| Show THE ETERNITY OF THE MARRIAGE COVENANT THE doctrine of plural marr marriage iaze as believed in by the latter day saints is derived from a revelation given by b Y the almighty throng through gh joaeph Sm ithon the eternity of the marriage covenant prom from this they have learned the means by 0 which they can secure for everlasting ages that companionship between betwee n the sexes which god has ordained for the comfort happiness increase and highest good of his sons and daughters in this world marriage is a divine institution it should be under divine dire direction action human arrangements ot of whatever name or nature made without divine sanction or authority have an end wilen when men are dead they do not enter into the divine economy for the world to come they are all temporary they are for this lite lile not for tile the next contracts of marriage made until death are dissolved by death that is they have answered their purpose and the death of either party ends the agreement if a man anda woman enter into a contract of marriage to last forever with the agreement that it shall not cease with death without authority from the most high it is of no force or virtue beyond this life because the parties have no authority to make such an arrangement of themselves they have no power to regulate affairs in another sphere they do not know where their dwelling place shall be or whether they will ever meet again when death parts them they are in the hands of a power superior to their own who holds control and will order all things according to eternal principles I 1 only that which god appoints in la his own way is recognized of him beyond the limits ot mortal life he holds the keys of eternal existence and of the glories of immortality what he authorizes will abide all authorities covenants and agreements which are not of him will be destroyed and pass ss away while that which he establishes ra ashes aul wul will endure for ever adam and eve were joined as an immortal pair if death parted them it was but bat for a season the separation was not a sundering of the marriage bond the restoration which is part of the work of redemption brought them back to their position as in eden with their experience added nothing was lost their wedded union v was was perpetual and remains a never ending joy they were made ONE by the divine flat fiat and will nevermore be twain brever authority to act for and in behalf of deity has been conferred upon some men in different ages all that is done andert hat bat authority ac according cordin to divine direction is recognized by him who bestowed it and is as valid as though performed by deity in person choso whoso you receive th me is the promise of the lord whatsoever you seal on earth is sealed in heaven is the divine guaranty ordinances din ances which god has appointed when administered in his name by those whom he has authorized are of the same forchand force and effect as if god had attended to them himself marriage for eternity must be entered into and solemnized and sealed according to the laws and commandments ordained for that purpose if not it is not recognized of heaven why should it be why should the eternal father acknowledge in eternity that which he has not authorized in time must he bend to human arrangements range ments and human whims 0 or r must humanity bow to his behests behesta beh ests in the revelation on this subject it i is 8 shown how eternal marriages may be solemnized so that they shall be acknowledged of the heavens in this world and in tae world to come if attended to by the authority revealed in the way provided for the purpose they will not be affected by death but will extend tola coall 11 eternity in all spheres in all worlds in all glories and exaltations among eternal beings unto the celest ial habitat where reign in everlasting splendor the highest high est and most holy of the universe there death never enters and there is no end to increase and power and dominion and infinite felicity the celestial glory which is the greatest as the sun is tile the greatest luminary to us in the firmament is an immortal estate of families men and women and children are there perfected not divested of any faculty of their bodily or spiritual 0 organism uni in but with every attribute ate and aga quality allty and instinct and organ purified perfected and immortalized the wife is a wife the husband a husband to all intents and purposes each glorified man stands at the head of his house or family as a kiba KIB and a priest unto god and the father ruling over all aings through the savior son stands at the head of all in that glory the man who married a wife by the word and law of god sealed to him by the holy sprit of promise through the of autuori authority ty bestowed for that purpose receives 1 that wife to his bosom and his society if death parted them in this world it will not part them there it if after her deatti he married another by the same law and ordinance and authority both are his bis and will have their rights and their places in that eternal family organization on oa the same rule if he marries more than one wife by gods authority and they ikey live wath him as aisi his at the same time in this