The Eternal Marriage Covenant and Sealing Children of the Covenant
"The whole subject of the marriage relation is not in my reach, nor in any other man's reach on this earth. It is without beginning of days or end of years: it is a hard matter to reach. We can tell some things with regard to it; it lays the foundation for worlds, for angels, and for the God; for intelligent beings to be crowned with glory, immortality, and eternal lives. In fact, it is the thread which runs from the beginning to the end of the holy gospel of salvation--it is from eternity to eternity" (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses, 2:09).
Marriage is more than a legal partnership between two people. It is a man and a woman reaching upward toward heaven together, where they can become fused or sealed together to form a union so complete and indivisible that through Jesus Christ, they become one.​
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How do the covenants of the endowment prepare me for an eternal marriage?
During the endowment, you can see the love Adam and Eve have for each other. We can learn from them how to face both the trials and the joys of our life together as husband and wife. Like Adam and Eve, we can learn together about Heavenly Father's plan for us. That includes learning together about our fallen nature and our need for obedience to Jesus Christ so that we can receive the fullness of the blessings that can come to us thanks to His atoning sacrifice.​
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As you participate in the temple endowment ordinance you have the opportunity to learn from Adam and Eve's experiences and liken them to yourself. Each of the covenants you make with God during the endowment builds on the previous covenant. Obedience prepares you to sacrifice to God. Willingly sacrificing to do the Lord's work allows you to live in a way that truly shows love to God and love for your neighbor. These are at the core of the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Covenanting to live in that way and receive all of the ordinances through constant daily faith and repentance, prepares us to live in such a way that we save ourselves to be given completely only to the person we marry. That is the law of chastity. And as we keep the law of chastity and commit to save our complete self for only our eternal companion, we become prepared to give ourselves to God through complete consecration of everything we have and everything we are.
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After entering into covenants to live those five heavenly laws, the Savior's power can lift us to a higher spiritual plane. At that level, we can become eligible for some of the greatest blessings in eternity. We can then be prepared for the crowning ordinance of eternal marriage.
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Brigham Young once taught that a man cannot exercise the priesthood in its fulness without a woman being sealed to him. Together, husband and wife enter into a marriage covenant that brings eternal blessings only available to a man and a woman who are sealed.
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God created marriage to last forever. It was always meant to be a complete and total, eternal union. That union was meant to allow a husband and wife unique opportunities to learn and grow together; to experience pain and joy together; and to incrementally and iteratively become one in every way.
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Ponder and Discuss with your husband or wife:
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How can we better live the law of obedience to God in our eternal marriage relationship?
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How can we more completely live the law of sacrifice in our eternal marriage relationship?
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How can we live the various parts of the law of the gospel of Jesus Christ (faith, repentance, receiving the ordinances of the priesthood, loving God and loving our neighbor) on a regular basis in our eternal marriage relationship?
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How can we more fully live all facets of the law of chastity in our eternal marriage relationship?
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Is there any way we can more fully consecrate ourselves to the Lord together?
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How is Jesus Christ part of every eternal marriage?
Elder David A. Bednar taught that, "The Lord Jesus Christ is the focal point in a covenant marriage relationship.... Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and the woman come closer together" (Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan," Ensign, June 2006). When a man and a woman are sealed in the house of the Lord, it is done while they kneel at a dedicated altar. The altar is a symbol of several things, one of which is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is only because of His sacrifice that the couple has the opportunity to be sealed. It is also through the blessings of His Atonement that they will be able to seek forgiveness from each other, extend mercy to each other, and forgive. His love and power will be theirs little by little as they seek to work together to grow in their covenant relationship with each other and with God.
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Ponder and Discuss:
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How can I more intentionally make Jesus Christ and the blessings of His Atonement part of my covenant marriage?
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Study:
Doctrine and Covenants 25:1-3, 10, 13-16
Doctrine and Covenants 121:41-45
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Ponder and Discuss:
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What do you learn from those scriptures about being a righteous husband, father, wife, or mother?
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What are the Promises of an Eternal Marriage?
