shudder at the very thought of the weeping inherent in being alone forever. They bring to mind this sobering realization: either my marriage is forever or it isn’t. Fortunately for mankind Jesus Christ redeemed us not only from death but also from the hell of being “alone”. Along side the Lord’s law governing civil marriage, stands the biblical key to the doctrine of eternal marriage. Six days before the Savior took Peter, James, and John into a high mountain apart "and was transfigured before them” He promised Peter: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 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”. Keys to bind; modern inspiration tells us that the keys of Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances were given to Peter, James, and John under the administration of the Savior, Moses, and Elias. Even those that claim the authority held anciently by Saint Peter don’t profess possession of the power to perform marriages that will be valid beyond this mortal life. More questions: if marriage covenants are binding after death why then did Jesus teach that they weren’t, why is there a termination statement in all-wedding ceremonies, and why did the Lord deem it necessary to bestow the authority to “bind …in heaven”, upon His apostles? If the Lord truly values families and patriarchal lineage, which is really the theme of the Bible, then wouldn’t He, in spite of His New Testament teachings, provide a means to “bind” families together forever. Is there any way for our marriages here to be, “bound in heaven”? The answer is yes; the Savior was speaking of the power to “bind” in this life for the life to come. The authority to “bind on earth” is the priesthood authority given to the Mortal Messiah’s chief apostles to seal couples and their children together “in heaven.” But, what of those that won’t believe the words spoken by the Lord, are they to be separated forever at death? The thought of marriages being dissolved seems harsh and unloving until we understand that the Lord in his love for mankind, by the power of the atonement, has restored the priesthood authority to, if accepted, seal husbands and wives together forever. Eternal marriage is an essential part of the Lord’s plan of salvation. For the countless ages of our pre-mortal existence we were all separate single individuals. As we prepared for our mortal sojourn here on earth we must have anxiously looked forward to possessing this body and to the countless sensations associated with a physical existence. I submit that more than anything else we anticipated that great day when we could finally become a couple; when we would be flesh, not “twain, but one flesh.” We lived for millennia in the presence of our Heavenly father and other glorified beings of flesh and bone; we witnessed first hand an exalted existence and yearned to experience the “fullness of joy” we saw in their lives, and because we brought these pre-mortal longings with us; we came to earth, literally wired to be a couple. I would further submit that when we leave this life our desire for companionship will not only go with us, but because of our mortal experiences, it will now be stamped into our very being. We came to earth with the promise that, if accepted, the Lord’s plan would allow us to return to his presence and spend eternity sealed to someone we love. The plan has never been to dissolve marriages between couples that love each other. From before time He has provided the means, in his Kingdom, for marriages to be eternal. However, if by choice, the plan with its associated covenants is rejected our fate is to return to the single separate pre-mortal condition we came from; in the mortal Christ’s own words: “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”. He was speaking of anyone that has been married, in this earthly kingdom, by earthly authority only. The scriptures are clear that this “being alone” will be forever. Modern scripture provides true doctrine about the consequences of marriages performed by earthly authority only. Note the correlation with the New Testament scriptures: ”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… 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels… 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation… Joseph Fielding Smith interprets ancient and modern scripture, regarding marriage performed by earthly authority, with this warning: Unless young people who marry outside the temple speedily repent, they cut themselves off from exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God… …When they marry outside of the temple, they cut themselves off. If they are content with that kind of marriage outside, when they come forth in the resurrection, they have no claim upon each other, or their children upon them, and there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord further decreed: "Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory" Love for my wife, Christine, and my desire to spend eternity with her keeps the future in an eternal perspective. I think we could easily, in the verse, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” replace the words “not good” with the word, dreadful. I hope this dread, of a future without the love of my life, is part of the broken heart the Lord requires of me. Along with the prospect of being forever “alone” comes, sober contrition and an urgency to “do what ever it takes” to avoid it. The Savior established Priesthood authority anciently and it has now been restored again to the earth. One of its purposes is to seal husbands and wives together forever. Like mankind in all previous dispensations, we are given choices. The choices are: a “fullness of joy” or to be “alone” forever, great care must be taken as these choices have eternal consequences. So, is it good to be alone, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is no. Can this being alone be avoided, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is yes.

