Is marriage truly necessary for exaltation? — Section 26
Representative of a Christian church:
I understand that it is the teaching within the LDS Church that to enter the highest degree of the first heaven or Celestial Kingdom in your church, you must be married in an LDS temple. How do you account for the fact that Christ was not married, the apostle Paul was not married, and that undoubtedly many of the other apostles were not married? Also, how do you explain 1 Corinthians chapter 7 and Matthew 19:12 in light of your erroneous teachings?
Missionaries of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints:
One of the greatest commandments ever given to man from God was to ‘multiply and replenish the earth’, as recorded in Genesis 1:28. It was God, our Creator, who said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make an helpmeet for him.” (Genesis 2:18). Thus, God taught that a man should leave his father and his mother, and cleave unto his wife, and that they should be one flesh. During Christ’s ministry, some Pharisees tried to tempt Jesus concerning the marriage vow by quoting, “But Moses commanded to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away”. Christ responded by saying, “Whatever God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Jesus then went on to say that in the beginning writings of divorcement were not used, and that any man that would put away his wife for any reason other than fornication, was committing adultery. His disciples were disturbed, and said, “If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is good not to marry.” Christ then pointed out that for some it was good not to marry, as in the case of eunuchs who could not marry due to defects at their birth. (Matthew 19:12). He then pointed out that there were eunuchs made of man. This resulted from a pagan philosophy that undoubtedly affected Christian converts, who were then physically disabled by this pagan ceremony. He also pointed out that some were made eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of Heaven. He said, “He that is able to receive it, let him receive it.” In the light of other scriptures, this appears confusing to many, but what the Lord meant was that if a man were to marry and do so with any reservation or lack of assurance or love towards his wife, the it would be better for him not to marry. This is because if he were to put away his wife and marry another, he would be committing adultery. Then the Lord thereby pointed out that it was “for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake” that they had not done it, and saved themselves from great condemnation. Many eminent scholars believe that Paul of Tarsus was married and then divorced or became a widower. Paul, if he had been married or not before he became a Christian, knew and taught the principle of marriage so strongly that he said, “Neither is man without the woman, neither woman without the man, in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:11) The wickedness of sexual sin was prevalent at the time of our Lord and his apostles, as countless of the scripture point out, so Paul felt it best, due to this wickedness, to “speak by permission and not by commandment” that all were, even as he who at the time, was single. Notice, however, that the command was given to unmarried men and widows with the caution that they could remarry, but again uttered the fearful warning which Christ himself had taught: “Let not the wife depart from her husband”. Paul, in convincing the Corinthians saints that he was an apostle, said, “Have we not power to lead about a sister, a WIFE, as well as other apostles”. (1 Corinthians 9:6) Here the possibility of Paul having once been married and possibly now a widower is possible, especially considering the statement in Acts 26:5 before Agrippa: “…after the most strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee”. The straitest sect was that of the Sanhedrin, or ruling body of the day, of which its members, to be members, were commanded to be married at a young age. He was taught at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect laws of the fathers and was zealous towards God” (Acts 22:3) We still have the commands of marriage by the God of Israel, and Paul’s statement along with Christs’, on the eternal principle of marriage. Many indications point out the possibility that Christ was once married. John wrote, “There are also MANY OTHER THINGS WHICH JESUS DID, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written.” (John 21:25) I might also point out that we believe that during Christ’s reign upon the earth, the one thousand years of righteousness, marriages will be performed, and many of those who have not lived with the opportunity of marriage, and that were righteous, will have the opportunity at this time. This is pointed out in Isaiah 65:23 where it states, “They shall not labor in vain, nor bring forth for trouble, for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord and their OFFSPRING WITH THEM.” It will be so much like our existence in many respects as it is now that “They shall build houses and inhabit them”.
Representative of a Christian church:
Isn’t it true that you believe that men have many wives in the hereafter? In Brigham Young’s ‘Adam-God’ discourse, he mentioned Adam brought Eve, “…one of his wives…”, with him. Do you believe in the plurality of wives in the hereafter?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
As we pointed out earlier, the greatest prophets of all times have practiced the God-given principle of plural marriage. Since “…man is not without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.” Since the great prophets of old had multiple wives, we believe they will have them in the eternities. We refer you again ito Ecclesiastes 3:14 where it states “Whatsoever God doeth, it will be forever.” God made woman from man, and said that it was not good for a man to be alone. Also, 2 Samuel 12:8 states that God gave David his wives.
Representative of a Christian church:
Are you inferring that God has a wife?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Paul, in speaking to the men in Athens, said, “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your poets have said, “For we are also his offspring, for as much then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the godhead is like unto gold.” (Acts 17:28-29) Paul apparently said we were God’s offspring. I don’t see how you can have offspring without a mother. Also, if Christ was God’s son, there must be a mother there. (See Ephesians 3:14-15)
Representative of a Christian church:
Since you teach that whatsoever God does will be forever, why doesn’t he still give many wives to Mormon men and encourage polygamy now?
Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
The Lord can answer that question much better than I can. In Isaiah 55:8-9, He said, “For my ways are not your ways, neither are my thoughts your thoughts.” His ways are greater and higher than our ways, but I believe what the scriptures say, that God joined man and woman together, and that it would be forever. I never doubt the Lord’s ways. Concerning polygamy, I cannot see a just God causing a just and righteous sister to lose her exaltation because she was the second wife to David, or the 300th wife to Solomon, or the 7th wife of Brigham Young.
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