Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Thirty-Three
Perfectly Joined Together In Love And Righteousness
The teachings and practice of the restored Church of Jesus Christ determines how the scriptures are to be interpreted and understood – Paul’s teaching about marriage, as found in 1 Corinthians 7 are a good example of the need for latter-day prophets and continuing revelation.
The Prophet Joseph Smith was so troubled by 1 Corinthians 7:12-19, particularly verse 14, that he inquired of the Lord and received the explanation recorded in D&C 74:2-7. In 1 Corinthians 7:29-33 Paul seems to suggest that it is better to be unmarried than married. The Joseph Smith Translation clarifies that these verses refer to those called to be full-time missionaries.
Family and marriage are under attack in the modern world – In today’s world, as the need for marriage and family are increasingly questioned, the importance of modern prophets and continuing revelation becomes more obvious. In 1996 leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who members of the Church sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators, gave the world a most inspired and prophetic statement known as The Family: A Proclamation to the World. The leaders of the restored Church of Jesus Christ continue to speak out in defense of marriage and family.
The divinely appointed role of husbands and wives, mothers and fathers are set forth in The Family: A Proclamation to the World – “The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ…By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation” (The Family: A Proclamation to the World).
Husbands and wives should be perfectly joined together in love and righteousness, and they are to cleave unto each other – Adam gave eternally important counsel to his posterity, which applies to both sons and daughters: “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh” (Genesis 2:24).
The dictionary defines word “cleave”: 1. “to adhere closely; stick; cling; 2. “to remain faithful”. Both dictionary definitions apply to husband and wife. Furthermore, when the Scripture teaches that husbands and wives are to “be one flesh” (Ibid), this means they are to be united and faithful to each other spiritually, emotionally, physically, and in every righteous way.
God’s law of marriage is essential for us to realize our divine destiny as heir of eternal life – (See D&C 131:1-4) In God’s law marriage and family are fundamental to our eternal happiness. In God’s law husbands and wives must be perfectly joined together in love and righteousness. As this happens husbands and wives, mothers and fathers will be willing to sacrifice whatever is necessary to defend their marriage and their family against what is proving to be the greatest attack on marriage and family in the history of the world.
As we serve and sacrifice for our marriage and for our family, doing what only we can do, we most perfectly follow the example of our Savior as He did for us what only He could do.We should find ways every day to serve and sacrifice for our marriage and for our family.In doing so we learn by personal experience that “Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven” (Praise to the Man, Hymns, p. 27).