For many readers of Infinity Magazine, life is filled with stress and excitement as they attempt to bring plans together for the perfect wedding day. With such bright hopes and with the eager anticipation of beginning a new life together as a couple, it’s easy to lose focus on why marriage is so important. The eternal purpose of marriage has been one of the main points of focus for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints since its founding in 1830. Today the Church is recognized for its staunch support of protecting the traditional definition of marriage, which is between one man and one woman. Why does the Church take such a strong stand? We’ve examined church history and doctrine, and it has become very clear why the Church holds marriage with such high regard and seeks to protect it against those who would seek to change its definition.
In September 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley presented "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." This document is the Church's most important statement on its current stance on marriage and the family. It teaches, that marriage is between a man and a woman and that "the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children" ("Family"). As the Proclamation says: "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live" ("Family"). Upon hearing these words from their prophet, faithful church members place a greater emphasis on their marriage relationships and what it means to them.
To be married to someone is a big commitment and something most of us wish to do in our life time. When being married in a regular ceremony, you get married “until death do you part”. In the Church of Jesus Christ though, most members get married for “time and all eternity”. Does all time and eternity sound better to you than “Death do you part”? Yeah, we thought so. Latter-day Saint church members have the ability to be married for time and all eternity because of covenants that they make and promise to keep. These covenants are sworn in a very sacred place. This place is the temple; it is the house of the Lord. There are 141 operating temples all across the world today. Temples are very important to many Latter-day Saints because of the importance they play in the sealing of families. Lds.org explains that sealing ordinances are where husbands and wives are sealed together for time and all eternity. Children can also be sealed to their parents in through these ordinances. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. Prominent church leader, Elder Russell M. Nelson, said, “Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation. Marriage has been divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God” (Nelson). Latter-day Saints cherish their families and feel like having a family is the most important thing for them. They also feel that God needs to be a part of their family relationship. By getting married in a temple, they include God in their marriage.
One difference between a Latter-day Saint temple marriage and others is the actual event of the marriage ceremony. A temple ceremony can only be attended by those that have received their endowment. A simple way to describe the receiving of one's endowment would be to call it a "rite of passage" within the church. Church members that are considered worthy to enter the temple must agree to live and follow the standards of the gospel.
The Church has long been a defender of the importance of marriage. In recent years, the church has become a target of criticism for its opposition to the legalization of gay marriage in various states throughout America. The flashpoint for this criticism occurred in 2008 during the fight in California regarding Proposition 8. The church played a major role in supporting the proposition as the first presidency asked church members to support the proposed amendment with their time and money. The basis for their support stems from their view that families are eternal and are to be led by a father and a mother.
Church leaders have been careful to not be seen as promoting hatred of people who consider themselves gay or lesbian; rather, they seek to promote and protect the values and definition of marriage. While some may feel that the church might save its reputation by backing away from their opposition to same-sex marriage, church leaders continue to stand firm in their beliefs because, “marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (Same-sex attraction). Most recently, in response to the Supreme Court decision which overturned Proposition 8 in California, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act, Church officials have, once again, strongly reaffirmed their support for maintaining the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
History has shown that the concept of marriage has long been the backbone of the Church. Even today, in the midst of social conflict and debate currently surrounding the topic of marriage, thousands of young Latter-day Saint couples continue to fall in love and begin preparing for the eternities by establishing strong marital relationships. It is our hope that their examples become a beacon to the world and be a reminder of the eternal happiness that is promised for those who make and keep sacred marriage covenants. The pre-wedding, planning stage can often be a time of great excitement and wonder for potential brides and grooms; however, it’s to their benefit to slow down and ponder why church leaders and members try so hard to protect the definition of marriage and also ponder the eternal implications and blessings that await them.
-Written by the Infinity Magazine editorial staff
Kyle Wright -Editor-in-chief
Kim Gebs - Sponsoring editor
Laken Bowling - Sponsoring editor
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World." lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995. Web. 12 June 2013.
Nelson, Russell M. “Nurturing Marriage.” Ensign. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May. 2006. Web. 13 June 2013.
“Same-sex attraction.” LDS.org. n.d. Web. 10 June 2013.
