Intro
Happiness Factory
I was in Atlanta this past week for a work conference, and one of the events was at the Coca Cola museum. I was surprised at how much there was to see there. The big Coke Polar bear was there, which was kind of cool, people were taking pictures with him, though I'm still not sure of the relationship between a soft drink and a polar bear. There was an exhibit about the bottling processes which, if you can believe it, was actually more complicated than putting coke in a bottle. The one I was most excited to see though, when I saw it on the map, was the "Happiness Factory". I had had a long week, and was missing my family so was at a point where I could use some additional "happiness". The map was a little confusing on how to get there, but once I arrived I saw that the happiness factory was actually a miniature golf course. I'm not much of a golfer, so was a little disappointed in Coke's version of the Happiness Factory.
On this topic of happiness, President James E. Faust taught:
“Many covenants are indispensable to happiness here and hereafter. Among the most important are the marriage covenants made between husband and wife. From these covenants flow the greatest joys of life” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1998, 19; or Ensign, May 1998, 17).
I'm sure there's some that would disagree, but I don't think Coca Cola's happiness factory can hold a candle to the joy and happiness eternal marriage can bring. It is this I wish to speak on today. The blessings of eternal marriage … the real Happiness Factory.
God's Plan
Marriage between a man and a woman is a vital part of God’s plan. In D&C 49:15 the Lord said,
“Whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man”.
Since the beginning, marriage has been a law of the gospel. Marriages are intended to last forever, not just for our mortal lives.
Adam and Eve were married by God before there was any death in the world. They had an eternal marriage. They taught the law of eternal marriage to their children and their children’s children. As the years passed, wickedness entered the hearts of the people and the authority to perform this sacred ordinance was taken from the earth. Through the Restoration of the gospel, eternal marriage has been restored to earth.
Understanding
Elder Bednar gives us two reasons to help us understand why eternal marriage is essential to the Father's plan.
"Reason 1: The natures of male and female spirits complete and perfect each other, and therefore men and women are intended to progress together toward exaltation.
... The unique combination of spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional capacities of both males and females were needed to implement the plan of happiness … By divine design, men and women are intended to progress together toward perfection and a fullness of glory … The man and the woman contribute differently but equally to a oneness and a unity that can be achieved in no other way. The man completes and perfects the woman and the woman completes and perfects the man …
Reason 2: By divine design, both a man and a woman are needed to bring children into mortality and to provide the best setting for the rearing and nurturing of children. The commandment given anciently to Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force today. ..."
Authority
In order for a marriage to be eternal, it must be performed by one who holds the sealing power, and it must be done in one of the holy temples of our Lord. The temple is the only place this holy ordinance can be performed.
In the temple, Latter-day Saint couples kneel at one of the sacred altars in the presence of their family and friends who have received the temple endowment. They make their marriage covenants before God and are pronounced husband and wife for time and all eternity. This is done by one who holds the holy priesthood of God and has been given the authority to perform this sacred ordinance. He acts under the direction of the Lord and promises the couple the blessings of exaltation. He instructs them in the things they must do to receive these blessings. He reminds them that all blessings depend on obedience to the laws of God.
Scripture Example
The Lord gave Nephi, the Son of Helaman, this authority.
"Behold, I give unto you power, that whatsoever ye shall seal on earth shall be sealed in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven … " (Hel. 10:7)
Because of Nephi's "unwearyingness to declare the world, which [the Lord] had given unto [him] … and not sought [his] own life, but … sought [the Lord's] will, … the Lord promised to bless him forever, with great power. The power to flatten mountains, smite the earth with famine; and even that all things [should be done … according to [his] word. But of all this great power, none is greater than that of the sealing power.
If we are married by any authority other than by the priesthood in a temple, the marriage is for this life only. After death, the marriage partners have no claim on each other or on their children. An eternal marriage gives us the opportunity to continue as families after this life.
Preparation
This is the most important decision we can make in our lives. President Spencer W. Kimball taught:
“Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects, for it has to do not only with immediate happiness, but also with eternal joys. It affects not only the two people involved, but also their families and particularly their children and their children’s children down through the many generations. In selecting a companion for life and for eternity, certainly the most careful planning and thinking and praying and fasting should be done to be sure that of all the decisions, this one must not be wrong” (Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Spencer W. Kimball [2006], 193).
