1. The Doctrine of Eternal Marriage & Family~
Lesson 19
Student Readings:
• Doctrine and Covenants 49:15–17; 131:1–4; 132:1–24.
• Russell M. Nelson, “Celestial Marriage,” Ensign, Nov

2. Leman Copley joined the Church in 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio
Leman Copley joined the Church in 1831 in Kirtland, Ohio. He had been a member of the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, commonly called Shakers because of their manner of worship, which involved shaking their bodies as they sang, danced, and clapped their hands to music. While Leman Copley believed the gospel, he still also believed in some of the Shaker teachings. He visited Joseph Smith, and as a result of the visit, the Lord gave Joseph the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 49.

4. The Shakers believed:
in the general apostasy;
in modern revelation;
in the agency of man;
in the ideal of communal life;

5. The Shakers believed:
in the general apostasy;
in modern revelation;
in the agency of man;
in the ideal of communal life;
marriage was not required;
in living a life of total celibacy;
baptism and other ordinances were not essential;
vegetarianism was preferred;
that Christ’s 2nd coming had occurred (Ann Lee).

6. D&C 49:15-17
Look for what the Lord said about the importance of marriage and family.

7. D&C 49:15-17 What did the Lord teach about marriage?
Look for what the Lord said about the importance of marriage and family.
What did the Lord teach about marriage?
What do you think it means that marriage is ordained of God “that the earth might answer the end of its creation”?
Is our understanding of marriage different from other religions?
How might an understanding of the truths taught in these verses help us explain the Church’s teachings about marriage?

8. The Doctrine of Eternal Marriage & the Family
Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God.
Husbands and wives are commanded to have children.
The earth was created to provide a place where God’s children could live as families.
In May 1831 – very early in Church history – the importance of marriage is revealed to Joseph Smith while he and Oliver Cowdery are engaged in translating the Old Testament. As they translated Genesis they tried to understand the marriage arrangements of the early patriarchs like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This is why Church and Doctrinal scholars believe Joseph Smith was then aware of the concepts of eternal marriage, eternal families, and plural marriage.

9. Years later, the Saints’ understanding of the importance of the doctrine of eternal marriage and family grew significantly. On May 16, 1843, Joseph Smith traveled to Ramus, Illinois. While staying at the home of Benjamin and Melissa Johnson, the Prophet taught them about eternal marriage. Some of the Prophet’s instructions given at Ramus are recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 131.
D&C 131:1-4 – What must we do to obtain the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom?

10. Doctrine: In order to obtain the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, we must enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage.
“new” – in this context means that this covenant was newly restored in our dispensation.
“everlasting” – means that this covenant has always existed and will endure through eternity.
Men and women can enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage only inside holy temples. Individuals who are married outside of the temple might include terms such as “married for time and eternity” in their marriage vows, but God will not honor these marriages in eternity.

11. “The subject of marriage is debated across the world, where various
arrangements exist for conjugal
living. My purpose in speaking
out on this topic is to declare,
as an Apostle of the Lord, that
marriage between a man and
a woman is sacred—it is
ordained of God. I also assert
the virtue of a temple marriage.
It is the highest and most enduring type of marriage that our Creator can offer to His children.
Elder Russell M. Nelson

12. Elder Russell M. Nelson
“While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter.
“To qualify for eternal life, we must make an eternal and everlasting covenant with our Heavenly Father [see D&C 132:19].
This means that a temple marriage is not only between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God [see Matthew 19:6]”.

13. Elder Russell M. Nelson
“While salvation is an individual matter, exaltation is a family matter.
“To qualify for eternal life, we must make an eternal and everlasting covenant with our Heavenly Father [see D&C 132:19].
This means that a temple marriage is not only between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God [see Matthew 19:6]”.

14. What does it mean to embrace “a partnership with God” in an eternal marriage?
Why do you think having a partnership with God in marriage is important?
Elder Russell M. Nelson

15. God
Man
Woman

16. All other gospel covenants are made between an individual and God.
Only in temple marriage does an individual make a covenant with another person and with God.
All other gospel covenants are made between an individual and God.
How can the restored doctrine of eternal marriage and family elevate a person’s desire to build a loving and lasting marriage?

