Will There Be Marriage In Heaven?

[Melissa569]

I’m confused about a story I heard from the bible a while back. Not sure exactly which verse it is, but basically, someone approached Jesus with the following scenario, because back in the day, when a man died without having children, his wife would become his brother‘s wife:

--What if a man dies, and his wife goes to his brother. Then that brother also dies, and she goes to another brother, etc., etc.. Who’s wife will she be in heaven?

And Jesus basically answered that there would be no giving or receiving of marriage in heaven, and people would be like the Angels.

Does this mean there is no marriage in heaven?

Someone once suggested it only means that if you don't find your eternal companion while you are here on earth, then you will be single in heaven. But its worded so vaguely, that's not really clear... Also, that's almost like being punished for not finding your eternal companion. But how is it my fault if I don't find such a person? I mean, what if he's just nowhere near me? lol

Edited April 15, 2010 by Melissa569

[ryanh]

That passage is easy to be misintrepreted, and frequenly quoted by anti's. It would do you better to seek truth rather than to disprove slander.

I would suggest reading Jesus The Christ by Talmage regarding an understanding of what the parables true intent was. Here is a partial quote that I was able to find on lds.org.

Dr. James E. Talmage writes: “The Lord’s meaning was clear, that in the resurrected state there can be no question among the seven brothers as to whose wife for eternity the woman shall be, since all except the first had married her for the duration of mortal life only. … In the resurrection, there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 548.)

Undoubtedly, the first husband married the woman for eternity by a ceremony which was not limited by time. She became a widow at his demise until she should also die and join her husband. Now, she married brother number two, “until death do you part,” and it definitely parted them even before posterity, and he went into the spirit world through the veil and with no wife, for their contract also had been terminated by death. And brothers number three and four and five and six and finally number seven in turn—all married her in temporary marriage, in which ceremonies were the limitations, “so long as you both shall live.” And death terminated what happiness they had had and their promise of future bliss. Source: Temples and Eternal Marriage

[WindRiver]

There is nothing vague about the doctrine. Marriages (sealings) can and will exist eternally.

Considering that the major focus of all temple work is ETERNAL MARRIAGE and the Family Unit, yup, there sure will be marriage in heaven. No ifs ands or buts about it.

All that passage means when applied to restored truth / eternal doctrine is that all the temple work ( baptisms, confirmations, endowments and sealing work, child to PARENT and HUSBAND to WIFE) has to be done BEFORE the final judgment for those of us who have lived on earth. That is why we will have the millenium - 1000 years of peace where every possibly proxy sealing / baptism / endowment will be done for everyone who is entitled to such and that is not limited to those who were married while they lived on earth like it is right now as far as temple sealings go.

Every individual worthy of an eternal companion and wanting one, will have one before this whole deal is wrapped up and we move on to our exaltation.

[Hemidakota]

That is a "BIG IF" the Holy Ghost sanctions the sealing and presents as a sealed couple to the Godhead as being called to the Church of the FirstBorn. We still do the work for them in any case. But, you are right though.

[rameumptom]

The story is not an issue about marriage, but resurrection. Those who approached Christ were the Sadduccees, who did not believe in resurrection. A person who does not believe in resurrection is not going to believe in eternal marriage nor be sealed for all of eternity. So, in the case of the Sadduccee woman who marries several brothers, she will not be with any of them in the resurrection, because all of the marriages were done til death do they part. Yet Jesus enforces the concept of resurrection and life after death by stating they will become angels.

Remember, the Jews in Jesus' day only had the Aaronic Priesthood. It does not hold the keys of sealing. Those keys were restored through Jesus, and given to the 12 apostles. Note that on the Mount of Transfiguration, they had Moses and Elias appear to them. These same beings, and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in our day to restore lost keys (D&C 110).

[beefche]

Remember, the Jews in Jesus' day only had the Aaronic Priesthood. It does not hold the keys of sealing. Those keys were restored through Jesus, and given to the 12 apostles. Note that on the Mount of Transfiguration, they had Moses and Elias appear to them. These same beings, and Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery in our day to restore lost keys (D&C 110).

Ok, I knew that the Jews only had the Aaronic Priesthood, but apparently it didn't sink in or something.