Study:
Doctrine and Covenants 132:6-7, 19-20
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Ponder and Discuss:
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What do you learn from those scriptures about the blessings you can receive if you are faithful to your eternal marriage covenant?
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What impresses you about those blessings?
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Why do you think many of these blessings are reserved for those who are faithful to the covenant of eternal marriage?
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How can understanding these promises strengthen your marriage relationship and give you perspective when you have a disagreement with each other?
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How can they strengthen your relationship as a couple with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ?​​
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Where else can I go to find helpful advice for an eternal marriage?
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The following links highlight key quotes from these talks that might be helpful for you as you seek to understand and make your marriage a celestial marriage:
Russell M. Nelson, "We Can Do Better and Be Better," general conference, April 2019
Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Treasures," general conference, October 2019
Russell M. Nelson, "The Price of Priesthood Power," general conference, April 2016
Russell M. Nelson, "Decisions for Eternity," general conference, October 2013
Russell M. Nelson, "Celestial Marriage," general conference, October 2008
Russell M. Nelson, "Nurturing Marriage," general conference, April 2006
Russell M. Nelson, "Set in Order Thy House," general conference, October 2001
Russell M. Nelson, "Our Sacred Duty to Honor Women," general conference, April 1999
Russell M. Nelson, "Endure and Be Lifted Up," general conference, April 1997
Russell M. Nelson, "Spiritual Capacity," general conference, October 1997
Russell M. Nelson, "Honoring the Priesthood," general conference, April 1993
Russell M. Nelson, "Constancy amid Change," general conference, October 1993
Russell M. Nelson, "Listen to Learn," general conference, April 1991
Russell M. Nelson, "The Canker of Contention," general conference, April 1989
Russell M. Nelson, "Woman-Of Infinite Worth," general conference, October 1989
Russell M. Nelson, "Lessons from Eve," general conference, October 1987
David A. Bednar, "Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan," general conference, June 2006
D. Todd Christofferson, "Why Marriage, Why Family," general conference, April 2015
Dale G. and Ruth Renlund, "The Divine Purposes of Sexual Intimacy," Liahona, August 2020​
​​​​​​Eternal Families
“The new and everlasting covenant (Doctrine and Covenants 132:6) and the Abrahamic covenant are essentially the same. Think of it! A marriage covenant made in the temple is tied directly to that Abrahamic covenant. In the temple, a couple is introduced to all the blessings reserved for the faithful posterity of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" (Russell M. Nelson, "The Everlasting Covenant," Liahona, October 2022). When a couple who has entered into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage (a temple sealing) has children, or when their children are sealed to them, they become heirs to the Abrahamic Covenant.
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Study:
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Ponder and Discuss:
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What opportunities and responsibilities come with being an heir to the Abrahamic Covenant?
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The Family: A Proclamation to the World states that "the family is central to the creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." You and each one of us are all part of Heavenly Father's eternal family. And He wants to keep together as many members of that family who will choose to be a part of His family for eternity. Eternal marriage and sealing children to their parents through the generations is the way God can offer that blessing to each one of His children on earth. Their faithfulness to their covenants with Him will allow them to realize that great blessing.
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Sealing God's children together is one of the reasons Elijah came to the Kirtland Temple in 1836. He gave the Prophet Joseph Smith the sealing keys to "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the children to the fathers" (Doctrine and Covenants 110:15; Malachi 4:6). "God wants to connect all people ot the covenant He made anciently with Abraham" (Russell M. Nelson, "The Everlasting Covenant," Liahona, October, 2022). The purpose of sealing every family across all the generations is not just to seal parents to children but to seal together the entire family of God--everyone who has ever lived on the earth (see Doctrine and Covenants 128:18). No wonder the Lord repeatedly said that if this did not happen the earth would be utterly wasted at His coming. The purpose of the earth's creation is to create and exalt eternal families.​​
Learning Activity:
Spend time with your family studying "The Family: A Proclamation to the World," and discuss the good things that you see happening in your family relationships. Then, together seek the Lord's inspiration to know how to improve your marriage and family relationships based on His knowledge.