Who has said marriage happens in the eternities?

[Guest]

I'm still single. If I die while still single, will I have a chance to find a companion and marry sometime either in the spirit world or during the Millennium? And if so, which prophets and apostles have said that because I don't see it in scriptures and due to my circumstances worry I may die single, never having been married, but wanting marriage.

[The Folk Prophet]

If one who is worthy dies without the opportunity for marriage, they won't be able to get married themselves, per se (specifically, sealed), but will most certainly have the opportunity for someone to be sealed for them. The actual ordinance of sealing must be done in mortality and will be work for the dead. As for who and how those doing the work will know who to seal to whom, etc., that is mostly unrevealed, except we know that angels will assist in the work in the millennium. (You could be one of those angels).

As to scriptures and prophets:

Jesus himself declared that no one is married after death. (Matt 22:30)

As to the prophet's words on the matter, here is Howard W. Hunter, as one example:

"May I hasten to add that no blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied."

There are, of course, many other resources, I'm sure, that could be found on the matter.

Edited July 1, 2016 by The Folk Prophet

[Guest]

Howard W Hunters words give encouragement.

[Guest]

8 hours ago, The Folk Prophet said:

If one who is worthy dies without the opportunity for marriage, they won't be able to get married themselves, per se (specifically, sealed), but will most certainly have the opportunity for someone to be sealed for them. The actual ordinance of sealing must be done in mortality and will be work for the dead. As for who and how those doing the work will know who to seal to whom, etc., that is mostly unrevealed, except we know that angels will assist in the work in the millennium. (You could be one of those angels).

As to scriptures and prophets:

Jesus himself declared that no one is married after death. (Matt 22:30)

As to the prophet's words on the matter, here is Howard W. Hunter, as one example:

"May I hasten to add that no blessing, including that of eternal marriage and an eternal family, will be denied to any worthy individual. While it may take somewhat longer—perhaps even beyond this mortal life for some to achieve this blessing, it will not be denied."

There are, of course, many other resources, I'm sure, that could be found on the matter.

My understanding of this statement was that it wasn't "in the eternities" per the OP.  It would probably be during the Millennial era or possibly prior to that through temple ordinances.

I had been under the impression that if a couple was merely engaged they could not have temple ordinances done.  But apparently there was at least one exception to that rule.

I wish I could remember the names, but the movie 17 Miracles stated at the end that President James E. Faust (?) ordered the temple work done for the engaged couple on the trek.  The man died of starvation because he gave his food rations to the woman.  And the woman never married because she could never find anyone who measured up to the man who gave her life for her.

[CV75]

8 hours ago, Zarahemla said:

Howard W Hunters words give encouragement.

All the other prophets of the restoration who have said something akin to this, too, and including a number of other circumstances that prevent people from covenanting with the Lord according to the desire of their heart or “who would have received it if they had been permitted to tarry (D&C 137:7).

From D&C 128:8: “Now, the nature of this ordinance consists in the power of the priesthood, by the revelation of Jesus Christ, wherein it is granted that whatsoever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Or, in other words, taking a different view of the translation, whatsoever you record on earth shall be recorded in heaven, and whatsoever you do not record on earth shall not be recorded in heaven; for out of the books shall your dead be judged, according to their own works, whether they themselves have attended to the ordinances in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents, according to the ordinance which God has prepared for their salvation from before the foundation of the world, according to the records which they have kept concerning their dead.”

While this verse touches on baptism for the dead, by virtue of the sealing power of the priesthood it applies to very other covenant and ordinance, including marriage: “whatsoever you [marry] on earth shall be [married] in heaven… whether they themselves have attended to the [ordinance] in their own propria persona, or by the means of their own agents.”

 

Edited July 1, 2016 by CV75

[Edspringer]

9 hours ago, Zarahemla said:

I'm still single. If I die while still single, will I have a chance to find a companion and marry sometime either in the spirit world or during the Millennium? And if so, which prophets and apostles have said that because I don't see it in scriptures and due to my circumstances worry I may die single, never having been married, but wanting marriage.