my name is gordon. i hope you will read the information below it may help you understand your husband. Is it good to be alone? It seems that everyone, given the choice, wants companionship. In fact, the question posed by the title of this chapter brings to the heart of those that have given it sufficient thought, a dread ranking second to few other fears. In the arena of normal relationships being without a spouse is akin to the loneliness of solitary confinement. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the doctrine of eternal marriage, the only permanent antidote for being alone, said: “I think that if we had the capacity to teach effectively this one doctrine, it would capture the interest of millions of husbands and wives who love one another and who love their children, but whose marriage is in effect only "until death do you part." Marriage is universal, except in rare cases everyone marries. Most of us have no desire to be alone; we are not content except as a couple. Marriage is all-important and yet every wedding ceremony includes the statement: “until death do you part”? What does this termination clause mean and how did it become part of these legal contracts? Surely those that “love one another” will still be married after death? Questions like these reflect the uneasiness of this great Christian mystery: why did God, in Genesis 2, declare; “It is not good that the man should be alone;” and then, during His mortal ministry, teach that men and women will not be married after the resurrection? For all that profess to be Christian, the following verses, from the bible, must be accepted as the Lord’s law regarding marriage. Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: When asked, “whose wife shall she be”, the Savior’s answer was that after the resurrection she wouldn’t be married to anyone. His answer, recorded three times in the New Testament, instituted what eventually became the termination cause, “until death do you part,” in marriage ceremonies. There are some that “err, not knowing the scriptures,” who take it upon themselves to create a God, of their own design. They say, “God won’t separate my family because we love each other,” they are satisfied that marriage by earthly authority, in spite of these verses, will be recognized by the Lord. They are convinced that a loving God would never separate married couples that love each other. Take a few minutes and ponder each of these questions: o Have you ever felt concern about being alone forever? From childhood, visions of future options revolved around one constant; marriage, plans fail, goals change but the intent to marry was never permanently cancelled. Marriage is never intended to be temporary, but even following the unhappiness of a divorce it once again finds its way back to the top of our priority list. In the book of Matthew we read: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh;” only in marriage do we find that sense of being complete. All are born and grow to adulthood feeling that until they’re married they’re not quite whole. o Do thoughts about your own future hinge on the dread of being alone? In spite of the hard work, the challenges, and the occasional disappointments associated, even with good marriages, men and women devote their whole life to preserving these covenant relationships. o Do these New Testament scriptures make being alone forever inevitable? We all know older couples that, as they approach the end of their lives together, cling to each other for dear life. Because of their love for one another and the dread of being alone, they willingly expend all their combined resources to delay the inevitable separation. o In the light of these questions, do you fear anything more than being alone …forever? As members of the Lord’s church we often speak of going back to Heavenly Father’s presence. We talk and teach and think eternal marriage but we seldom even consider being eternally alone. We really have no way of knowing anything about living in the presence of exalted beings, nor do we have, even in the scriptures, a description of what a celestial world will look like but we all know from experience, what being alone feels like. It’s a terrible empty feeling that gets worse the longer it lasts. These questions, included to provoke thought, when given sincere attention make one shudder at the very thought of the weeping inherent in being alone forever. They bring to mind this sobering realization: either my marriage is forever or it isn’t. Fortunately for mankind Jesus Christ redeemed us not only from death but also from the hell of being “alone”. Along side the Lord’s law governing civil marriage, stands the biblical key to the doctrine of eternal marriage. Six days before the Savior took Peter, James, and John into a high mountain apart "and was transfigured before them” He promised Peter: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 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”. Keys to bind; modern inspiration tells us that the keys of Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances were given to Peter, James, and John under the administration of the Savior, Moses, and Elias. Even those that claim the authority held anciently by Saint Peter don’t profess possession of the power to perform marriages that will be valid beyond this mortal life. More questions: if marriage covenants are binding after death why then did Jesus teach that they weren’t, why is there a termination statement in all-wedding ceremonies, and why did the Lord deem it necessary to bestow the authority to “bind …in heaven”, upon His apostles? If the Lord truly values families and patriarchal lineage, which is really the theme of the Bible, then wouldn’t He, in spite of His New Testament teachings, provide a means to “bind” families together forever. Is there any way for our marriages here to be, “bound in heaven”? The answer is yes; the Savior was speaking of the power to “bind” in this life for the life to come. The authority to “bind on earth” is the priesthood authority given to the Mortal Messiah’s chief apostles to seal couples and their children together “in heaven.” But, what of those that won’t believe the words spoken by the Lord, are they to be separated forever at death? The thought of marriages being dissolved seems harsh and unloving until we understand that the Lord in his love for mankind, by the power of the atonement, has restored the priesthood authority to, if accepted, seal husbands and wives together forever. Eternal marriage is an essential part of the Lord’s plan of salvation. For the countless ages of our pre-mortal existence we were all separate single individuals. As we prepared for our mortal sojourn here on earth we must have anxiously looked forward to possessing this body and to the countless sensations associated with a physical existence. I submit that more than anything else we anticipated that great day when we could finally