Is marriage eternal?

Mormonism teaches that when a couple gets married in the LDS Temple, they are being married for time and all eternity, or, as they say, “being sealed to each other for eternity.” They do not believe in marriage “until death do us part.” Although there is a time when the “until death do they part” applies. This is when a woman who is sealed to a man in the temple has a husband who dies. She may then marry another man. This marriage would be a “sealing for time only” and not for eternity.

Mormons generally use Matthew 16:19 to prove that marriage is for eternity or “…whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth, shall be bound in Heaven…” In doing this, they fail to take into account the true meaning of this scripture. Jesus is speaking to Peter and the apostles and says,

“And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in heaven” (KJV).

The Biblical cross reference to this verse is John 20:23. The subject is the forgiveness of sins, not marriage. As theologian J. Carl Laney explains it, Christ was saying that “based on one’s response to the Gospel, the apostles could declare, ‘Because you have rejected Christ, you are bound to the law and to its penalty.’ Or, ‘Because you have received Christ, you are free from the law and its penalty’.” Christ “offers the disciples the privilege of giving assurance of the forgiveness of sins by correctly announcing the terms of forgiveness.” This passage in Matthew is not talking about marriage for eternity; the subject is the forgiveness of sins through Christ which was to be announced through His disciples.

Let’s look at this issue of marriage further. In Matthew 22:23 you will find the full story about the Sadducees who came to Jesus with the question about what would be the marital status in the next life of a woman who married an oldest brother who then dies and by Jewish laws she was required to marry the next brother, who also died, as did each of the seven brothers she had to marry upon the death of each one. The question that was asked by the Sadducees was who would be her husband in the next life, since she had married all of them in succession.

• Matthew 22:29-30 says,

  Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven (KJV).

• Mark 12:24-25 says,

  And Jesus answering said unto them, Do you not therefore err, because ye know not, the scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven (KJV).

• And in Luke 20:34-36 we read,

  And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry and are given in marriage: But they which shall be counted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: Neither can they die anymore: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. (KJV)

So, we have three of the apostles, who heard Jesus speaking on this very subject. All record what He said and meant. Jesus said that the people who believed those married here on Earth would also be married in Heaven were in error. It was believed by the ungodly Sadducees and not a doctrine of Christ.

In Romans 7:2 Paul says,

For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

So the statement of “until death do us part” or “as long as we both shall live” is in accordance with the Bible.

A concluding note: Although the Mormon temple marriage for eternity holds a very high priority in the life of a Mormon, it’s interesting that it cannot be found in the Book of Mormon. Yet, Joseph Smith said in Doctrine & Covenants 27:5 that the Book of Mormon was the “fullness of the everlasting gospel.” If it’s the complete gospel we should be able to find something on eternal marriage, as well as most of the doctrines of Mormonism. They can’t be found in the Book of Mormon.

Author: Jim Robertson, Concerned Christians. (Editor: Paul S. Taylor, Christian Answers.)

For further reading

• What are the differences between Mormonism and Christianity? Answer

• Is there any archaeological evidence for the claims made in The Book of Mormon regarding Jesus’ visit to the Americas? Answer

• Should a Christian pray about the Book of Mormon? Answer

• With so many cults and denominations, how can I decide which are true and which are false? Answer

• Under what conditions may Christians divorce and remarry? Answer

Reference

J. Carl Laney, Answers to Tough Questions (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications, 1997), pp. 198, 239.

Copyright © 1999, Concerned Christians, All Rights Reserved—except as noted on attached “Usage and Copyright” page that grants ChristianAnswers.Net users generous rights for putting this page to work in their homes, personal witnessing, churches and schools.