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Monday, April 2, 2012

Mormon Theology no. 48 - The Covenant Marriage

30 April 2009
Kim Kardashian's recently failed marriage to Kris Humphries is a tragic story.  Tragic, but one that need not happen again.  In the 27 January 2012 online edition of Us Weekly, Kim remarked to her sister Kourtney, "'It's hard for me.  He's a good heart, he's a Christian -- everything on paper I want in someone, but for some reason, my heart isn't connecting,' she tells Kourtney".  The main reason that marriage failed was because it wasn't a Covenant Marriage.

What is a Covenant Marriage?
 To fully answer this question, we must first define what a covenant is.  Dictionary.com's definition of the word "covenant" reads, "an agreement, usually formal, between two or more persons to do or not do something specified."  This is sufficient when we add the words "between God and man" to replace the words "between two or more persons".  We then have the definition as follows: "An agreement, usually formal, between God and man to do or not do something specified."  In other words, a covenant is a two-way promise between God and man, in which  God sets the terms, and man agrees to follow said terms.  In the case of a covenant marriage, the agreement is as follows:

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, 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.  Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them.  Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them (D&C 132:19-20). whereby to shed innocent blood

In layman's terms, this means that when a man and a woman are married by the Lord's Holy Priesthood in one of His Temples (built only by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormons), that marriage has the potential to last literally forever, even into the next life.  That couple will continue to have children in the next life, and even become Gods, as God our Father is also a God.

Not all champagne and roses
Now, of course marriage is not all champagne and roses.  Marriage is hard work.  One must realize that in order to make it work, one must forgo self.  If both the man and woman are looking out for the other's happiness, safety, security, etc., then the marriage will work, despite the troubles and trials that come upon us.  To put it in the words of modern Prophets and Apostles, "Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities" ("The Family: A Proclamation to the World").  Indeed, the old adage that "the family the prays together stays together" rings true.  The Christ has established marriage as far back as the Garden of Eden to be entered into through a covenant with Him and thus to be eternal, as He is Eternal.

I hope this explains more clearly why Mormon marriages are the way they are, and why married Mormons are so happy.

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