The most holy organization in earth or heaven is the family. Latter-day Saints worship God as their Heavenly Father, and desire to return to live with him.
Each person born on this earth is born to a father and mother. The righteous union of father, mother, and children into a family is the most vital and enduring relationship for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Members of the Church do not marry simply “until death do us part.” Instead, members who are married or “sealed” in the temple may enjoy marriage and family bonds which last forever. This is another example of an ordinance in Mormon theology–a physical act that makes a covenant. Marriage partners must keep the promises they make throughout their lives to receive the blessing of eternal family.
Of course, not everyone will have the opportunity to have an “eternal marriage” in this life, just as not everyone will have a chance to be baptized in this life. Members of the Church also perform vicarious marriages for deceased family members. As with vicarious baptism, vicarious marriages are not valid and binding unless both deceased partners agree and keep the promises made.
This desire to have the entire human family joined together in eternal families is one of the great motivators behind the Church’s extensive family history and genealogy resources.
For a description of the sealing ceremony and location, please see eternal marriage/sealing.
To learn more
- “Eternal marriage,” fairmormon.org.
