Eternal marriage is an essential principle in Mormon doctrine. In the Bible, Christ taught that certain ordinances performed in this life would be in force in heaven, “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”1 To have a marriage be effective in heaven and not just until “death do us part” it must be performed by the proper authority. This means that the man performing the marriage (called a “sealing” by members of the Mormon Church) has the correct priesthood keys to perform the ordinance. The marriage must also be performed in a temple, and then the couple must be righteous and stay true to the promises they make in the temple.Marriage in the temple is important, however those who do not marry in the temple, or who do not have the opportunity to marry, are still considered good upstanding members of the Church, and are able to serve and participate as do other members.While the actual sealing ceremony is very important, it is still conditional. The couple will only be together forever if they are faithful to God and the covenants they make in the temple. For this reason the Church has implemented numerous ways to help strengthen the family and marriage. Members are encouraged to participate in Family Home Evening, a program where the entire family gathers together each week to learn about a gospel principle and enjoy each other’s company. The Church also encourages married couples to continue “dating” and to go out together at least once a week. The Church also teaches its members principles that will help ensure a happy marriage, such as complete fidelity, friendship, and equality between men and women. President Spencer W. Kimball has said, “It is certain that almost any good man and any good woman can have happiness and a successful marriage if both are willing to pay the price.”2 This statement illustrates the Church’s stand on marriage; that it is vital and something that a couple must work on each day. By doing this, members will have happiness in their families and will gain the blessing of a family that can be together forever. The Church preaches that the greatest work we do on earth is within the walls of our own homes.
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