The Lord's Way of Marriage

Salt Lake City Temple

After spending two blog posts explaining situations about marriage that are less than ideal, divorce and same sex marriages I am so excited to share with you what the ideal marriage looks like. The ideal Marriage is done in The Lord’s way and it takes place in His Holy Temple. This type of marriage takes place in a sealing ceremony. The thing that sets this type of marriage apart from other marriages is that a man who has God’s authority (priesthood) marries them for time and all eternity, not just until death.

In order for a marriage to be strengthened and grow, the relationship should be centered on Jesus Christ and His teachings. Each partner needs to give 100% of themselves to support and lift each other. There will always be trials in every relation such as adversity, pride, or worldly influences. If a couple is centered in Christ’s gospel they will be provided with the strength that need in order to endure these challenges and grow closer to each other.

The goal of a righteous couple is to raise children that will be able to return with them to Heavenly Father and fulfill God’s plan for happiness for us. I have seen many amazing example of Saints that love the temple and teach that love to their children. One family in particular makes the temple a priority in their lives. They shout temple whenever the temple comes into their view as they go on road trips. They stop and eat picnics on the temple grounds with their children so that they can learn to love the temple even before they are old enough to go inside (at age twelve). When their children are old enough that encourage them receive a temple recommend to be able to do baptisms for their ancestors. They have taught their kids to find their own names to bring to the temple. Their 16 year old son has learned to love this and has found more than 1000 names of ancestors that he has taken to the temple and been baptized and confirmed for in the temple.

An example of an ordinance card of one of my ancestors

I want my children to love the temple like these kids do and like I do, going to the temple and understanding the promised blessings that are found in there are beyond explanation.

references:

1. Ezra Taft Benson, "What I Hope You Will Teach Your Children About the Temple"
2. Joseph Fielding Smith, "The Fullness of the Priesthood"
3. Bruce C. Hafen, "Covenant Marriage"