In September 1995, President Gordon B. Hinckley presented "The Family: A Proclamation to the World." This document is the Church's most important statement on its current stance on marriage and the family. It teaches, that marriage is between a man and a woman and that "the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children" ("Family"). As the Proclamation says: "Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law-abiding citizens wherever they live" ("Family"). Upon hearing these words from their prophet, faithful church members place a greater emphasis on their marriage relationships and what it means to them.
To be married to someone is a big commitment and something most of us wish to do in our life time. When being married in a regular ceremony, you get married “until death do you part”. In the Church of Jesus Christ though, most members get married for “time and all eternity”. Does all time and eternity sound better to you than “Death do you part”? Yeah, we thought so. Latter-day Saint church members have the ability to be married for time and all eternity because of covenants that they make and promise to keep. These covenants are sworn in a very sacred place. This place is the temple; it is the house of the Lord. There are 141 operating temples all across the world today. Temples are very important to many Latter-day Saints because of the importance they play in the sealing of families. Lds.org explains that sealing ordinances are where husbands and wives are sealed together for time and all eternity. Children can also be sealed to their parents in through these ordinances. This means that if we are faithful to our covenants, our family relationships will continue for eternity. Prominent church leader, Elder Russell M. Nelson, said, “Marriage is the foundry for social order, the fountain of virtue, and the foundation for eternal exaltation. Marriage has been divinely designated as an eternal and everlasting covenant. Marriage is sanctified when it is cherished and honored in holiness. That union is not merely between husband and wife; it embraces a partnership with God” (Nelson). Latter-day Saints cherish their families and feel like having a family is the most important thing for them. They also feel that God needs to be a part of their family relationship. By getting married in a temple, they include God in their marriage.
One difference between a Latter-day Saint temple marriage and others is the actual event of the marriage ceremony. A temple ceremony can only be attended by those that have received their endowment. A simple way to describe the receiving of one's endowment would be to call it a "rite of passage" within the church. Church members that are considered worthy to enter the temple must agree to live and follow the standards of the gospel.
The Church has long been a defender of the importance of marriage. In recent years, the church has become a target of criticism for its opposition to the legalization of gay marriage in various states throughout America. The flashpoint for this criticism occurred in 2008 during the fight in California regarding Proposition 8. The church played a major role in supporting the proposition as the first presidency asked church members to support the proposed amendment with their time and money. The basis for their support stems from their view that families are eternal and are to be led by a father and a mother.
Church leaders have been careful to not be seen as promoting hatred of people who consider themselves gay or lesbian; rather, they seek to promote and protect the values and definition of marriage. While some may feel that the church might save its reputation by backing away from their opposition to same-sex marriage, church leaders continue to stand firm in their beliefs because, “marriage between a man and a woman is essential to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children” (Same-sex attraction). Most recently, in response to the Supreme Court decision which overturned Proposition 8 in California, as well as the Defense of Marriage Act, Church officials have, once again, strongly reaffirmed their support for maintaining the definition of marriage as being between one man and one woman.
History has shown that the concept of marriage has long been the backbone of the Church. Even today, in the midst of social conflict and debate currently surrounding the topic of marriage, thousands of young Latter-day Saint couples continue to fall in love and begin preparing for the eternities by establishing strong marital relationships. It is our hope that their examples become a beacon to the world and be a reminder of the eternal happiness that is promised for those who make and keep sacred marriage covenants. The pre-wedding, planning stage can often be a time of great excitement and wonder for potential brides and grooms; however, it’s to their benefit to slow down and ponder why church leaders and members try so hard to protect the definition of marriage and also ponder the eternal implications and blessings that await them.
-Written by the Infinity Magazine editorial staff
Kyle Wright -Editor-in-chief
Kim Gebs - Sponsoring editor
Laken Bowling - Sponsoring editor
"The Family: A Proclamation to the World." lds.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1995. Web. 12 June 2013.
Nelson, Russell M. “Nurturing Marriage.” Ensign. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. May. 2006. Web. 13 June 2013.
“Same-sex attraction.” LDS.org. n.d. Web. 10 June 2013.