become a couple; when we would be flesh, not “twain, but one flesh.” We lived for millennia in the presence of our Heavenly father and other glorified beings of flesh and bone; we witnessed first hand an exalted existence and yearned to experience the “fullness of joy” we saw in their lives, and because we brought these pre-mortal longings with us; we came to earth, literally wired to be a couple. I would further submit that when we leave this life our desire for companionship will not only go with us, but because of our mortal experiences, it will now be stamped into our very being. We came to earth with the promise that, if accepted, the Lord’s plan would allow us to return to his presence and spend eternity sealed to someone we love. The plan has never been to dissolve marriages between couples that love each other. From before time He has provided the means, in his Kingdom, for marriages to be eternal. However, if by choice, the plan with its associated covenants is rejected our fate is to return to the single separate pre-mortal condition we came from; in the mortal Christ’s own words: “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”. He was speaking of anyone that has been married, in this earthly kingdom, by earthly authority only. The scriptures are clear that this “being alone” will be forever. Modern scripture provides true doctrine about the consequences of marriages performed by earthly authority only. Note the correlation with the New Testament scriptures: ”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… 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels… 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation… Joseph Fielding Smith interprets ancient and modern scripture, regarding marriage performed by earthly authority, with this warning: Unless young people who marry outside the temple speedily repent, they cut themselves off from exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God… …When they marry outside of the temple, they cut themselves off. If they are content with that kind of marriage outside, when they come forth in the resurrection, they have no claim upon each other, or their children upon them, and there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord further decreed: "Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory" Love for my wife, Christine, and my desire to spend eternity with her keeps the future in an eternal perspective. I think we could easily, in the verse, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” replace the words “not good” with the word, dreadful. I hope this dread, of a future without the love of my life, is part of the broken heart the Lord requires of me. Along with the prospect of being forever “alone” comes, sober contrition and an urgency to “do what ever it takes” to avoid it. The Savior established Priesthood authority anciently and it has now been restored again to the earth. One of its purposes is to seal husbands and wives together forever. Like mankind in all previous dispensations, we are given choices. The choices are: a “fullness of joy” or to be “alone” forever, great care must be taken as these choices have eternal consequences. So, is it good to be alone, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is no. Can this being alone be avoided, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is yes. please understand that we are here to marry and to make that marriage eternal.

hi my name is gordon. i think i understand your grief. please let me explain how important this relationship is. you need to forgive but as his wife you need to teach him. consider using this paper to help him know that he must repent and be sealed to you. Is it good to be alone? It seems that everyone, given the choice, wants companionship. In fact, the question posed by the title of this chapter brings to the heart of those that have given it sufficient thought, a dread ranking second to few other fears. In the arena of normal relationships being without a spouse is akin to the loneliness of solitary confinement. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the doctrine of eternal marriage, the only permanent antidote for being alone, said: “I think that if we had the capacity to teach effectively this one doctrine, it would capture the interest of millions of husbands and wives who love one another and who love their children, but whose marriage is in effect only "until death do you part." Marriage is universal, except in rare cases everyone marries. Most of us have no desire to be alone; we are not content except as a couple. Marriage is all-important and yet every wedding ceremony includes the statement: “until death do you part”? What does this termination clause mean and how did it become part of these legal contracts? Surely those that “love one another” will still be married after death? Questions like these reflect the uneasiness of this great Christian mystery: why did God, in Genesis 2, declare; “It is not good that the man should be alone;” and then, during His mortal ministry, teach that men and women will not be married after the resurrection? For all that profess to be Christian, the following verses, from the bible, must be accepted as the Lord’s law regarding marriage. Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: When asked, “whose wife shall she be”, the Savior’s answer was that after the resurrection she wouldn’t be married to anyone. His answer, recorded three times in the New Testament, instituted what eventually became the termination cause, “until death do you part,” in marriage ceremonies. There are some that “err, not knowing the scriptures,” who take it upon themselves to create a God, of their own design. They say, “God won’t separate my family because we love each other,” they are satisfied that marriage by earthly authority, in spite of these verses, will be recognized by the Lord. They are convinced that a loving God would never separate married couples that love each other. Take a few minutes and ponder each of these questions: o Have you ever felt concern about being alone forever? From childhood, visions of future options revolved around one constant; marriage, plans fail, goals change but the intent to marry was never permanently cancelled. Marriage is never intended to be temporary, but even following the unhappiness of a divorce it once again finds its way back to the top of our priority list. In the book of Matthew we read: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh;” only in marriage do we find that sense of being complete. All are born and grow to adulthood feeling that until they’re married they’re not quite whole. o Do thoughts about your own future hinge on the dread of being alone? In spite of the hard work, the challenges, and the occasional disappointments associated, even with good marriages, men and women devote their whole life to preserving these covenant relationships. o Do these New Testament