So, that means that during the Millenium, all the temple work for those people that lived prior to Jesus would need to be done? We know that baptism for the dead was done, so that ordinance doesn't need to be done for some of them. But the other ordinances do? The Melchizedek Priesthood was given to the 12 Apostles, right? So, there were temple ordinances done until the priesthood was taken from the earth, is that right?

[Hemidakota]

How many High Priest [prophets] have there been since Adam?

[Elphaba]

I’m confused about a story I heard from the bible a while back. Not sure exactly which verse it is, but basically, someone approached Jesus with the following scenario, because back in the day, when a man died without having children, his wife would become his brother‘s wife:

--What if a man dies, and his wife goes to his brother. Then that brother also dies, and she goes to another brother, etc., etc.. Who’s wife will she be in heaven?

Once all parties have died, i.e., the woman and her husbands, she can be married/sealed by proxy to all of them, with the tenet that she will have to choose the one she wants to spend eternity with.

Someone once suggested it only means that if you don't find your eternal companion while you are here on earth, then you will be single in heaven. But its worded so vaguely, that's not really clear... Also, that's almost like being punished for not finding your eternal companion. But how is it my fault if I don't find such a person? I mean, what if he's just nowhere near me? lol

I was taught, during the '60s and '70s, that those who were not married/sealed while on earth would be ministering angels. However, I don't believe this is true anymore, though I may be wrong.

For eample, on lds.org, the Church's official website, it states that people who are truly gay probably should not marry while mortal, but once they have passed on, and are in heaven, they will no longer be gay.

Additionally, it states that such a person will be able to have all the blessings of an eternal family, including children, in heaven. I imagine this is true for people who are heterosexual but were not married/sealed while mortal.

I might be wrong about the last part, and if so, I would appreciate it if someone who is LDS would clarify.

Elphaba

Edited April 16, 2010 by Elphaba

[Roseslipper]

any one who has not married in this life, or has married the wrong person and divorced, will have the oppunity to be married in the millenium. and all temple work that has not been done or that has been done but has errors, will be fixed in the millenium.

[GADBabaganoosh]

Everyone should remember the millenium as well. Righteous saints will be resurrected! Those who were not married, I am under the assumption, they'll have ample opportunity to marry. If I don't get married now, maybe I can get some 1800's babe or something.

Edit: I really need to read whole threads before i post. hahahah

[Intrigued]

“… All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, … are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.” (D&C 132:7.)

The marriages then which are made only “so long as you both shall live” or “until death do you part” are sadly terminated when the last mortal breath is gasped...

How final! How frightening! Since we know well that mortal death does not terminate our existence, since we know that we live on and on, how devastating to realize that marriage and family life, so sweet and happy in so many homes, will end with death..

...He then continues concerning these excellent people who lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding [read: did not get sealed in the temple]:

“For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.” (D&C 132:17.)

LDS.org - Ensign Article - First Presidency Message Temples and Eternal Marriage

Sucks for the overwhelming majority of people who ever lived, doesn't it? I'm thankful at least that he worded it bluntly and as plain as day. Painful for those with nonmember families though.

Edited April 16, 2010 by Intrigued

[Dravin]

Sucks for the overwhelming majority of people who ever lived, doesn't it?

Temple work, unless you mean to imply that the overwhelming majority of people even after having had their work done are either unworthy of, or undesirous of it having efficacy.

[Elphaba]

Sucks for the overwhelming majority of people who ever lived, doesn't it? I'm thankful at least that he worded it bluntly and as plain as day. Painful for those with nonmember families though.

The Ensign article you referenced is from 1974, and reflects what I was taught as a child.

However, I don't think that is what is taught today, but I could be wrong. I'd really like to know, and again, would appreciate it of someone could clarify.

Elphaba

[Intrigued]

Temple work, unless you mean to imply that the overwhelming majority of people even after having had their work done are either unworthy of, or undesirous of it having efficacy.

I wondered about that.. but why would the article not mention temple work? He seemed pretty adamant that a covenant not made in the temple (in this mortality per Kimball) is not eternal.. he even used the phrases "last mortal breath", "How final!", "lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding".. and other comments. Not one mention about proxy work.

Two more quotes..

"Are you willing to jeopardize your eternities, your great continuing happiness, your privilege to see God and dwell in his presence? For the want of investigation and study and contemplation; because of prejudice, misunderstanding, or lack of knowledge, are you willing to forego these great blessings and privileges?"

"Are you willing to give up your children when they die or when you expire, and make them orphans?"

