God has revealed the eternal nature of celestial marriage and the family as the source of our greatest joy.…our family is the focus of our greatest work and joy in this life; so will it be throughout all eternity.

RUSSELL M. NELSON

(Ensign, Nov., 2001)

LDS PERSEPCTIVE

THE FAMILY AND THE LDS CHURCH

  • 5,100: number of Family History Centers in 140 countries
  • 25: average number of weddings performed daily in the Salt Lake City Temple alone
  • 12 million: estimated number of annual endowments performed for the dead

WHY ALL THIS ATTENTION ON THE FAMILY?

Prophetic Revelation

POPULAR EXPRESSION

Popular Expression

Popular Expression in Song

Families Can Be Together Forever

I Love to See the Temple

Love at Home

Popular Expression in ART

POPULAR EXPRESSION IN MEDIA

www.comeuntochrist.org/beliefs/family/forever-families/

Stop: Let’s INTERACT

STOP: Let’s interact

  • Are there other popular expressions of family that you would add to our list?
  • What has your family experience been like inside the LDS church?
  • Now let’s talk about the doctrine underlying the emphasis on eternal families.

PROPHETIC REVELATION

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 132. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng

BEGAN WITH JOSEPH SMITH

D&C 132:4

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 132. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng

BEGAN WITH JOSEPH SMITH

D&C 132:19

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Doctrine and Covenants 132. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/132?lang=eng

BEGAN WITH JOSEPH SMITH

D&C 132:20

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/new-era/1971/06/presidents-of-the-church-speak-on-temple-marriage?lang=eng

CONTINUED BY LDS PROPHETS

HEBER J. GRANT

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-latter-day-saint-woman-basic-manual-for-women-part-a/gospel-principles-and-doctrine/lesson-10-eternal-marriage?lang=eng

CONTINUED BY LDS PROPHETS

SPENCER W. KIMBELL

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world/the-family-a-proclamation-to-the-world?lang=eng

CONTINUED BY LDS PROPHETS

THE FAMILY: A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER
FOREVER: PROBLEMS

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER

FOREVER: PROBLEMS

  • It contradicts Joseph Smith.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Retrieved April 22, 2020 from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/alma/11?lang=eng

ONLY ONE GOD

ALMA 11:26–29

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER

FOREVER: PROBLEMS

  • It contradicts Joseph Smith.
  • It contradicts Jesus.

But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. (Matthew 22:29–30)

FAMILIES CAN BE TOGETHER

FOREVER: PROBLEMS

  • It contradicts Joseph Smith.
  • It contradicts Jesus.
  • It contradicts God.

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. (Isaiah 43:10)

Born-Again
Perspective

John Piper

What if you could go to heaven someday, and you would have perfect health, perfect mental presence, no depression anymore, all the friends you want there, and every kind of leisure you can imagine, but Jesus is not there. Would that be okay? And it’s scary how many people think, “That’s kind of what I thought heaven was.” That’s not what heaven is. Jesus is heaven. If you are trying to receive Jesus as a way to get what you want—but not him—you’re not receiving Jesus. You’re using Jesus.

“RIGHT WITH GOD, RIGHT WITH MAN,” A MESSAGE JOHN PIPER PREACHED AT A CONFERENCE IN ORLANDO.

Stop: Let’s INTERACT

STOP: Let’s interact

  • Does the concept of eternal families accurately describe your view of eternity? If not, why not?
  • Have you ever studied the Bible’s view of God’s family? If so, what did you find?

LET’s DISCOVER GOD’S FAMILY

REVIEW: GOD IS EXCLUSIVE

God is God alone forevermore.

I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. (Isaiah 45:5–6)

 

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)

REVIEW: GOD IS THE CREATOR

God created everything—marriage and family included.

Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it… (Isaiah 42:5)

 

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

REVIEW: GOD IS THE CREATOR

God created everything—marriage and family included.

 

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3–5)

  • Since God is God alone forevermore, we will never equal nor surpass him.
  • Gender, marriage, and family are all God’s to define.

