| Question |
Dear Donny,
While I respect your beliefs and your faithfulness to your religion, I must
disagree with your statements regarding marriage and salvation.
You state that dwelling in eternity is only for those who have been sealed in
marriage for eternity. That would exclude everyone except the Mormons. What
about single people or nuns and priests? I find it hard to believe that
Mother Teresa would be excluded from Heaven because she wasn't sealed in an
eternal marriage.
Marriage is not the only way to enter eternal life. Jesus said that in Heaven
there will be no marrying or giving in marriage. The ceremony of marriage is
the earthly joining of two people for living their earthly lives together.
While I do believe that families will be together in Heaven, I do not believe
that there needs to be a "sealing" on earth, and there is no reference to any
such thing in the Bible. Nor do I believe that only Mormons will enter the
Kingdom of God.
The way we conduct our lives on earth and how we treat others will determine
our final resting place. I do respect the Mormon values on the sanctity of
marriage, but a Mormon marriage is no more sacred than a Catholics or a
Protestants or a Methodists, etc.
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| Response |
Thanks for your email. In it you disagreed with the statements on the "my beliefs" pages regarding marriage and
salvation. You said that we state that "dwelling in eternity is only for those who have been sealed in marriage for
eternity." To clarify, what was said, in order for men and women to inherit the highest degree of our Heavenly Father's
Celestial kingdom, they must be sealed together for time and for all eternity. There is no other church on the earth that
professes that. There is no other church whose doctrine proclaims that men and women can be sealed together for time and
for all eternity. We find that most religious ceremonies include the statement "until death do us part," not understanding
that there is more to married life than just this life.
You went on to say, "That would exclude everyone but the Mormons" and then asked what about single people, nuns, and
priests and said, "I find it hard to believe that Mother Teresa would be excluded from Heaven because she wasn't sealed in
an eternal marriage."
I have known many lovely and wonderful people who were nuns and priests of the Catholic Church. I didn't meet Mother Teresa
personally but I know of the great goodness that she has done and the Christ-like compassion with which she conducted her
life. I have no doubt that people like her and countless other people, nuns, priests, and all of God's children alike will
have the opportunity to hear, understand and accept the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Spirit World after
they die. We learn that truth in 1 Pet. 3:18-19, 1 Pet. 4:6, coupled with 1 Cor. 15:29.
You went on to say that, "Jesus said that in Heaven there will be no marrying or given in marriage. The ceremony of
marriage is an earthly joining of two people for living their earthly lives together." Christ said "During the
Resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in Heaven." (See Matt. 22:30).
That scripture means exactly what it says. The opportunity for those who have not been sealed in marriage for eternity
before they leave this life will be given to them while
they live in the Spirit World awaiting their resurrection. By the time their turn for resurrection comes, if they have
accepted all of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness, they will have the opportunity for eternal marriage.
This is not something new with the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints. When Christ was upon the earth, he said to his
apostles, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be
bound in Heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven." (See Matt. 16:19). As you can see,
even though you have believed otherwise, there actually is reference to such things in the Bible.
You have said, "I do not believe that only Mormons will enter the
Kingdom of God. The way we conduct our lives on earth and how we treat others will determine our final resting place.". I
totally agree with you on that. We will be judged on the way that we live our lives day to day and how we treat others.
There are many members of the LDS Church who don't live their lives in accordance with the teachings of the gospel. There
are countless others of all faiths who also don't live their lives in this way. What you have stated is correct. There
are many wonderful people who have not ever had the chance to hear the fullness of the gospel on this earth. They will not
be kept out of the kingdom of God just because they are not "Mormon." All people will have the chance to hear the fullness
of the Gospel and will have the opportunity in the Spirit World to accept his plan. This plan includes accepting the
atonement of the Savior, and taking upon themselves sacred covenants and promises made in the temple, including eternal
marriage. This essential work in the temple can be done for them vicariously even after they leave this life. Truly, no righteous
individual, such as Mother Teresa and other single individuals, will be without these wonderful opportunities and
blessings. All can have what Christ offers if they accept it.
I hope this is helpful to you.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
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