17. “Some members of the Church remain single through no fault of their own, even though they want to marry. If you find yourself in this situation, be assured that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’ (Romans 8:28).
As you remain worthy, you will someday, in this life or the next, be given all the blessings of an eternal family relationship.”
(True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 99)

18. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
About two months after Joseph Smith provided the instruction recorded in Doctrine and Covenants 131, he dictated the revelation now known as Doctrine and Covenants 132.
D&C 132 – section heading
Revelation given through Joseph Smith the Prophet, at Nauvoo, Illinois, recorded July 12, 1843, relating to the new and everlasting covenant, including the eternity of the marriage covenant and the principle of plural marriage. Although the revelation was recorded in 1843, evidence indicates that some of the principles involved in this revelation were known by the Prophet as early as See Official Declaration 1.

19. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:1-6
What words and phrases in these verses clarify the importance of eternal marriage?
What are the consequences of rejecting this doctrine?
The word damned means that a person is stopped in his or her eternal progression.

20. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:7-8 – According to these verses, what conditions are necessary for a marriage to endure eternally?
Principle: When a covenant is made through the proper priesthood authority and sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise, it will last forever.

21. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:19-21
Conditions for a marriage to be eternal:
The marriage must be performed according to the Lord’s law and “the new and everlasting covenant.”
The marriage must be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.
The marriage must be performed by one who holds the keys of the priesthood.
The married couple must abide in God’s covenant.

22. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
The Holy Spirit of Promise:
“The Holy Ghost is the Holy Spirit of Promise (Acts 2:33). He confirms as acceptable to God the righteous acts, ordinances, and covenants of men. The Holy Spirit of Promise witnesses to the Father that the saving ordinances have been performed properly and that the covenants associated with them have been kept.”
(Guide to the Scriptures, “Holy Spirit of Promise,” scriptures.lds.org).

23. “To seal is to ratify, to justify, or to approve
“To seal is to ratify, to justify, or to approve. Thus an act which is sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is one which is ratified by the Holy Ghost; it is one which is approved by the Lord; and the person who has taken the obligation upon himself is justified by the Spirit in the thing he has done. The ratifying seal of approval is put upon an act only if those entering the contract are worthy as a result of personal righteousness to receive the divine approbation”.
Elder Bruce R. McConkie

24. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:19-21 – Identify the blessings that will be received.

25. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:19-21
Blessings that will be received:
Come forth in the First Resurrection.
Inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, powers, dominions, and all heights and depths.
The marriage will be of full force after physical death.
Pass by the angels.
Be exalted and have glory in all things.
Have a “continuation of the seeds forever” (their family and posterity will continue throughout eternity; they will have eternal increase).
Be gods and have no end.
Be above all things and have all power, and all things will be subject to them.

26. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:19-21
What do you think it means to “abide” in the marriage covenant?

27. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
D&C 132:19-21
What do you think it means to “abide” in the marriage covenant?
Why is being sealed in the temple on its own not sufficient to achieve an eternal marriage?
One meaning of the word abide is to remain or continue. It also means to live in accordance with the covenant.

28. “Some members of the Church remain single through no fault of their own, even though they want to marry. If you find yourself in this situation, be assured that ‘all things work together for good to them that love God’ (Romans 8:28). As you remain worthy, you will someday, in this life or the next, be given all the blessings of an eternal family relationship”.
(True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 99)

29. “Celestial marriage is a pivotal part of preparation for eternal life
“Celestial marriage is a pivotal part of preparation for eternal life. It requires one to be married to the right person, in the right place, by the right authority, and to obey that sacred covenant faithfully. Then one may be assured of exaltation in the celestial kingdom of God”.
Elder Russell M. Nelson

30. Celestial Marriage - essential for exaltation
Given the importance of the doctrine of eternal marriage and family, what can you do now to prepare for an eternal marriage and build strong relationships?

31. Get married to the right person, at the right time, and in the right place by the right authority.

32. “It was from [Joseph Smith] that I learned that the wife of my bosom might be secured to me for time and all eternity. … It was from him that I learned that we might cultivate these affections, and grow and increase in the same to all eternity; while the result of our endless union would be an offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, or the sands of the sea shore. … I had loved before, but I knew not why. But now I loved - with a pureness - an intensity of elevated, exalted feeling”.
Parley P. Pratt

33. How do you like me now?

34. Joseph Smith – restorer of the New and Everlasting Covenant, the doctrine of eternal marriage, and builder of temples!

35. Plural Marriage Lesson 20 ~ Next week: Declaration 1.
Student Readings:
• Jacob 2:27–30; Doctrine and Covenants 132:1–3, 34–48, 54, 63; Official
Declaration 1.
• “Plural Marriage in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Gospel
Topics, lds.org/topics.