world and he remains 1 worthy of them they will all be his bis wives in the world to come and be a purt of his glory for ever and ever man is the image and glory of god and woman is the glory of roan man without tier her there there is no increase and without increase glory and dominion cease to extend eltena aud and that everlasting progress which is essential to perfect existence would come to an end plurality of wives as revealed to the saints is part of the plan of eternal exaltation by which men and women attain to the highest degree of glory in the eternal presence it has been commanded of god to those who are prepared for it by previous obedience spell laws and ordin ordinances anes it is not for the world it is a law unto my holy priesthood saith I 1 the he lord it is a test and an ordeal both to men and women it tries them like the gold is tried in the tire lire noc all who enter into it will gain the glory which belongs to falth faithful fulp obedience to its conditions only those who prove their worthiness will attain to the great exaltation and the highest of all is n not ot open to those who have nt nat thus demonstrated their fitness for it all blessings prom promised sed are predicated upon conditions every law has its benefits and penalties obedience assures the reward disobedience the punishment strait is the gate and narrow the way that leads to the exaltation of the eternal lives and few there be that find it it is gods way and b lessed blessed are those who walk therein and endure unto auto the end if a man who has received wives in the new and everlasting covenant wants to hold them in eternity he roust must prove his worthiness in time atie ane bonds of affection and the esteem that comes of righteousness and fidelity are needful as well as the ties of the ceremonial ordinance all are essential aua ana the simple ceremony without the worthiness and the real union ulion of souls is in sufficient A nian nad and his wives given to him of the lord who manifest their fitness forthe for the holy and exalted spheres where the f ulness of glory is enjoyed may smile at the crosses of this world the fury of man the persecutions of the wi wicked eked the vengeance of human laws lawa and ad ti the e grasp of inexorable death those wives are his forever the covenants that bind them together are eternal they are to bear the souls of men in eternity wherein lie he and his eternal father are glorit lea through b them is the continuation of the seeds forever and therein is everlasting dominion and power of the increase of which there shall be no end we have heard beard of a notion that the plurality part of the celestial marriage order is only for temporary purposes to serve for this life but not to continue beyond let anyone who has imbibed it read the revelation and it will be dissipated for good wit without h out the eternity of the relations relationship aly there is nothing in it the doctrine of plurality al it y 0 of wives ives is based on the eternity of 0 t the he marriage aria e covenant they hey s stand ad or fa fall I 1 I 1 to together et er they hey are interwoven a and nd a part rt 0 of t the e same fabric it if the first firs t wife fe is sealed seale to a man for eternity so is the second and all others who are arc so given to him of the lord marriage for time is another thing entirely and the marriage for eternity in which a plurality of wives is permitted and enjoined Is everlasting in its nature for the last as much as the first and is designed for perpetuity or the whole revelation Is without f force and effect it is because of the eternal religious und divine nature of the covenants dan ts which bind meland men and women together in the of jesus christ of latter day saints that they are to ho tena tenacious cigus of their obliga obligations Lions aud and are willing to suffer and spoliation rather than them force is a poor weapon to employ against them it i ot of the age in which we live aud will fail to accomplish the end designed A few will falter fairer and bow lh iba kinu kin u to baal but those who know abe daae of their covenants and under understand sta ad blat tl ikuo no man spirit devil clique nation or power beneath the heavens cau can rob them of that which god has given them nor sunder the ties that bind them and their families for ever will mi ff er all things that bigotry catt can rm it and malice inflict before they mil vii I 1 i enythe ny the truths of heaven or the shelves unworthy of the love a and ad all nee of those whom god has aw s e et i i new hem forever and of him wh knuda all hearts and will judge all according to their works the eternity of the marriage covenant including the plara plurality lity of wives is oue one of the most glorious doctrines ever revealed to mortal man it enters within the veil it manifests the works of the almighty and his wonderful purposes it unveils the glories of the universe it shows man his relationship to deity it opens his eyes to his eternal destiny and it places within his reach the keys by which he may unlock the ws of wisdom gnu and knowledge and enter into the exaltation of the gods wherein is might and majesty and joy and increase and pleasure and delight for evermore |