 

9 hours ago, The Folk Prophet said:

If one who is worthy dies without the opportunity for marriage, they won't be able to get married themselves, per se (specifically, sealed), but will most certainly have the opportunity for someone to be sealed for them. The actual ordinance of sealing must be done in mortality and will be work for the dead. As for who and how those doing the work will know who to seal to whom, etc., that is mostly unrevealed, except we know that angels will assist in the work in the millennium. (You could be one of those angels).

As to scriptures and prophets:

Jesus himself declared that no one is married after death. (Matt 22:30)

 

Well, The Lord is just. This we pretty much know.

The scripture in Mathew 22:30 refers to the resurrection only. It does not say anything about the spirit world.

For what I have studied, learned, pondered and discussed with others, there must be a way in the spirit world for those who didn’t have a sealed spouse in this life (people whose spouse was not a member of the Church or those who died single without a chance) to actually get sealed to a worthy person who probably will be in the same situation. Since temple work is an important aspect of the Millenium, it’s plausible to assume that sealings will be performed by proxy just as they are done now and those that will inherit the highest degree in the celestial glory will then resurrect and enjoy their marriage.

But again, this is something that hasn’t been revealed in its fullness.

 

[The Folk Prophet]

26 minutes ago, Edspringer said:

 

Well, The Lord is just. This we pretty much know.

 

The scripture in Mathew 22:30 refers to the resurrection only. It does not say anything about the spirit world.

 

For what I have studied, learned, pondered and discussed with others, there must be a way in the spirit world for those who didn’t have a sealed spouse in this life (people whose spouse was not a member of the Church or those who died single without a chance) to actually get sealed to a worthy person who probably will be in the same situation. Since temple work is an important aspect of the Millenium, it’s plausible to assume that sealings will be performed by proxy just as they are done now and those that will inherit the highest degree in the celestial glory will then resurrect and enjoy their marriage.

 

But again, this is something that hasn’t been revealed in its fullness.

 

 

Actually I think that more has been revealed (and is commonly taught) than you're implying. For example:

"There will be two great works for members of the Church during the Millennium: temple work and missionary work. Temple work involves the ordinances that are necessary for exaltation. These include baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the temple ordinances—the endowment, temple marriage, and the sealing together of family units.

Many people have died without receiving these ordinances. People on the earth must perform these ordinances for them. This work is now being done in the temples of the Lord. There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records." (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:167, 251–52.)

Edited July 1, 2016 by The Folk Prophet

[Edspringer]

22 minutes ago, The Folk Prophet said:

Actually I think that more has been revealed that you're implying, and it commonly taught. For example:

"There will be two great works for members of the Church during the Millennium: temple work and missionary work. Temple work involves the ordinances that are necessary for exaltation. These include baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the temple ordinances—the endowment, temple marriage, and the sealing together of family units.

Many people have died without receiving these ordinances. People on the earth must perform these ordinances for them. This work is now being done in the temples of the Lord. There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records." (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:167, 251–52.)

Thanx for replying

This, as you said, has been widely taught in the Church. (e.g. Gospel Principles class) . I don't think any of us have problems about understanding the things you so well quoted from Joseph Fielding Smith. 

What I meant, though, is that there are situations we don't know much about because they haven't been revealed in its fullness and you must agree with me that salvation for the dead and the Millennium are subjects we don't fully understand. We know they're an essential part of the plan of happiness, but we don't possess further knowledge other than that provided by the scriptures and by the living prophets. Just a personal example:

My wife and I had two unborn babies who died, unfortunately, and we really love them and wish them to be with us, as we know they are sealed to us. Although I myself have searched, pondered, and even discussed the subject with a friend who works with me in the CES (he is a former mission president and a Seventy), I haven’t reached a conclusion whether we’ll be able to continue to bear them and have them in the Millennium. Why? Because this detail in particular hasn’t been revealed yet. We, as a couple, have to keep the faith and have hope that our unborn babies will have their chance to be born and grow up and that, as we keep worthy, will be together with them again.

[Guest]

I know there has to be a period when the dead have a chance to marry and be sealed because all children who die before they are 8 years old will be exalted in the Celestial Kingdom and you can't be exalted while single. There will have to be a period where those children who died under 8 and single can find their eternal companion.