This essay is not necessarily a doctrinal exposition, but rather a statement of the facts as they are, and a few remarks on the subject therein elucidated.
According to the United States Census Bureau in their "Marital Events of Americans: 2009", Utah's marriage rate during that year was a full 9% and 7 % higher among men and women, respectfully, than compared with other states in the survey. However, the divorce rate of Utahns is roughly the same as the national average. This says a lot about marriage, The Church of Jesus Christ, and Satan. Let me elucidate further.
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." This mandate the Church is keeping, as evidenced by the higher marriage rate of Utah men and women than the national average. We Latter-day Saints know that marriage is not a mere earthly contract, but an eternal bind that stretches forth millennium upon millennium. The Lord hath said,
And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever (D&C 132:19).
Now, covenants entered into in the Holy Temple must be kept with vigilance and courage, for Satan, as is evident by Utah's divorce rate roughly at the national average, is destroying the family. How, then, might we nurture the family and the relationships therein sanctified? Elder Russell M. Nelson, an Apostle of the Lord, taught, "Because it is ordained of God, the intimate physical expressions of married love are sacred. Yet all too commonly, these divine gifts are desecrated. If a couple allows lewd language or pornography to corrupt their intimacy, they offend their Creator while they degrade and diminish their own divine gifts. True happiness is predicated upon personal purity" ("Nurturing Marriage", April 2006 General Conference). Let us stay pure, for the Lord saith, "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2).
President Ezra Taft Benson, a Prophet, taught, "It is time to awaken to the fact that there are deliberate efforts to restructure the family along the lines of humanistic values. Images of the family and of love as depicted in television and film often portray a philosophy contrary to the commandments of God" ("Fundamentals of Enduring Family Relationships", October 1982 General Conference). We must defend the institution of marriage, both within our home and in the media, for Satan wills it destroyed. The prophet Moses wrote that, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Gen. 2:25). God created Adam and Eve, one man and one woman, and, as evident by the foregoing scripture, married them for eternity, for at this time death had not entered the world - thus showing that marriage is an eternal institution, and not to be entered into outside the House of the Lord, lest that relationship not last forever. God created Adam and Eve, and not Adam and Steve, thus also showing that homosexual marriage is not marriage at all, but an evil social contract condoning sin.
Lastly, Elder David B. Haight, another Apostle, said, "Scripture reveals that, after the earth was developed, God created man in His own image and gave him dominion over the earth. By the side of man stood the woman, sharing with him the divinely bestowed honor and dignity of supremacy over all other creations" ("Marriage and Divorce", April 1984 General Conference). I love how Elder Haight speaks of Adam as having Eve by his side, then stating they two are granted "honor and dignity of supremacy over all other creations". This means, in my view, that Adam has the honor of nurturing and taking care of all creations - the flowers, fish, fowls, animals, and his wife Eve. Likewise, Eve has the honor of nurturing and taking care of all creations of God - the flowers, fish, fowls, animals, and her husband Adam.
I know what I have spoken is true. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only institution on Earth with the Authority and Power to make marriages last forever, and that if not entered into within the walls of a House of the Lord, will not be forever. I know marriage is an holy institution, given of God that we might become like him - even progress to a God as He is. I know if we, as led by the Holy Spirit, nurture our marriages, making sure our eternal partner is happy, all will be peace, no matter what the circumstances otherwise. In the mane of Jesus Christ, amen.
According to the United States Census Bureau in their "Marital Events of Americans: 2009", Utah's marriage rate during that year was a full 9% and 7 % higher among men and women, respectfully, than compared with other states in the survey. However, the divorce rate of Utahns is roughly the same as the national average. This says a lot about marriage, The Church of Jesus Christ, and Satan. Let me elucidate further.
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| Sealing Room in the Salt Lake Temple |
The Family: A Proclamation to the World states, "We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator's plan for the eternal destiny of His children." This mandate the Church is keeping, as evidenced by the higher marriage rate of Utah men and women than the national average. We Latter-day Saints know that marriage is not a mere earthly contract, but an eternal bind that stretches forth millennium upon millennium. The Lord hath said,
And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise, by him who is anointed, unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them—Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever (D&C 132:19).
Now, covenants entered into in the Holy Temple must be kept with vigilance and courage, for Satan, as is evident by Utah's divorce rate roughly at the national average, is destroying the family. How, then, might we nurture the family and the relationships therein sanctified? Elder Russell M. Nelson, an Apostle of the Lord, taught, "Because it is ordained of God, the intimate physical expressions of married love are sacred. Yet all too commonly, these divine gifts are desecrated. If a couple allows lewd language or pornography to corrupt their intimacy, they offend their Creator while they degrade and diminish their own divine gifts. True happiness is predicated upon personal purity" ("Nurturing Marriage", April 2006 General Conference). Let us stay pure, for the Lord saith, "Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy" (Lev. 19:2).
President Ezra Taft Benson, a Prophet, taught, "It is time to awaken to the fact that there are deliberate efforts to restructure the family along the lines of humanistic values. Images of the family and of love as depicted in television and film often portray a philosophy contrary to the commandments of God" ("Fundamentals of Enduring Family Relationships", October 1982 General Conference). We must defend the institution of marriage, both within our home and in the media, for Satan wills it destroyed. The prophet Moses wrote that, "And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed" (Gen. 2:25). God created Adam and Eve, one man and one woman, and, as evident by the foregoing scripture, married them for eternity, for at this time death had not entered the world - thus showing that marriage is an eternal institution, and not to be entered into outside the House of the Lord, lest that relationship not last forever. God created Adam and Eve, and not Adam and Steve, thus also showing that homosexual marriage is not marriage at all, but an evil social contract condoning sin.
Lastly, Elder David B. Haight, another Apostle, said, "Scripture reveals that, after the earth was developed, God created man in His own image and gave him dominion over the earth. By the side of man stood the woman, sharing with him the divinely bestowed honor and dignity of supremacy over all other creations" ("Marriage and Divorce", April 1984 General Conference). I love how Elder Haight speaks of Adam as having Eve by his side, then stating they two are granted "honor and dignity of supremacy over all other creations". This means, in my view, that Adam has the honor of nurturing and taking care of all creations - the flowers, fish, fowls, animals, and his wife Eve. Likewise, Eve has the honor of nurturing and taking care of all creations of God - the flowers, fish, fowls, animals, and her husband Adam.
I know what I have spoken is true. I know The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only institution on Earth with the Authority and Power to make marriages last forever, and that if not entered into within the walls of a House of the Lord, will not be forever. I know marriage is an holy institution, given of God that we might become like him - even progress to a God as He is. I know if we, as led by the Holy Spirit, nurture our marriages, making sure our eternal partner is happy, all will be peace, no matter what the circumstances otherwise. In the mane of Jesus Christ, amen.
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