scriptures make being alone forever inevitable? We all know older couples that, as they approach the end of their lives together, cling to each other for dear life. Because of their love for one another and the dread of being alone, they willingly expend all their combined resources to delay the inevitable separation. o In the light of these questions, do you fear anything more than being alone …forever? As members of the Lord’s church we often speak of going back to Heavenly Father’s presence. We talk and teach and think eternal marriage but we seldom even consider being eternally alone. We really have no way of knowing anything about living in the presence of exalted beings, nor do we have, even in the scriptures, a description of what a celestial world will look like but we all know from experience, what being alone feels like. It’s a terrible empty feeling that gets worse the longer it lasts. These questions, included to provoke thought, when given sincere attention make one shudder at the very thought of the weeping inherent in being alone forever. They bring to mind this sobering realization: either my marriage is forever or it isn’t. Fortunately for mankind Jesus Christ redeemed us not only from death but also from the hell of being “alone”. Along side the Lord’s law governing civil marriage, stands the biblical key to the doctrine of eternal marriage. Six days before the Savior took Peter, James, and John into a high mountain apart "and was transfigured before them” He promised Peter: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 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”. Keys to bind; modern inspiration tells us that the keys of Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances were given to Peter, James, and John under the administration of the Savior, Moses, and Elias. Even those that claim the authority held anciently by Saint Peter don’t profess possession of the power to perform marriages that will be valid beyond this mortal life. More questions: if marriage covenants are binding after death why then did Jesus teach that they weren’t, why is there a termination statement in all-wedding ceremonies, and why did the Lord deem it necessary to bestow the authority to “bind …in heaven”, upon His apostles? If the Lord truly values families and patriarchal lineage, which is really the theme of the Bible, then wouldn’t He, in spite of His New Testament teachings, provide a means to “bind” families together forever. Is there any way for our marriages here to be, “bound in heaven”? The answer is yes; the Savior was speaking of the power to “bind” in this life for the life to come. The authority to “bind on earth” is the priesthood authority given to the Mortal Messiah’s chief apostles to seal couples and their children together “in heaven.” But, what of those that won’t believe the words spoken by the Lord, are they to be separated forever at death? The thought of marriages being dissolved seems harsh and unloving until we understand that the Lord in his love for mankind, by the power of the atonement, has restored the priesthood authority to, if accepted, seal husbands and wives together forever. Eternal marriage is an essential part of the Lord’s plan of salvation. For the countless ages of our pre-mortal existence we were all separate single individuals. As we prepared for our mortal sojourn here on earth we must have anxiously looked forward to possessing this body and to the countless sensations associated with a physical existence. I submit that more than anything else we anticipated that great day when we could finally become a couple; when we would be flesh, not “twain, but one flesh.” We lived for millennia in the presence of our Heavenly father and other glorified beings of flesh and bone; we witnessed first hand an exalted existence and yearned to experience the “fullness of joy” we saw in their lives, and because we brought these pre-mortal longings with us; we came to earth, literally wired to be a couple. I would further submit that when we leave this life our desire for companionship will not only go with us, but because of our mortal experiences, it will now be stamped into our very being. We came to earth with the promise that, if accepted, the Lord’s plan would allow us to return to his presence and spend eternity sealed to someone we love. The plan has never been to dissolve marriages between couples that love each other. From before time He has provided the means, in his Kingdom, for marriages to be eternal. However, if by choice, the plan with its associated covenants is rejected our fate is to return to the single separate pre-mortal condition we came from; in the mortal Christ’s own words: “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”. He was speaking of anyone that has been married, in this earthly kingdom, by earthly authority only. The scriptures are clear that this “being alone” will be forever. Modern scripture provides true doctrine about the consequences of marriages performed by earthly authority only. Note the correlation with the New Testament scriptures: ”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… 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels… 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation… Joseph Fielding Smith interprets ancient and modern scripture, regarding marriage performed by earthly authority, with this warning: Unless young people who marry outside the temple speedily repent, they cut themselves off from exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God… …When they marry outside of the temple, they cut themselves off. If they are content with that kind of marriage outside, when they come forth in the resurrection, they have no claim upon each other, or their children upon them, and there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord further decreed: "Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory" Love for my wife, Christine, and my desire to spend eternity with her keeps the future in an eternal perspective. I think we could easily, in the verse, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” replace the words “not good” with the word, dreadful. I hope this dread, of a future without the love of my life, is part of the broken heart the Lord requires of me. Along with the prospect of being forever “alone” comes, sober contrition and an urgency to “do what ever it takes” to avoid it. The Savior established Priesthood authority anciently and it has now been restored again to the earth. One of its purposes is to seal husbands and wives together forever. Like mankind in all previous dispensations, we are given choices. The choices are: a “fullness of joy” or to be “alone” forever, great care must be taken as these choices have eternal consequences. So, is it good to be alone, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is no. Can this being alone be avoided, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is yes.

