Lessons on the Temple
Lesson No. Four

A Temple Marriage Makes All The Difference

Latter-day prophets have consistently taught the importance of a temple marriage – President Russel M. Nelson recently said:  “If it were possible for me to speak one-on-one with every young adult, I would plead with you to seek a companion with whom you can be sealed in the temple. You may wonder what difference this will make in your life. I promise it will make all the difference! As you marry in the temple and return repeatedly, you will be strengthened and guided in your decisions.  If I could speak with each husband and wife who have still not been sealed in the temple, I would plead with you to take the necessary steps to receive that crowning, life-changing ordinance. Will it make a difference? Only if you want to progress forever and be together forever. Wishing to be together forever will not make it so. No other ceremony or contract will make it so” (The Temple and Your Spiritual Foundation, October 2021 General Conference, emphasis added).

A most important decision of this life is to marry the right person in the right way and place – There are many factors of both the heart and the mind that come into play when deciding who and when to marry.  But where to marry should never be uncertain – we must marry in the temple.  Temple marriage brings the greatest of all blessings even eternal life in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. (See D&C 131:1-4).

The importance of living prophets – In this world there are many opposing beliefs and much confusion about marriage.  Even the teachings in the  Bible on marriage, particularly the words of Paul, can be misunderstood.  It is a remarkable blessing to have living prophets the Lord has called to guide His Church and to give us His word and His will.  Living prophets also clarify the Scriptures as necessary.  The knowledge that we have living prophets brings us to an important principle to remember – The practice of the Church constitutes the interpretation of the scriptures.  

The Family: A Proclamation to the World sets forth the belief and practice of the Church concerning marriage and family – This Proclamation came to us from the Lord through living prophets many years ago, and it answers the many issues on marriage and family the world struggles with today that were not so front and center then.  Among many things it gives an eternal perspective on marriage and family:  “The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave.  Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).

A temple marriage is a blessing covenant keeping parents desire most for their children – Elder Bruce McConkie pointed out: "When Esau married outside the covenant the scriptures tell us this was 'a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah' (Genesis 26:35).  We later read:  'And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth:  If Jacob take a wife of the daughter of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me" (Genesis 27:46)?  In other words if their other son Jacob were to marry out of the covenant as Esau did the greatest of all blessings that of eternal life would be lost to their posterity.  This is an example of where a righteous woman has a great influence on her husband to do the proper thing.  In this way Rebekah stirred Isaac up.  The scripture says:  'And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of daughters of Canaan' (Genesis 28:1).   In effect what Isaac’s charge to Jacob was: Thou shalt not marry out of the temple, because only in celestial marriage will you and your posterity receive the greatest blessing of the gospel that of eternal life" (Bruce R. McConkie, Promises Made to the Fathers).

Testimony – If we live according to the teachings of latter day prophets and of The Family: A Proclamation to the World our families will be blessed in this life, and we will have eternal life with them in the world to come. There are many members who desires a temple marriage but do not have an opportunity in this life. Latter day prophets have promised that if members in this situation live worthy they will receive this great blessing in the next life. If we put the kingdom of God first everything else will fall into the proper place.