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.
Prophetic Revelation
POPULAR EXPRESSION
Families Can Be Together Forever
I Love to See the Temple
Love at Home
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
“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)
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.
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)
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)
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)
He invites you to join his family:
BY BIRTH
BY ADOPTION
BY MARRIAGE
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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)
“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.”
“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.”
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.