hi my name is Gordon. I joined the LDS church 30 yrs ago. i would like to tell you something that is probably the most important thing you'll ever hear: the church is true. I'll explain what makes that so important. Is it good to be alone? It seems that everyone, given the choice, wants companionship. In fact, the question posed by the title of this chapter brings to the heart of those that have given it sufficient thought, a dread ranking second to few other fears. In the arena of normal relationships being without a spouse is akin to the loneliness of solitary confinement. President Gordon B. Hinckley speaking of the doctrine of eternal marriage, the only permanent antidote for being alone, said: “I think that if we had the capacity to teach effectively this one doctrine, it would capture the interest of millions of husbands and wives who love one another and who love their children, but whose marriage is in effect only "until death do you part." Marriage is universal, except in rare cases everyone marries. Most of us have no desire to be alone; we are not content except as a couple. Marriage is all-important and yet every wedding ceremony includes the statement: “until death do you part”? What does this termination clause mean and how did it become part of these legal contracts? Surely those that “love one another” will still be married after death? Questions like these reflect the uneasiness of this great Christian mystery: why did God, in Genesis 2, declare; “It is not good that the man should be alone;” and then, during His mortal ministry, teach that men and women will not be married after the resurrection? For all that profess to be Christian, the following verses, from the bible, must be accepted as the Lord’s law regarding marriage. Matt. 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Mark 12:25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. Luke 20:34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: 35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: When asked, “whose wife shall she be”, the Savior’s answer was that after the resurrection she wouldn’t be married to anyone. His answer, recorded three times in the New Testament, instituted what eventually became the termination cause, “until death do you part,” in marriage ceremonies. There are some that “err, not knowing the scriptures,” who take it upon themselves to create a God, of their own design. They say, “God won’t separate my family because we love each other,” they are satisfied that marriage by earthly authority, in spite of these verses, will be recognized by the Lord. They are convinced that a loving God would never separate married couples that love each other. Take a few minutes and ponder each of these questions: o Have you ever felt concern about being alone forever? From childhood, visions of future options revolved around one constant; marriage, plans fail, goals change but the intent to marry was never permanently cancelled. Marriage is never intended to be temporary, but even following the unhappiness of a divorce it once again finds its way back to the top of our priority list. In the book of Matthew we read: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh;” only in marriage do we find that sense of being complete. All are born and grow to adulthood feeling that until they’re married they’re not quite whole. o Do thoughts about your own future hinge on the dread of being alone? In spite of the hard work, the challenges, and the occasional disappointments associated, even with good marriages, men and women devote their whole life to preserving these covenant relationships. o Do these New Testament scriptures make being alone forever inevitable? We all know older couples that, as they approach the end of their lives together, cling to each other for dear life. Because of their love for one another and the dread of being alone, they willingly expend all their combined resources to delay the inevitable separation. o In the light of these questions, do you fear anything more than being alone …forever? As members of the Lord’s church we often speak of going back to Heavenly Father’s presence. We talk and teach and think eternal marriage but we seldom even consider being eternally alone. We really have no way of knowing anything about living in the presence of exalted beings, nor do we have, even in the scriptures, a description of what a celestial world will look like but we all know from experience, what being alone feels like. It’s a terrible empty feeling that gets worse the longer it lasts. These questions, included to provoke thought, when given sincere attention make one shudder at the very thought of the weeping inherent in being alone forever. They bring to mind this sobering realization: either my marriage is forever or it isn’t. Fortunately for mankind Jesus Christ redeemed us not only from death but also from the hell of being “alone”. Along side the Lord’s law governing civil marriage, stands the biblical key to the doctrine of eternal marriage. Six days before the Savior took Peter, James, and John into a high mountain apart "and was transfigured before them” He promised Peter: “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom 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”. Keys to bind; modern inspiration tells us that the keys of Melchizedek Priesthood ordinances were