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Covenant Marriage


This week we are talking about covenant marriage.  When a man and woman are sealed in the temple for time and all eternity, this is a covenantal marriage.  There is a promise between man and wife to each other and to God during this sealing.  This covenantal marriage requires that both the husband and the wife give 100% to each other and to their marriage (Hafen, 1996).

In a first presidency message given by President Ezra Taft Benson in 1986 entitled, “What I Hope You Would Teach Your Children about the Temple” He outlines blessings that come when we can attend the temple:

“Now let me say something else to all who can worthily go to the House of the Lord. When you attend the temple and perform the ordinances that pertain to the House of the Lord, certain blessings will come to you:

• You will receive the spirit of Elijah, which will turn your hearts to your spouse, to your children, and to your forebears.

• You will love your family with a deeper love than you have loved before.

• Your hearts will be turned to your fathers and theirs to you.

• You will be endowed with power from on high as the Lord has promised.

• You will receive the key of the knowledge of God. (See D&C 84:19.) You will learn how you can be like Him.

•Even the power of godliness will be manifest to you. (See D&C 84:20.)

• You will be doing a great service to those who have passed to the other side of the veil in order that they might be “judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (D&C 138:34.)”

I love these promises and they are simple and easy to understand.

In the article, “Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan” by Elder David A. Bednar given in 2006, he shares three principles that are crucial to the understanding of the importance of marriage:

Principle 1: The importance of eternal marriage can be understood only within the context of the Father’s plan of happiness.

Principle 2: Satan desires that all men and women might be miserable like unto himself.  (Here Elder Bednar describes that Satan’s greatest attacks are on the family, body, marriage, gender, and identity because of two reasons.  1. It is central to God’s plan 2. He never wants us to have what he cannot)

Principle 3: The ultimate blessings of love and happiness are obtained through the covenant relationship of eternal marriage. (Here he shares the triangle of marriage.  As a man and woman covenant with God and strive to come closer to Him, they will come closer to each other in the process.)

Image result for Elder Bednar's triangle

I have loved reading about the importance of covenant marriage this week.  It has reinforced my belief in the importance of this union between husband, wife, and God, and has strengthened my resolve to being more intentional in the way I approach my preparation for this special day.  There is so many beautiful promises from this union.

I encourage you to read the following articles and look for principles of truth as you read.  I think you will be surprised about how many new things you will learn.  I know that as we work towards and maintain a covenant marriage, we will come closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Marriage is Essential to His Eternal Plan: David A. Bednar

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2006/06/marriage-is-essential-to-his-eternal-plan?lang=eng

Covenant Marriage: Bruce C. Hafen

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/covenant-marriage?lang=eng

The Fullness of the Priesthood: Joseph Fielding Smith

https://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Talks/FulnessPriesthoodJFS.htm

What I Hope You Would Teach Your Children about the Temple: Ezra Taft Benson

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/1986/04/what-i-hope-you-would-teach-your-children-about-the-temple?lang=eng





References:

Bednar, D. A. (n.d.). Marriage Is Essential to His Eternal Plan. Retrieved from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2006/06/marriage-is-essential-to-his-eternal-plan?lang=eng.

 Benson, E. T. (n.d.). What I Hope You Would Teach Your Children about the Temple. Retrieved from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/liahona/1986/04/what-i-hope-you-would-teach-your-children-about-the-temple?lang=eng.

Bruce C. Hafen. (n.d.). Covenant Marriage. Retrieved from https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1996/10/covenant-marriage?lang=eng.

 Smith, J. F. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Talks/FulnessPriesthoodJFS.htm.

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