Marriage for Time or Eternity

            Many people feel that marriage here is marriage forever, that their marriages will still be in full force in the hereafter, even though their vows say “until death do us part”. Christ offers a similar perspective. In Matthew 22:30 Christ teaches, “For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.” Meaning that there will be no marriages performed after the resurrection.

            Further clarification of this principle is offered through modern revelation in D&C 132:14-16. 

“Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.

Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.

For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.”

These verses help to show us the connection between “until death do us part” and Matthew 22:30. From them we learn that marriages where the covenant is for time in this world only have no binding power after that time; the marriage is broken with no chance to marry again after this life. Such is the law. There is however an alternative.

            It is obvious, through study, that this is not the only option before us for in 1 Peter 3:7 we learn that husband and wife are “heirs together of the grace of life” and from 1 Corinthians 11:11 that “neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” These additional verses definitely sound like marriage that can surpass time on this earth. Such marriage has also been clarified through modern revelation. 

“And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood…it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.” (D&C 132:19)

Marriages covenanted for eternity, sealed by the Holy Ghost and performed by someone with the authority to do so will be in full force after the resurrection. These marriages are not for time only. There is not “death do us part”. There is forever.