Whatsoever Thou Shalt Bind on Earth Shall Be Bound in Heaven

"Whatsoever Thou Shalt Bind on Earth Shall be Bound in Heaven"

BY JOSEPH S. PEERY

Recently, as usual, a company of tourists was escorted from the Bureau of Information, and after visiting the Assembly Hall and the Tabernacle, gathered on the south side of the Temple, anxious to learn something of the important work performed therein. Among other topics, the subject of marriage was introduced. The guide explained that a majority of the "Mormon" people prefer to be married in one of our temples. He explained the difference between marriages thus solemnized and those usually performed elsewhere. Continuing, he said, "The same authority is recognized as that given by Christ to Peter, 'Whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose :

on earth shall be loosed in heaven.' We believe that this authority was held by the early apostles of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we also believe that centuries later Peter, James and John, resurrected beings, appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith and conferred the same authority upon him. In turn, Joseph Smith conferred this authority upon his followers who were ordained to the priesthood, and thus it continues with us today. When a couple gets married in these holy temples, they are married, under that authority, for all time and all eternity, and when death comes the married relationship contitnues they will remain husband and ;

wife, and will have their children with them. Is not that a good thought, you happily married people?" The consensus of opinion in the company was that there is no married relationship in the next life. One lady answered, "No, that is not a good thought." Another remarked, "Christ said, in heaven there will be no marriages." Another thought, "In heaven we will all be one whole." Another, "We will know each other in heaven, but not as parents and children." The thought, however, appealed to some in the company as being good and right and proper. One lady was so impressed that she asked, "Why, do not all 'Mormons' marry in the Temple?" The answer was, "Not all are worthy to enter the holy temples, and some, who are worthy, do not seem to realize the importance of securing the blessings com-

"WHATSOEVER THOU SHALT BIND ON EARTH" 1065

ing from marrying therein. Those who are married outside the temples are united for life only, until death parts them, and when death comes, of course, the marriage agreement ends." Then the guide appealed to the reason and experience of the tourists in this life, in behalf of the eternal family relationship "You tourists know that the best relationship in this life is that of husband and wife, and parent and child. You know that the home is the strength of any community. Is it not? ' Several :

spoke, "Yes." "Then if the marital relationship is the most elevating, the most inspiring, the most noble, the best relationship that we know of in this life, why should it not be the best relationship in the life to come? Why should those loving, tender ties be closed forever through death ? Such a thought must have appealed to Stonewall Jackson, for he is reported to have said: 'Heaven would not be a heaven to me, without my wife.' I endorse that remark, and add, without my children also, heaven would not be a heaven to me." "You all believe in the immortality of the soul, do you not?" "Yes," was the general answer. "What does that mean?" A man spoke up, "That life endures forever." "Correct," the guide responded. "When we die, we live. We start there with the same intelligence that we leave off with here. There we will move, think, act, accept, reject and have our being. There we will be sentient, intelligent beings. There we will rec0 §r nize our friends, relatives and acquaintances. Would you people wish to .recognize your fathers and mothers as your parents over there, as you do here ? Would you parents wish to recognize your children over there as you do here?" The question struck deeply. Not a person in the company made a negative answer. "The more you think of this belief of the eternal family relationship, the better you will like it."

There were several young men in the company, and the guide made a special appeal to them. "Get married, young men. Get your married, each of you, and have a wife and children to bear name. Have that splendid blessing come into your lives. You and the communities in which will be better men for yourselves you live, if you are married men. Do not delay too long in get-

ting married. Delays are dangerous. Do not delay until the res- 'In the resurrection they neither urrection, for the Savior said, nor or given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in marry this heaven ' Most people interpret those words, as the lady in company, that the family relationship ceases with this life. We resurrection the marriage cere- interpret them to say that in the mony will not be performed. Why? For the good reason, that period, the time, to start the family relationship. this is the life, the performed on this earth: one is bap- Two ordinances have to be

1066 IMPROVEMENT ERA tism and the other is marriage. In this probation we prepare and lay the foundation for all future life." As the company was returning to the Bureau of Information, to obtain the free literature, a sober, earnest young man of fine countenance remarked to the guide, "I belong to the church. Our minister married my wife and myself. We are regular churchgoers. Do you mean to say that I will not have my wife in the hereafter ?" The guide's answer was candid, but not comforting: "Ask your minister. Like all the ministers, of all the denominations of this earth, with the one exception of this, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, your minister will tell you that the family relationship ceases with this life, and your minister is consistent in his teaching, for when he married you he plainly stated, 'for life only and until death do you part.' Is not that so?" The young man sadly admitted it to be so, and, after receiving the literature, he walked away in deep thought. When he meets a "Mormon" missionary, probably he will be interested in continuing the gospel conversation.

M. I. A. BOYS BAND, EMERY STAKE

The organization of bands is one of the means of enlisting boys in the work of the associations; a band rightly conducted tends to enliven the ward, and to create interest in the Mutual Improvement Association.