A few posts ago I mentioned how I had moved to Dallas. Things have changed in the last year. I thought I was moving to Boston, but I was only there a month, and now I'm living in College Station, TX. It's awesome. At church I teach the 14+ youth Sunday School class. I love my kids. they are also awesome. This is by far the best calling in the church. Anyway, today in Sunday School we were discussing Temple Marriage and Families and how to tell others what we believe. In no particular order, here are their thoughts:
Temple marriage is talked about a lot in the LDS faith. It is said over and over again how it is so important. The reason this ordinance is so important is because it seals the spouses and their future children together forever. This means even after death you will get to be with your family. This is why so much focus is put on the family. It is the unit that you will be with forever. Other earthly things don't transfer over after death, but the family will, and can be together forever through temple marriage. - Jaylen Hinckley
Temple marriage is a sacred process in which worthy males and females are able to partake of. This consists of a marriage that lasts for an eternity as well as any children who have been born into that marriage. This marriage is only done in this sacred site and has the ability to further one's spiritual growth. This is important to me as I know of the importance of temple marriage, as I will one day pick a worthy spouse I will have the security & knowledge, &happiness to know that I will be sealed to my spouse for time and all eternity, and not just "till death do us part." This sacred and spiritual thing cannot be done without the right authority & power. Therefore knowing the temple does have this authority & power. I know this saving ordinance is true and real. - Brianna Aguilar
To me, temple marriage means you will be with your spouse forever, through all time and eternity. That's something special that can only take place inside the walls of an LDS temple. A temple marriage is something I'm striving for. I want to be with my family forever, not just here on this earth, and I can't wait for the day when I am married to the love of my life not just until death do we part, but for eternity. - Brooke Hanks
Temple marriage seals you, your spouse, and family together forever. It is the important step in your life to receive the highest glory in God's kingdom. Without temple marriage your family cannot be together for all eternity. - Emma Hanks
I think temple marriage is important so that families can be together forever! You don't have to worry about loved ones that have died because by being sealed at the temple you can know for sure that you will see them again one day. Being married isn't about 'until death do you part.' It's about being together forever. Your kids and spouse will live with you for all of eternity! Being married in the Lord's house is a sacred thing and he trusts that you will keep His commandments and live worthily to receive eternal life, which is the greatest gift He can give you! - Jared Garlick
Temple marriage is a sacred ordinance where a man and a woman are sealed, or bound together, for all eternity. It's unlike most marriages that occur as it is forever instead of the marriage covenant which says 'until death do us part.' Family is important because family is an important part of life. Families are also sacred as you can be sealed with your entire family instead of just your spouse. Not only that, families also are there to support you in times of need. Plus families are awesome. - Eugene Ryoo
Dear stranger/non-member:
Temple marriage for LDS members is a very sacred ordinance, used for binding a couple together for time and all eternity. Temple marriage is also required in order to obtain the highest portion of the Celestial Kingdom, the highest kingdom in heaven. As long as you and your spouse are following the covenants and staying close to the Lord, you will be sealed to each other and your family forever in the Kingdom of God.
Sincerely, Colton Decell
First, I enjoy reading your site.
ReplyDeleteNow, when Temple marriage comes up with critics and non members, and being sealed for all time and eternity, I get the same Scripture verse thrown in my face:
Mark 12:25 : when the dead are raised they are neither married nor given in marriage. (I did that from memory so it might not be totally accurate)
So the mainstream Christian takes this to mean that married people are not meant to be married in the next life, there is no marriage in the next life - period, therefore sealings by LDS mean nothing, and sealings are a heretical teaching.
How does a person answer these charges?
It is getting more difficult to talk to critics about these things.
EG
There are several bible verses to support Eternal Marriage, Mark 10:9, Matthew 19:6, and several more. The passage in Mark 12:25 is correct (obviously), but it needs to be in the proper context. Jesus was speaking to the Sadducees. They did not believe his teachings. They didn't believe in the Resurrection, which is what brought up the discussion in the first place. After people die, they do not marry. However, people that are alive can be married, by proxy, for those that have passed on. The same holds true with baptism, which is why we have 1 Cor 15:29.
ReplyDelete