Beliefs > Question & Answer > Marriage

Question

What is the official teaching of the LDS, and what do you personally believe regarding: The origin of the universe, and in particular, Earth? (I personally believe the Bible account is literal). The theory of evolution? (I personally am a 6-day Creationist). Do you believe that Jesus is merely equal with God, or that He is God? (I personally believe he is God) "Eternal Marriage"? How do you interpret the explanation Jesus gave regarding marriage in heaven, using the example of the widow who had married subsequent brothers as each one died? (To explain, I have been a widow for 3 years, after 25 years of marriage, and have no problem accepting that, although I will be reunited with my husband in heaven, we will not be as man and wife, but as sons and daughters of God, and equal inheritors of the kingdom with our brother Jesus. If I married again, for example, whose wife would the LDS say I'd be? Do LDS allow remarriage, or are you "eternally married" once, for all time? Many years ago when Mormons were permitted multiple wives, as in the above example where a widow had many husbands (though I admit, not at the same time!), what would the relationship be in heaven?

Response

You asked several questions. I will try and answer each of them as space permits. The first question was, what is the official teaching of the LDS Church, and what do I personally believe, regarding the origin of the universe and in particular, the earth? Like you, I believe, and it is one of the teachings of the LDS Church, that the origin of the universe and the origin of the earth are as we read it in the book of Genesis. There are additional "modern-day" scriptures that amplify this, and give some additional information, but we believe as you do. Your second question had to do with the theory of evolution. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the "theory" of evolution, is exactly what it says "…a theory." To suggest otherwise is to say that God is not all-knowing and all-powerful, and that He spent time in the creative process "experimenting" with things. To the contrary, our Father in Heaven knows all things, and again, we agree with you, that the first man and woman placed on the earth in the Garden of Eden were literally the very first individuals to inhabit the earth. All other theories and statements to the contrary are meant to discredit and diminish God as somewhat less than omnipotent and omniscient. Your next question was regarding eternal marriage. You asked how we interpreted the explanation Jesus gave regarding marriage in heaven, using the example of the widow who had married subsequent brothers as each one died. We believe that eternal marriage is performed on this earth in temples dedicated to our Lord for that and other sacred purposes. We further believe that if an individual dies before he or she has the opportunity to be sealed to his or her mate for time and all eternity, when our Savior returns to the earth, He will oversee that ongoing "temple work." Those who have not had an opportunity here to have their marriage sealed in the temple will then have such an opportunity. They will have the opportunity to either accept or reject that sealing. You asked, what if you married again; whose wife does the LDS Church say that you would be? (Your deceased husband, or your new one?) If you should choose to join the church, you could subsequently go to the temple and be sealed to your deceased husband for all eternity. If you subsequently married someone else, your marriage to him would be for the duration of this life only. On the other hand, if you were to remarry before being sealed to your former husband, and you and your new husband were to become members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the two of you could go to the temple. You could be sealed together for all eternity. In regards to your former husband, you would be exactly in the same position as you have already stated, simply as sons and daughters of God in His kingdom with our brother Jesus. Sincerely, Donny Osmond See related multimedia presentations

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