[[⛪ Gospel Study]] # Sacrament Talk - The Eternal Nature of Marriage 2018-07-08 Third verse of the star spangled banner. “And this be our motto in God is our trust.” The reason the 4th of July is my favorite holiday. Family.  Throughout my life there were many Christmas holidays where members of my extended family were missing.  No one missed the fourth of July. ## Summary: Summary of things you want to accomplish. - Types of marriage - Why is it important for everyone to have a celestial marriage including those who are dead - What can we do to help all receive exaltation ## Disclaimers: Marriage is a hard topic. When preparing, I felt like no matter what I ended up saying I knew I was going to offend someone so I decided to start with a few disclaimers. - When talking about marriage remember those who may not be married in this life - By nature of the topic my talk is heavily biased toward Temple Marriage vs Civil marriage.  I'm not trying to negativity portray any commitments of fidelity or companionship two people make with one another. - By no means am I a marriage expert ## Types of Conjugal Living: Civil marriage vs celestial marriage vs neither Start this off with a little background. [F. Burton Howard Of the First Quorum of the Seventy said](https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2003/04/eternal-marriage?lang=eng), “marriage is a principle which was established before the foundation of the world and was instituted on this earth before death came into it. Adam and Eve were given to each other by God in the Garden of Eden before the Fall. The scripture says, “In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him; Male and female created he them; and blessed them” (Gen. 5:1–2; emphasis added).” There are two types of marriage that exist today. - Celestial Marriage - Civil Marriage - A couple can also choose neither type Choosing neither violates the law of chastity and doesn’t qualify you for the earthly blessings of marriage. Civil marriage qualifies you for the earthly blessings of marriage but not for the eternal blessings of a celestial marriage. President Nelson said in 2008, “A couple in love can choose a marriage of the highest quality or a lesser type that will not endure.” … The subject of marriage is debated across the world, where various arrangements exist for conjugal living. … marriage between a man and a woman is sacred—it is ordained of God. I also assert the virtue of a temple marriage. It is the highest and most enduring type of marriage that our Creator can offer to His children. A temple marriage is also called a celestial marriage. CAN BE SKIPPED: In the temple, Latter-day Saint couples kneel at one of the sacred altars in the presence of their family and friends who have received the temple endowment. They make their marriage covenants before God. They are pronounced husband and wife for time and all eternity. This is done by one who holds the holy priesthood of God and has been given the authority to perform this sacred ordinance. He acts under the direction of the Lord and promises the couple the blessings of exaltation. He instructs them in the things they must do to receive these blessings. He reminds them that all blessings depend on obedience to the laws of God. (Gospel Principles Chapter 39). Back to Pres Nelson where he then said, “ The best choice is a celestial marriage. Thankfully, if a lesser choice has previously been made, a choice can now be made to upgrade it to the best choice. That requires a mighty change of heart and a permanent personal upgrade. Blessings so derived are worth all efforts made. ## Importance of Celestial Marriage: The full realization of the blessings of a temple marriage is almost beyond our mortal comprehension. Such a marriage will continue to grow in the celestial realm. There we can become perfected. As Jesus ultimately received the fulness of the glory of the Father, so we may “come unto the Father … and in due time receive of his fulness.” To make \[Exaltation through Celestial Marriage\] possible, our Heavenly Father has restored priesthood keys in this dispensation so that essential ordinances in His plan can be performed by proper authority. \[The Lord sent\] heavenly messengers—including John the Baptist; Peter, James, and John; Moses, Elias, and Elijah—\[to participate\] in that restoration. What a blessing it is that our Father provided the proper circumstances for us to be exalted together with our families. [Pres Hinckley](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/2003/07/the-marriage-that-endures?lang=eng#p16:~:text=%E2%80%9Cthe%20Father%20of%20us%20all%2C%20who,the%20relationships%20of%20marriage%20and%20family.) said, “the Father of us all, who loves His children and wants the best for them, has provided for a continuation of this most sacred and ennobling of all human relationships, the relationships of marriage and family. “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever” (Ecclesiastes 3:14). What a blessing to have the priesthood. Pres Nelson also said, “All Church activities, advancements, quorums, and classes are means to the end of an exalted family.” This is our goal. The purpose of this earth. This is Heavenly Father’s “work and \[His\] glory”. ## Temple Service: Mercifully, God’s great plan of happiness and its eternal blessings can be extended to those who did not have the opportunity to hear the gospel in mortality. Temple ordinances can be done vicariously for them. President Thomas S. Monson said: >“To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves. No one has learned the meaning of living until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man. Service to others is akin to duty—the fulfillment of which brings true joy.” I invite us all to embrace and discover more about the importance of Eternal Marriage by attending the temple regularly. For those who are endowed a great way to do this is by doing sealings for deceased family members. This could allow them to be with those they love just as we all have the opportunity to be with those who we love. ## Testimony: Testimony of Christ and His atonement. Of His restored gospel. Of the Power of the restored priesthood. Of His plan of salvation. This is most important but I was asked to talk about the eternal nature of marriage. ## Maybe: President Nelson said, One strong sentence of scripture clearly distinguishes between a hopeful wish and eternal truth: “All covenants, contracts, … obligations, oaths, vows, … 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.” President Ezra Taft Benson stated, “Faithfulness to the marriage covenant brings the fullest joy here and glorious rewards hereafter” (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson \[1988\], 533–34).