REVIEW: IMPLICATIONS OF GOD’S NATURE

GOD HAS A FAMILY

He invites you to join his family:

BY BIRTH

BY ADOPTION

BY MARRIAGE

BY BIRTH

BORN OF THE SPIRIT

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

To enter God’s family.

Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews…came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:1–6)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

To enter God’s family.

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you… (1 Peter 1:3–4)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

Because Adam plunged all mankind into sin.

 

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Romans 5:12)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

Because sinners are by nature children of wrath.

 

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1–3)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

Because sinners are by nature children of wrath.

 

By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. (1 John 3:10)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

Through faith on account of God’s mercy.

 

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit… (Titus 3:4–5, NIV)

YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN…

Through faith on account of God’s mercy.

 

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:14–16)

  • God graciously invites you into his family by (re)birth (John 3:3).
  • God says you cannot be (re)born by works of righteousness (Titus 3:4–5).

BORN AGAIN: CONCLUSIONS

  • God causes people to be born into his family by the Spirit when they repent put their faith in Christ alone (John 3:16).

BY ADOPTION

Adoption as sons

ADOPTION AS SONS

God redeems and adopts sinners.

 

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:4–5)

ADOPTION AS SONS

Sinners who receive adoption become children of God.

 

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God… (Romans 8:15–16)

ADOPTION AS SONS

Sinners receive adoption by faith.

 

But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… (John 1:12)

 

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:26)

  • God is willing to purchase your adoption at the cost of his Son’s life (Galatians 4:4–5).
  • God’s adoption grants the privileges of Christ Jesus (Romans 8:15–17).

ADOPTION AS SONS: CONCLUSIONS

  • God adopts all those who put their faith in his Son’s sacrifice (John 1:12).

BY MARRIAGE

BRIDE OF CHRIST

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Human marriage is intended to picture Christ and the Church.
 

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25–27)

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Human marriage is a lifelong union, rather than an eternal one.

 

And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. (Luke 20:34–36)

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

Human marriage is temporary; marriage to the Lamb is eternal.

 

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” (Revelation 19:7–9)

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

In this eternal marriage, Christ is the groom.

 

And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. (Mark 2:19–20)

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST

In this eternal marriage, God’s people are the bride.

 

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. (Revelation 21:2–3)

  • In the eternal state, people will not marry one another (Luke 20:34–36).
  • They will not marry one another because they will be married to Christ (Revelation 21:2–3).

THE BRIDE OF CHRIST: CONCLUSIONS

  • Modern-day marriage pictures the message of Christ crucified (Ephesians 5:25–27)

LESSON CONCLUSIONS

  • The Bible invites you to join God’s family by new birth, by adoption as sons, and by marriage to the Lamb.
  • Many Latter-day Saints are disappointed to learn that the Bible contradicts “eternal families.”

DISCOVERING GOD’S FAMILY
CONCLUSIONS

  • This disappointment is a problem of perspective. Consider the following two quotes.

Born-Again
Perspective

JONATHAN EDWARDS

“The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. Fathers and mothers, husbands, wives, or children, or the company of earthly friends, are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams, but God is the sun. These are but streams. But God is the ocean.”

The Works of Jonathan Edwards,
Vol. 17: Sermons and Discourses, 1730-1733

Born-Again
Perspective

JOHN PIPER

“If you don’t see the greatness of God, then all the things that money can buy become very exciting. If you can’t see the sun, you will be impressed with a street light. If you’ve never felt thunder and lightening you’ll be impressed with fireworks. And if you turn your back on the greatness and majesty of God you’ll fall in love with a world of shadows and short-lived pleasures.”

sermon on Malachi 1:6-14, November 1, 1987, www.DesiringGod.org

  • The Creator and Sustainer of all things invites you to join His family by faith alone in Christ alone.
  • Will you join him and accept his eternal reward?

DISCOVERING GOD’S FAMILY
CONCLUSIONS

MATTHEW 19:28–29

Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.

THANK YOU!