Question about those who don't get to marry in this life. Your best guess answers please

[Guest]

Billions of people don't have a chance to marry in this life and will be worthy when the Millennium ushers in. I feel I may be one of those worthy souls who hasn't had a chance to marry by the millennium. My question is do you think The Lord at that point will know everyone so well that He can pair off couples that will be eternal companions or do you think there is courting during the millennium? I'm actually hoping the Lord knows us so well that He pairs us off because courting is always super hard and will be even more hard where everyone's worthy of a celestial glory and exaltation.

[Edspringer]

Hi, there

I see that marriage is a very important issue for you, so I'll try to treat this topic very carefully.

Maybe we should first consider the word "chance" in the context you've used it here. We were given agency and that's a key element of any progress we make in mortality and in the spirit world. Without it, there can be no progress at all. So, considering we all have the power to choose, we should think weather we’re making the right choices or not in terms of finding a spouse. If we become worthy and stay worthy (Elder Bednar’s words form last General Conference), seek for a companion with the same standards and similar eternal perspective and act and not be acted upon, the Lord will guide us. I’m sure no promise will be denied to those who stayed worthy of them. Just make sure you’re doing all you can to fulfill the commandment of marriage. President Nelson’s talk in the last General Conference was incredible! He said: “When you reach up for the Lord’s power in your life with the same intensity that a drowning person has when grasping and gasping for air, power from Jesus Christ will be yours. When the Savior knows you truly want to reach up to Him—when He can feel that the greatest desire of your heart is to draw His power into your life—you will be led by the Holy Ghost to know exactly what you should do”. I believe and trust in this promise.

Personally I don’t think the Lord will pair unmarried people up in the Millennium, because agency is an eternal law and we will still have the power to choose for ourselves. Temples will dot the Earth during the personal reign of Christ and marriages will continue to be a part of the work there, both for the dead and for the living.

[Blackmarch]

3 hours ago, Zarahemla said:

Billions of people don't have a chance to marry in this life and will be worthy when the Millennium ushers in. I feel I may be one of those worthy souls who hasn't had a chance to marry by the millennium. My question is do you think The Lord at that point will know everyone so well that He can pair off couples that will be eternal companions or do you think there is courting during the millennium? I'm actually hoping the Lord knows us so well that He pairs us off because courting is always super hard and will be even more hard where everyone's worthy of a celestial glory and exaltation.

maybe a bit of both? (nothing against asking for a bit of help)

[wenglund]

As an old single male, I see no need to guess. It is sufficient for me to do what I can in this life and trust completely in Christ that all will end up as it should

Thanks, -Wade Englund-  

[JohnsonJones]

There is no hard doctrine on this.  Opinions vary wildly in this regards.  I tend to side more with the Smith's (ala, Joseph F. Smith, Joseph Fielding Smith, Bruce R. Mckonkie, Joseph F. Mckonkie as far as I know, etc...) in this doctrine.

It can be a harsh idea though, so, remember this is ONLY an opinion or thought.

The idea is, that if a man has the opportunity to marry for eternity in this life, and rejects it, that is upon that man's head.  He is the one responsible in this, and in the moment of opportunity, decided against it, that is upon him.  The results are those he chose.

On the otherhand, a woman who does not have the opportunity to marry in this life is much more lenient, and for woman who do not get married in this life, but desired to do so, will have NO BLESSING denied them in the hereafter if they so desire those blessings.

In addition, there are those who are handicapped or otherwise, if they do not have the opportunities afforded to others in this life, but strove to do so with all their hearts to what they knew and were able, it is possible for them to receive all blessings in the hereafter.

This doctrine can be VERY harsh towards men who do not marry for whatever reasons.  Joseph Fielding is the most clear on this, and I will quote his statements from his Doctrines of Salvation below

Quote

Any young man who carelessly neglects this great commandment to marry, or who does not marry because of a selfish desire to avoid the responsibilities which married life will bring, is taking a course which is displeasing in the sight of God.  Exaltation means responsibility.  There can be no exaltation without it.

If a man refuses to take upon himself the responsibilities of married life, because he desires to avoid the cares and troubles which naturally will follow, he is taking a course which may bar him forever from the responsibilities which are held in reserve for those who are willing to keep in full the commandments of the Lord.  His eternal progression will thus be limited.  Like the Sadducees of old, he will be numbered among the angels who cannot be enlarged.  It will not be his privilege to be numbered among the sons of God, and thus be entitled as an heir to partake of the blessings reserved for those who receive an inheritance in the Father's Kingdom.

As you can see, it is pretty harsh towards those who had the opportunity, but chose otherwise in the moment.  towards woman on the otherhand he states

Quote

You good sisters, who are single and alone, do not fear, do not feel that blessings are going to be withheld from you.  You are not under any obligation or necessity of accepting some proposal that comes to you which is distasteful for fear you will come under condemnation.  If in your hearts you feel that the gospel is true and would under proper conditions receive these ordinances and sealing blessings in the temple of the Lord; and that is your faith and your hope and your desire, and that does not come to you now; the Lord will make it up, and you shall be blessed - for no blessing shal be withheld......

....

....No woman will be condemned by the Lord for refusing to accept a proposal which she feels she could not properly accept.  In my judgement it is far better for our good girls to refuse an offer of marriage when they think that the companionship of the man would be disagreeable, or if he is one they do not and believe they cannot learn to love.

Both from Doctrines of Salvation Volume II Chapter 4 Celestial Marriage.

However, this does not mean just to marry whomever for men, it is also stated

Quote

Joseph F. Smith say on several occasions that he would rather take his children one by one to the grave in their innocence and purity, knowing that they would come forth to inherit the fullness of the celestial glory, than to have them marry outside of the Church, or even outside the temple of the Lord.

Why should he have been so emphatic?  Because he had a perfect knowledge of what marriage, according to the law of the Lord, means; and because he knew the consequences attending the rejection of this covenant in the house of the Lord.  For those who refuse to receive the ordinance, as the Lord ordained, cannot enter into the fullness of celestial glory.

This IS NOT doctrine of the LDS church, but merely an opinion I share with the individual apostles, prophets and teachers (who I named above) who have stated these opinions previously.

Edited April 11, 2017 by JohnsonJones