I am now reading a document about the marriages of Joseph and I am particulary focusing on Joseph's bodyguard, Jonathan Holmes. I won't go into the story at the moment. But the question is... how can you truly love someone for which you know you will not spend eternity with? By 'truly love' I am not saying that you cannot love them, I am just saying that it seems rather sad that you will spend all these 'happy moments' together and then really part company at death?
Well, if you aren't a member of the Church you probably never give it much thought. Most members of other religions don't realize that they won't spend eternity married to their spouse. Most of them just assume that they will. If they were to study the doctrines of their faith they would see that their own religious organization doesn't believe they will, but in their very human heart they believe they will.
It is interesting to me. We know marriage is meant to be for all eternity and it seems that we all know this on some level even if the religious organization to which we belong doesn't have such a belief. So, I think most people just assume they will be together again with their spouse. Now, I have another thought on this subject.
Suppose a woman is married and sealed in the Temple. Her husband dies very young. So she is around 24 when he dies. Chances are she will remarry. However, it will only be for time, not for all eternity. This could cause sadness except for one thing. If it were me, I would just put my faith and trust in the Lord. So, although this marriage was only for time because my first spouse is waiting for me in the eternities, I trust that when the time comes, I will be happy just the same. I believe we all gain a greater understanding of things once we die. In that regard, I think it would somehow make this situation acceptable to me. So, although, I might not understand how I can be happy without this second husband by my side, I have faith that somehow I will be.
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Now, I have another thought on this subject. |
Another thought on the same subject.
Was Mary, the mother of Christ sealed to her husband Joseph? I read an essay on line that said they were not sealed, that Mary is sealed to God because he is the father of Jesus. In a way it makes sense, the parents of Jesus should be sealed for eternity. But in another way it does not make sense. How could Mary be sealed to her Heavenly Father in a husband wife eternal relationship?
Well that is taking it off topic in my opinion, but just to entertain this:
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How could Mary be sealed to her Heavenly Father in a husband wife eternal relationship? |
Well, I felt it was on topic because it brings up the possibility that Mary and Joseph were married for time only. I assume they felt a great love for each other.
For me personally, I don't think knowing we would be separated at death would diminish the love i feel for my wife. The eternities seem so far off and we are focused so much on this life anyway that it wouldn't be a big difference for me.
I do not believe that Mary is sealed to Heavenly Father in a husband-wife relationship. It's just a personal view. Such philosophies will not be confirmed or refuted definitively, so I will not dwell on it.
My first marriage will be for time and for all eternity. I have committed to that principle. However, should my first companion die, why shouldn't I marry a widow for time only? I know of a great older couple who did this, and they were able to serve a mission together. They love each other, but they each still thrive in the power of their eternal marriages to their deceased spouses.
Another point: The fact that we are not sealed as a couple does not mean we will not see each other in the Celestial Kingdom. Assuming we are both faithful, although we are eternally sealed to our first loves, we will enjoy "the same sociality which exists among us here...coupled with eternal glory" (D&C 130:2). We will be friends, and there will be no need for jealousy or unkind feelings. Those things will be overcome by that time. We need not fear the future in relation to marriage for time only, as long as we are sealed for eternity and keeping our covenants.