Eternal Marriage Manual Outline

The last two days, I wrote about Eternal Marriage and how I should probably just stick to the manual. Right now is probably a good time to write an outline, highlighting the main points of what the manual actually says.

Marriage Is Ordained of God

Marriage between a man and a woman is a vital part of God’s plan.

“Whoso forbiddeth to marry is not ordained of God, for marriage is ordained of God unto man” (D&C 49:15)

Eternal Marriage is Essential for Exaltation

Many people in the world consider marriage to be only a social custom, a legal agreement between a man and a woman to live together. But to Latter-day Saints, marriage is much more.

Heavenly Father has given us the law of eternal marriage so we can become like Him.

In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
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];
And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
D&C 131:1–3

[Insert Plan B Here]

All Heavenly Father’s children who are faithful to their covenants in this life will have the opportunity to receive all the blessings of the gospel in the eternities, including the opportunity to have an eternal family.

Eternal Marriage Must Be Performed by Proper Authority in the Temple

An eternal marriage must be performed by one who holds the sealing power.

Not only must an eternal marriage be performed by the proper priesthood authority, but it must also be done in one of the holy temples of our Lord. The temple is the only place this holy ordinance can be performed.

(Why? No idea. If the question comes up, I'll ask for input from the other frequent teachers of the class. Maybe one of them will know, or at least have a good guess.)

We Must Prepare for an Eternal Marriage

Marriage is perhaps the most vital of all the decisions and has the most far-reaching effects... 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.
President Spencer W. Kimball

We do not suddenly decide one day that we want to be married in the temple, then enter the temple that day and get married. We must first meet certain requirements.

[Review the Temple Recommend Interview Questions]

Benefits of an Eternal Marriage

We know that our marriage can last forever. Death can part us from one another only temporarily.

Nothing can part us forever except our own disobedience. This knowledge helps us work harder to have a happy, successful marriage.

We can live in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom of God.

We can be exalted as God is and receive a fulness of joy. (Seriously, that's exactly what it says in the book. Just wait until we get to the chapter on Exaltation.)

Questions to Ask During the Lesson

Why is it important to know that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God?

What is the Lord’s doctrine of marriage, and how does it differ from the views of the world?

How can an eternal perspective influence the way we feel about marriage and families?

[What can we do to make sure that our marriage will be eternal?]