Is There Marrying and Giving in Marriage in Heaven?

Is There Marrying and Giving in Marriage in Heaven?

BY JOHN L. NEBEKER Marriage was instituted among men, and ordained of God unto man, in the beginning, that the earth might answer the end of its creation before the world was made,* therefore, let all things be done in order and according to the eternal justice of God. While marriage has been incumbent upon mankind in all ages of the world because of the injunction of God to "multiply and replenish the earth," it cannot be denied that the Lord has given laws regulating it by restricting and limiting it in certain channels, and by protecting it by the enactment of stringent and just laws. No greater safeguards are provided than those that surround and preserve the issues of life, and the Lord has so ordained it for a wise purpose in him, the wisdom of which can only be appreciatedwhen we understand and know the purpose of the Almighty concerning the "creation of man before the world was." Marriage is defined as an act, or ceremony, by which the legal relationship of husband and wife is constituted, and in most, if not all, legal systems is taken as a contract. Unlike most contracts,however, the compact is for an indefinite duration, or, in other words, a continuous relationship which can only be cut asunder by the violation of the terms of the compact as defined by law. The contract may be for the term of the natural life of the contracting parties, or it may be for eternity. In the world it is a question whether marriage is merely a contract, or more than a contract, whether purely a civil or religious act. Which ever way this may be considered, "it enjoins the most sacred obligations and responsibilities with which a husband or wife can be charged and carries with it many difficulties which have to be met; many duties which have to be fulfiled; many burdens which have to be borne and many temptations which have to be overcome." Several years ago the writer had occasion to discuss the

*Doc. & Cov. 49:15-17.

392 IMPROVEMENT ERA marital relations of the Latter-day Saints with a Mr. Richardson, of the First Baptist Church, of Baltimore, Md. Probably it should not be called a discussion, as the reverend gentleman made no particular attempt at an argument, for or against the subject, but patiently and respectfully listened to what I had to say. He did, however, ask this question: 'In the light of your statement that the 'Mormon' Church holds that the marriage covenant is eternal, when solemnized by the proper authority, how do you reconcile the statement of Christ's declaring that in heaven there isno marrying or giving in marriage?" 1 replied to the gentleman's question, that the Latter-day Saints do not hold that the language of the Savior, in making the declaration referred to, conveyed the sectarian idea that the marriage relation would not continue beyond the veil, or that contracts of marriage would not tk: made after death, except with those to whom reference is made by the Savior. Note the language, "The children of this world marry and are given in marriage:" (referring to the general custom of marriage among mankind) "but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage." Note also the language of Mark, "For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels in heaven," Also that of Matthew, "For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven." The words quoted are those used by the Savior in answer to a question put to him by the Sadducees, touching a case involving one of the laws of Moses in relation to marriage, which, if the Savior's theory of the resurrection be true, would, according to their way of thinking, produce such an anomalous condition that it would be very embarrasing, to say the least. With respect to their conclusions in regard to this matter, he charges them with error, because they do 'not understand the scriptures, nor the power of God. While the sectarian idea teaches that there are only two places, namely, Heaven and Hell, to which mortals go after death, they lose sight of the fact that "In My Father's House there are many Mansions." In other words, a place of classification. As the Apostle Paul puts it, "there are Celestial bodies and

*Mark 12:25; Matt. 22:30; II Cor. 12:1-4; Doc. & Cov. Sec. 76.

IS THERE MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN? 893 bodies Terrestrial, but the glory of the Celestial is one, and the glory of the Terrestrial is another." He further says, "There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars, for (as) one star differeth from another star in glory, so also is the resurrection from the dead." The Apostle Paul, also speaking of visions and revelations, said he knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell, was caught up to the third heaven. He also says he knew a man that had been caught up into paradise and had heard unspeakable words, which it is unlawful for a man to utter. The Latter-day Saints believe that the glories referred to by the apostle are kingdoms or worlds and are distinctively different from each other in the power and dominion exercised, or privileges enjoyed, by those who are permitted to inhabit them, that each has its separate laws to govern and control, and judgment will be given to men according to the conditions and circumstances with which they are surrounded in the resurrection. Again referring to the language of the Savior in answering the question of the Sadducees, relative to the woman who had seven husbands, the conclusion is forced that in at least one of the glories, or heavens referred to by Paul and designated as a world by Christ, there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage, remaining as the angels of heaven, being the children of God, because they are the children of the resurrection. Mark the language again, "They that are accounted worthy to obtain that world and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage." hence this view of the matter does not preclude the possibility of a union of the sexes in the marriage bond beyond the grave and in the Celestial world, at least, as that is the highest glory spoken of, being typical of the glory of the sun. Now as to the world to which the Savior referred, where there would be "no marrying or giving in marriage." It is an acknowledged fact that the Sadducees, as well as others, in their many conversations with the Savior, were not always seeking for the truth, but were very insidiously and perniciously trying to entrap him, so that a provocation might be had for his arrest and imprisonment, hence he gave them no more information, on such occasions, than was necessary to answer their

*Doc. <fc Cov.

394 IMPROVEMENT ERA questions. So that no definite statement is recorded making it plain as to what world was referred to in his statement recorded by Luke. In this connection, however, the Savior, no doubt, had reference to conditions that surrounded the Jews, religiously and otherwise, which conditions clearly indicated an apostasy from the faith of their fathers, as there were great divisions among them in their religious views, and in the manner of the interpretation of the scriptures, causing to arise among them many sects and parties. While they were for the most part agreed on the ritual and modes of sacrifice required by the law of Moses, such rites and ceremonies were being continually polluted by the hierarchy, the chief priests. Hence, in the language of Isaiah, "They have transgressed the law, changed the ordinances, and broken the everlasting covenant," and it would appear from the language of Isaiah 28:18, that they would make the marriage covenant to end with death a condition most reasonable when it is under- ;

stood that they had no hope beyond the grave, for such was the belief of the Sadducees.

They had rejected the Son of God, and the higher law of the gospel, by which their marriage vows might be made eternal, and, as Mosheim says, "were sunk in the most deplorable ignorance of God and of divine things, and had no other way of rendering themselves acceptable to the Supreme Being than by sacrifices, ablutions, and other external ceremonies of the Mosaic law, from which proceeded that laxity of manner, and that profligate wickedness which prevailed among the Jews during Christ's ministry upon the earth." Then, in the light of such conditions and coupled with the possibility that the event with which the Sadducees preluded their question was an actual fact and did happen, and was of common knowledge among them, to what world would he refer? Certainly not to the Celestial world. Hence we are of the opinion that it was not the intention of the Savior to lay down a law which would prohibit the marriage relation from being perpetuated in heaven according to the order established by the Lord, but, on the contrary, that many such unions have been and will be consummated by which the nuptial tie will remain unbroken even after the grave, and continue so throughout all eternity. Such marriages are being solemnized today not only for the living, but for the dead also. Inasmuch as it is necessary for the contract to be entered into in the flesh, or

IS THERE MARRIAGE IN HEAVEN? 395

in the mortal sphere, the dead can be officiated for by the living acting in their stead. In conclusion, let it be said that if purity, love and virtue, filial affection and unimpeachable integrity and fidelitv have part in the hereafter, then should not the conjugal relation and complacent love of husband and wife, together with their children, associated in the holy bond of fatherhood and motherhood in the family circle, be continued as long as eternity shall last or immortality endure? I think the analogy is justified. Salt Lake Citt, Utah.