As Elphaba said.. it used to be taught that those who did not enter into celestial marriages here in this mortality would be ministering angels for eternity. The ensign article those quotes are from stem from the time period Elphaba was speaking of -- have things changed? If so.. when?

Edited April 16, 2010 by Intrigued

[Dravin]

I wondered about that.. but why would the article not mention temple work? He seemed pretty adamant that a covenant not made in the temple is not eternal..

Proxy work is a covenant made in the temple.

he even used the phrases "last mortal breath", "How final!", "lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding".. and other comments. Not one mention about proxy work.

No mention about twinkies either. A non-temple marriage is final with the last mortal breath. Of your own admission he's not talking about proxy work.

Edit: Temple work is not some magical bandaid, one has to accept it, best to accept it in this life then live a life in which you would not choose it and hope you've changed/will change enough that you would in the next. Must like it's better to be converted and baptized in this life, but that does not mean everyone who has lived outside the availability of priesthood ordnances is precluded from even being singles in the Celestial Kingdom (baptism is required) . I'm not saying anyone who has ever lived is golden because they had proxy work done, but they aren't screwed because they happened to have been born in the wrong place or time.

Edited April 16, 2010 by Dravin

[Intrigued]

Proxy work is a covenant made in the temple.

No mention about twinkies either. A non-temple marriage is final with the last mortal breath. Of your own admission he's not talking about proxy work.

He did seem quite adamant that if it the covenant wasn't made before the last mortal breath.. that it was final. I understand that I am very likely reading to much into the use of a word or two here.. but it was taught (and that point is backed up by both Elphaba and the Ensign article) that those who do not enter into a Celestial marriage before they breathe their last mortal breath will serve as ministering angels for eternity.

I saw your edit and would tend to agree.. but did the teaching change within the last 25 years or so? If it did that is perfectly fine.. living prophets and a living gospel. Also I want to add that LDS belief is that the prophet also speaks as a man and is just as subject to getting tongue tied as you and I. He also may have meant something entirely different and in our present day culture I simply interpreted it in the wrong way.

It just smells of fire and brimstone to me. Conversion by fear or something.

Edited April 16, 2010 by Intrigued

[john doe]

I wondered about that.. but why would the article not mention temple work? He seemed pretty adamant that a covenant not made in the temple (in this mortality per Kimball) is not eternal.. he even used the phrases "last mortal breath", "How final!", "lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding".. and other comments. Not one mention about proxy work.

Probably because he was encouraging people to make the effort to become temple-worthy, get their endowments, and become sealed in this life. He wasn't preaching to the dead, he was preaching to the living.

[beefche]

What would be the point of proxy temple work if everything must be done while in mortality? You can read those quotes however you wish, but it doesn't negate the fact that proxy temple work has been done in the Church for a long, long time. If it truly meant that all must be done before the last mortal breath, then those temples in Kirtland and Nauvoo were worthless.

[Intrigued]

I appreciate the comments and am really trying to learn more. The article seemed awfully harsh.. but in the end I believe that is just how I read it.

[Dravin]

He did seem quite adamant that if it the covenant wasn't made before the last mortal breath.. that it was final.

No he wasn't. He was quite adamant that marriages which are made only “so long as you both shall live” or “until death do you part” are terminated with the last mortal breath. The subject of the line you are referring to is non-temple marriages. It's like taking a statement that apples aren't citrus and then claiming oranges aren't citrus because it says apples aren't.

I read that article and see nothing that claims, "Proxy sealing between man and wife has no efficacy."

Personally I think you are taking stress on making the right decision in this life (because there is no guarantee you'll make it in the next) to falsely be a teaching that proxy work for the dead is of no effect.

Edited April 16, 2010 by Dravin

[Elphaba]

As Elphaba said.. it used to be taught that those who did not enter into celestial marriages here in this mortality would be ministering angels for eternity.

That's not exactly what I meant, and I should have been more clear.

　

I was taught that those who did not marry at all while mortals on Earth would become ministering angels once they were resurrected, because there would be no one to marry/seal this person to by proxy.

　

I believe that is what President Kimball, in the Ensign article, is talking about, though I agree with Dravin that he is obviously talking about people who were married for time only as well. In fact, I believe this is true for the majority of the article.

