I’ve posted before about how the LDS church has a habit of taking Bible verses out of context (here, here, and here).
Today let’s talk about Eternal marriage. This isn’t exactly a verse out of context, but it’s a concept out of context—twisted to justify it.
Eternal marriage is a bit of an elusive doctrine. We aren’t sure when it was introduced, but in D&C 131 we see it suddenly required for the top heaven.
Then in D&C 132, we learn that a man can be eternally married to multiple women (Side note: more analysis of 132 coming soon!)
One argument for polygamy is that if a man had multiple wives, the question is raised “which one will he be with in heaven?” and polygamy steps forward as the answer (but not in the same situation with gender roles reversed).
This situation hits close to home. I have a family member who is the third woman sealed to her late husband (after two prior divorces, but the sealings remain). So this family member is concerned that polygamy is the only way she can be with her wonderful husband again.
What I wish I could bring to her attention is that Jesus was approached with this exact same question!! When a person has multiple spouses due to deaths, which one are they with in the resurrection? (See Luke 20)
And wouldn’t we give some credence to His answer?
So what was his answer? The first spouse? The spouse who had the most time in the marriage? The last spouse? The favorite spouse? Or all of the above?
None of them.
There is no marriage in heaven!
But the LDS institute manuals, this discrepancy with eternal marriage is justified, saying, there are no marriage ceremonies in heaven. There are no new marriages in heaven.
But look at the context, people!
In this story, Jesus was asked about a woman with multiple existing marriages, in this world!!! This is NOT about getting married in heaven! It’s exactly about continuing on an earthly marriage.
And notice Jesus didn’t say, “none, unless the Mormons do their temple work.”
No, there was no qualifier. There was no exception. There is absolutely no qualification for LDS temple ordinances.
Zero.
There is no marriage in heaven.
Jesus made it clear.
Now, that might be sad. You may not understand it. But the Bible is clear, in the voice of two separate witnesses.
Maybe there’s more to the story that you might not realize. Maybe marriage is more than you realize … like a type and shadow of Christ and His bride (the church) and it was never meant to be the be all, end all.
You can argue with Jesus, you can put your “prophet” ahead of Him. But don’t do that and call yourself a Christian or a disciple of Christ. A Christian is someone who puts Christ first. A disciple literally means a student. It means Jesus is the teacher. So we take his teachings seriously, and no other voices compare.
**Here’s an episode sneak peak from our new podcast!!!
All I Possess 