Marriage Is Ordained of God. 

Marriage between a man and a woman is a vital part of God's plan. 

Many people in the world consider marriage to be only a social custom, a legal agreement between a man and a woman to live together. But to Latter-day Saints, marriage is much more. Our exaltation depends on marriage, along with other principles and ordinances, such as faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. We believe that marriage is the most sacred relationship that can exist between a man and a woman. This sacred relationship affects our happiness now and in the eternities.

Heavenly Father has given us the law of eternal marriage so we can become like him. We must live this law to be able to have spirit children. The Lord has said:


Eternal Marriage Must Be Performed by Proper Authority in the Temple

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 and two special witnesses.  

Benefits of an Eternal Marriage

However, we receive blessings in this life as a result of being married for eternity. Some of the blessings are as follows:

3. Because we have been married in God's ordained way, we are entitled to an outpouring of the Spirit on our marriage as we remain worthy.
   

Some of the blessings we can enjoy for eternity are as follows:

1. We can live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of God.
2. We can be exalted as God is and receive a fulness of joy.
3. We can, at some future time, increase our family by having spirit children.
   

We Must Prepare for an Eternal Marriage

President Spencer W. Kimball taught that "marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects. . . . It affects not only the two people involved, but their children and . . . their children's children. . . . Of all the decisions, this one must not be wrong." He recommended "that all boys and girls from their infancy up plan to be married only in the temple . . . to keep their lives spotless so that this can be accomplished" (" . . . The Matter of Marriage," devotional address, Salt Lake Institute of Religion, 22 Oct. 1976).

President Kimball also said:

"We say to all youth regardless of what country is your home, and regardless of the customs in your country, your Heavenly Father expects you to marry for eternity and rear a good, strong family.

"It would be our hope that parents would train you . . . to earn some money, and to put it away for your missions and your marriages. . . .

"There will be a new spirit in Zion when the young women will say to their boyfriends: 'I am sorry, but as much as I love you, I will not marry out of the holy temple' " ("Marriage--The Proper Way," New Era, Feb. 1976, p. 4).

The Lord has said that if we are true and faithful, we will pass by the angels to enter our exaltation. We will become like our Heavenly Father gods. (See D&C 132:19-20.) 

• What can we do to encourage young people to set a goal to be married in the temple. How can we help them prepare for this?

Additional Scriptures

• Matthew 22:23-30 (no marriage in the Resurrection)