　

Nevertheless, I believe the following is an example of the belief that a person who did not marry while on Earth will never be able to marry once s/he has passed on. In this quote, President Kimball quotes Dr. James Talmadge, from Jesus the Christ:

In the resurrection, there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity.” (Jesus the Christ, p. 548.)

Based on what I was taught in the ‘60s and ‘70s, Talmadge is saying that a person who did not marry on Earth cannot marry anyone during the resurrection, which makes sense because, again, there would be no one to marry the person to.

　

Additionally, I think President Kimball is saying the same thing when he writes:

Though relatively few people in this world understand it, the new and everlasting covenant is the marriage ordinance in the holy temple by the properly constituted leaders who hold the genuine, authoritative keys. This glorious blessing is available to men and women on this earth.

　

So, proxy marriages/sealings are not the issue, for according to Church doctrine, they only have efficacy for couples who were married for time on Earth. It is people who remained single while on the Earth that are the issue, as they cannot be married by proxy once they’ve passed on, and again, I was taught they will become ministering angels. President Kimball reiterates this when he says:

It is clear in the Lord’s announcement that righteous men and women will receive the due rewards of their deeds. They will not be damned in the commonly accepted terminology but will suffer many limitations and deprivations and fail to reach the highest kingdom, if they do not comply. They become ministering servants to those who complied with all laws and lived all commandments.

He then continues concerning these excellent people who lived worthily but failed to make their contracts binding:

For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.” (D&C 132:17.)

Again, I acknowledge this could apply to couples who married for time only, but those couples can overcome this by being married/sealed by proxy; however, those who did not marry during their mortal existence cannot.

　

As a side note, I would point out that the story of the woman who married seven brothers, but is only married/sealed to the first brother for eternity, does not apply today. As I explained earlier, a woman can be sealed to all of her husbands once they have all passed on, with the understanding that she will choose which one to spend eternity with, and that won’t necessarily be the first husband.

Anyway, I question if the belief that a person who remained single on Earth will not be able to marry after s/he has passed on is still believed and taught, or has it changed? I believe it has, as demonstrated by the promise to people who are gay that they will be able to marry and have a family once they have died.

　

Additionally, I have not heard anything about ministering angels for a long time, but then, I never attend Church, so it makes sense I wouldn’t, regardless if it is still doctrinal or not.

　

Elphaba

[Blackmarch]

I’m confused about a story I heard from the bible a while back. Not sure exactly which verse it is, but basically, someone approached Jesus with the following scenario, because back in the day, when a man died without having children, his wife would become his brother‘s wife:

--What if a man dies, and his wife goes to his brother. Then that brother also dies, and she goes to another brother, etc., etc.. Who’s wife will she be in heaven?

And Jesus basically answered that there would be no giving or receiving of marriage in heaven, and people would be like the Angels.

Does this mean there is no marriage in heaven?

Someone once suggested it only means that if you don't find your eternal companion while you are here on earth, then you will be single in heaven. But its worded so vaguely, that's not really clear... Also, that's almost like being punished for not finding your eternal companion. But how is it my fault if I don't find such a person? I mean, what if he's just nowhere near me? lol

all the proxy work, marriages, teaching, perfecting, and etc... will occur before one gets to the celestial kingdom. Once you are there, if you are already married, you will remain married.. if you are not married then youi will remain unmarried.

If you are doing what you can now, then you do not have to worry.

Edited April 16, 2010 by Blackmarch

[Hemidakota]

Sucks for the overwhelming majority of people who ever lived, doesn't it? I'm thankful at least that he worded it bluntly and as plain as day. Painful for those with nonmember families though.

More bluntly, before this mortal earth, there were telestial spirits, terrestrial spirits, and celestial spirits. Nevertheless, through choices of the past pre-mortal birth, we can rectify our mistakes in this mortal life and move forward with those of the celestial order.

[marts1]

Anyway, I question if the belief that a person who remained single on Earth will not be able to marry after s/he has passed on is still believed and taught, or has it changed?

People in the celestial kingdom that chose not to be married in this life will remain single.

[Traveler]

any one who has not married in this life, or has married the wrong person and divorced, will have the oppunity to be married in the millenium. and all temple work that has not been done or that has been done but has errors, will be fixed in the millenium.

Marriage is an earthy odinance that can only take place in mortality. Those that do not marry according to the covenant of G-d in this life will have to have that work done for them in the temple.

The Traveler