given to Peter, James, and John under the administration of the Savior, Moses, and Elias. Even those that claim the authority held anciently by Saint Peter don’t profess possession of the power to perform marriages that will be valid beyond this mortal life. More questions: if marriage covenants are binding after death why then did Jesus teach that they weren’t, why is there a termination statement in all-wedding ceremonies, and why did the Lord deem it necessary to bestow the authority to “bind …in heaven”, upon His apostles? If the Lord truly values families and patriarchal lineage, which is really the theme of the Bible, then wouldn’t He, in spite of His New Testament teachings, provide a means to “bind” families together forever. Is there any way for our marriages here to be, “bound in heaven”? The answer is yes; the Savior was speaking of the power to “bind” in this life for the life to come. The authority to “bind on earth” is the priesthood authority given to the Mortal Messiah’s chief apostles to seal couples and their children together “in heaven.” But, what of those that won’t believe the words spoken by the Lord, are they to be separated forever at death? The thought of marriages being dissolved seems harsh and unloving until we understand that the Lord in his love for mankind, by the power of the atonement, has restored the priesthood authority to, if accepted, seal husbands and wives together forever. Eternal marriage is an essential part of the Lord’s plan of salvation. For the countless ages of our pre-mortal existence we were all separate single individuals. As we prepared for our mortal sojourn here on earth we must have anxiously looked forward to possessing this body and to the countless sensations associated with a physical existence. I submit that more than anything else we anticipated that great day when we could finally become a couple; when we would be flesh, not “twain, but one flesh.” We lived for millennia in the presence of our Heavenly father and other glorified beings of flesh and bone; we witnessed first hand an exalted existence and yearned to experience the “fullness of joy” we saw in their lives, and because we brought these pre-mortal longings with us; we came to earth, literally wired to be a couple. I would further submit that when we leave this life our desire for companionship will not only go with us, but because of our mortal experiences, it will now be stamped into our very being. We came to earth with the promise that, if accepted, the Lord’s plan would allow us to return to his presence and spend eternity sealed to someone we love. The plan has never been to dissolve marriages between couples that love each other. From before time He has provided the means, in his Kingdom, for marriages to be eternal. However, if by choice, the plan with its associated covenants is rejected our fate is to return to the single separate pre-mortal condition we came from; in the mortal Christ’s own words: “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage”. He was speaking of anyone that has been married, in this earthly kingdom, by earthly authority only. The scriptures are clear that this “being alone” will be forever. Modern scripture provides true doctrine about the consequences of marriages performed by earthly authority only. Note the correlation with the New Testament scriptures: ”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… 16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels… 17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation… Joseph Fielding Smith interprets ancient and modern scripture, regarding marriage performed by earthly authority, with this warning: Unless young people who marry outside the temple speedily repent, they cut themselves off from exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God… …When they marry outside of the temple, they cut themselves off. If they are content with that kind of marriage outside, when they come forth in the resurrection, they have no claim upon each other, or their children upon them, and there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth. The Lord further decreed: "Except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory" Love for my wife, Christine, and my desire to spend eternity with her keeps the future in an eternal perspective. I think we could easily, in the verse, “it is not good that the man should be alone,” replace the words “not good” with the word, dreadful. I hope this dread, of a future without the love of my life, is part of the broken heart the Lord requires of me. Along with the prospect of being forever “alone” comes, sober contrition and an urgency to “do what ever it takes” to avoid it. The Savior established Priesthood authority anciently and it has now been restored again to the earth. One of its purposes is to seal husbands and wives together forever. Like mankind in all previous dispensations, we are given choices. The choices are: a “fullness of joy” or to be “alone” forever, great care must be taken as these choices have eternal consequences. So, is it good to be alone, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is no. Can this being alone be avoided, forever? The answer, from an eternal perspective, is yes. the bible speaks of this authority to be restored to the earth in the last days. if you're interested i'll show you where. good luck