An eternal marriage should be the goal of every Latter-day Saint. This is true even for those already married by civil law. There are some that aren't provided the opportunity at marriage in this life. To them Elder Richard G. Scott has said:
"I feel sorry for any man who hasn’t yet made the choice to seek an eternal companion, and my heart weeps for the sisters who haven’t had the opportunity to marry. Some of you may feel lonely and unappreciated and cannot see how it will be possible for you to have the blessings of marriage and children or your own family. All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."
Happiness
This was actually said in conference this past April. Elder Scott gave an excellent talk on "The Eternal Blessings of Marriage" and I encourage all to revisit it. In it he also said that
"Two of the vital pillars that sustain Father in Heaven’s plan of happiness are marriage and the family. Their lofty significance is underscored by Satan’s relentless efforts to splinter the family and to undermine the significance of temple ordinances, which bind the family together for eternity. The temple sealing has greater meaning as life unfolds. It will help you draw ever closer together and find greater joy and fulfillment in mortality. "
Our story
For much of his talk, Elder Scott spoke fondly of his wife Jeanene. Because my talk is also on the blessings of eternal marriage, I want to talk a bit about the greatest blessing in my life.
Annie and I met at what was Ricks college. She was roommates with several of her friends from Oregon City and my roommate knew them all well because his dad had taught them seminary. So together, my roommate and I spent considerable amount of time at their apartment. It didn't take long before Annie and I were best friends and I was doing her math homework. I remember that being with Annie, I was happy. I had fun when I was with her, and I could be myself around her. It seemed like we just fit together. There were times when I wanted things to be more serious, but she wasn't ready, and possibly vice versa, but eventually we did start dating.
Fortunately our families were actually in the same stake at home so it was easy to continue dating after we had graduated, which eventually lead to us getting married in the Portland Oregon temple. There are two things I remember from that day. The first was how beautiful Annie was in her wedding dress and how lucky I felt that I was going to be with her forever.
The second was how sick I was that day. I woke up sometime in the middle of the night thinking I had some major pre-wedding jitters. My stomach did not feel right, and I thought it was due to being super nervous. It got to the point where finally I was able to relieve myself in the restroom and I thought I was okay. Not 15 minutes later, my stomach was just as upset and I had to visit the restroom again. Two or three more times of this I realized it wasn't just nerves and I finally woke my parents. My father and uncle gave me a priesthood blessing. My mother gave me some medicine (some pills) and a metal bowl to catch what little I had left in my stomach. I still remember hearing those pills bouncing off the metal bowl. I still joke with my little brother about that as he was assigned catcher duty that night.
The night went on and nothing was changing. I really did not think I was going to make it to the temple. How could I. I could barely move from exhaustion. I couldn't hold anything in me and it seemed at the time that the best thing for me to drink was bright red Gatorade. I asked my mom if maybe this was a sign I wasn't supposed to get married and she told me "No Ryon, this is exactly why you need to get married. Satan is trying to keep you from making the best decision of your life".
Again, as Elder Scott pointed out
"[the importance of eternal marriage] is underscored by Satan's relentless efforts to splinter the family and to undermine the significance of temple ordinances, which bind the family together for eternity."
Well I was finally able to hold some liquid down and I made it to the temple … I think I was a little late, but I made. My father had to help me get dressed and I think out of all the grooms that day, I probably got the most attention from the temple workers. They were very sweet and I could tell their concern was as much for me as it was for the white furniture I was sitting on.
I actually don't remember much of what the sealer said to us. I was too focused on keeping the temple clean and not falling over. But as soon as I knelt down across the alter from Annie, I remember, all feelings of sickness left me, I was filled with a strength that I can only describe as a gift of the Spirit, and I could focus on my beautiful wife and how lucky I was that I got to spend my life with her forever. We then stood and I tried putting her ring, the symbol of our marriage, on her right ring finger. She lovingly guided me to her left hand, and then I was helped back to my seat.
I missed the luncheon my mother had prepared because I slept through it. At the reception I was permitted to have a chair in the wedding line as we were greeted and congratulated by family and friends. I was not well that day, but for the few minutes I was at the alter with Annie, I know that Heavenly Father blessed me with the strength I needed to appreciate and recognize the significance of the covenant I was making and the blessing of eternal marriage to Annie that He was giving me.
The following years I think are best described by Elder Scott,
"It is so rewarding to be married. Marriage is wonderful. In time you begin to think alike and have the same ideas and impressions. You have times when you are extremely happy, times of testing, and times of trial, but the Lord guides you through all of those growth experiences together. "
Conclusion
D&C 132:19 -
‘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 shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life … 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 fullness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever’
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