God\u2019s plan, founded on eternal truth, requires that exaltation can be attained only through faithfulness to the covenants of an eternal marriage between a man and a woman in the holy temple<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
\nThe Lord has clearly taught that only men and women who are sealed as husband and wife in the temple, and who keep their covenants, will be together throughout the eternities.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s interesting how strong the language is in both quotes. Oaks says that God\u2019s plan requires<\/em> that exaltation comes only to a man and a woman who are married in the temple (through their faithfulness). Nelson claims that the Lord clearly<\/em> taught that \u201ctogether forever\u201d only comes to a husband and a wife sealed in the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\nRequires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Clearly taught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Those are confident choices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The problem, however, is that there is absolutely no scriptural evidence for these claims. And the scriptural sources they cite don\u2019t support their argument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oaks, for example, cites two scriptures: 1 Corinthians 11:11 and Doctrine and Covenants 132:19\u201320.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s 1 Cor. 11:11:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nNevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Paul is not talking about eternal marriage in this passage. Let\u2019s look at the surround verses for context:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6 For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8 For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9 Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
You see, this passage isn\u2019t talking about eternal marriage or exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Rather, it\u2019s discussing the interdependence of men and woman in a relationship. I mean, technically, he\u2019s not even saying \u201chusband\u201d and \u201dwife\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now, let\u2019s look at D&C 132:19\u201320<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n19 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\u2014Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection; and if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths\u2014then shall it be written in the Lamb\u2019s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; 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 fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
20 Then shall they be gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting, because they continue; then shall they be above all, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This passage only says that if<\/em> a man marries a wife they shall receive exaltation and glory in all things. Granted, it has a few prequisites:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n- The marriage has to be done by the Lord\u2019s law<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The marriage has to be done by the new and everlasting covenant<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The marriage has to be sealed the Holy Spirit of promise<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The man can\u2019t commit murder through shedding innocent blood<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Regardless, the point being is that it\u2019s speaking about any given man: \u201cif a man marry a wife\u201d. It doesn\u2019t say that a man must<\/em> marry a wife to \u201cpass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\nI mean, if I eat take a shower, my body will get wet, but that doesn\u2019t mean I can only get wet by taking a shower. I could go swimming, for example. Or someone could spray me with a hose. Or I could fall into a puddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now let\u2019s look at the scripture that Nelson used to justify is exclusionary claim, which was also found in D&C 132, but this time in verse 7:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAnd verily I say unto you, that the conditions of this law are these: All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, of him who is anointed, both as well for time and for all eternity, and that too most holy, by revelation and commandment through the medium of mine anointed, whom I have appointed on the earth to hold this power (and I have appointed unto my servant Joseph to hold this power in the last days, and there is never but one on the earth at a time on whom this power and the keys of this priesthood are conferred), are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This isn\u2019t even talking about marriage specifically. It\u2019s just saying that earthly contracts have no effect in heaven unless they are \u201cmade and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise\u201d. I guess you could make the argument that it implies that marriages performed outside of the temple won\u2019t last into the eternities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here\u2019s the thing though. While Oaks and Nelson are suggesting that same-sex couples (and even opposite sex couples, where one of them is trans, if we\u2019re being honest here) are restricted from exaltation (although they don\u2019t explicitly say tha\u2014it is pretty strongly implied), it\u2019s only because the church won\u2019t let them get sealed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If exaltation of a couple depends on a sealing by the Holy Spirit of promise and that sealing takes place only in the temple (which D&C 132 doesn\u2019t state, but let\u2019s say that current practice is condoned by God), the only reason these couples can\u2019t be exalted together is that church policy prevents them from being sealed in the temple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We see similar wording in the previous section of the Doctrine and Covenants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.<\/p>\nD&C 131:1\u20134<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\nOnce again, a man must enter in the new and everlasting covenant of marriage to received the highest degree of celestial glory. it doesn\u2019t even say that he needs to marry a woman in this case. Nor does it say anything about women having the same requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even so, if the so-called \u201cnew and everlasting covenant of marriage\u201d refers to temple sealing, then any policy that stops a man from obtaining a temple sealing is also preventing him from attaining the highest degree. of celestial glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For decades, the church prohibited Black men from getting sealed in the temple. Had the church not cancelled that racist policy, Black men around the world would continue to be restricted from attaining the highest degree of celestial glory, not because of their own failings, but because of the policies the church itself implemented.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
(And, of course, so would all Black people, not just men.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The current practice to prohibit some queer couples from being sealed is based in policy, not scripture. Just as was the case for the prohibition based on skin colour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And policies can change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and one last thing. Have Oaks and Nelson forgotten that the section they cited\u2014Doctrine and Covenants 132\u2014is outlining the practice of plural marriage? Seems a tad ironic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In the most recent General Conference, two members of the First Presidency claimed that exaltation will be limited to straight married couples. But do the scriptures they cite support their claims? 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