| Question |
I'm sorry, but I really have to take issue with the Mormons' belief that only
those who have had an "eternal marriage" performed by a Mormon priest can
enter into the highest levels of Heaven. That is a rather arrogant concept,
and there is no justification for it in the Bible.
First of all, Jesus' first miracle was performed at the wedding at Cana,
where He changed water into wine (which He does not condemn the drinking of).
The people at this wedding were probably Jewish, and therefore did not have
an "eternal" marriage ceremony. Nowhere in the Bible did Jesus say that
people have to have a special "eternal Marriage" ceremony to get to Heaven.
I am Catholic, and I had a sacramental marriage. We believe that marriage is
a vocation, blessed by God, and one of the seven sacraments. We take it and
our vows very seriously. I really resent the fact that Mormons consider only
their marriages to be valid.
Furthermore, not everyone is meant to be married. Some are called to
religious life, and some are called to be single. We do not believe that any
one of these vocations is better than the others, nor will one get us to the
"highest level" of Heaven. Heaven is not a class system. How we live our
life on this earth and how we treat other people determines whether we get to
Heaven. There we will be together with God and our families. This is not a
Mormon-only Heaven.
I respect the rights of others to believe and worship as they wish, but this
marriage concept is so beyond the norm. The Mormons do not have the only
valid marriages, and they will have to share Heaven with the rest of us.
|
| Response |
First of all, I'm sorry that the doctrines and beliefs of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints regarding eternal marriage has offended you.
I would like to correct you on one thing though. You said that we believe that ours are the only valid marriages. We absolutely do not believe that. We
believe that any marriage, when performed legally and lawfully, is just as valid as an LDS marriage. The difference is that the concluding words of a
marriage performed in our temples include the phrase "sealed together for time and all eternity." Typically, when the bride and groom are pronounced
"husband and wife," there is that phrase, "until death do you part." You'll have to agree that there is a significant difference between those two
phrases.
Most importantly though, it's not just the wording that is significant, but also we believe that the blessings of eternal marriage must be done by specific
priesthood holders who have been given that special "sealing" authority.
Now, to give you the benefit of the doubt, I too would feel as you do if I felt that the 'Mormons' were the only ones who had this opportunity to be sealed
together for the eternities and dwell in the highest degree of our Heavenly Father's Celestial kingdom. That would be quite arrogant. We do not believe
this at all. We know that all people who haven't had the opportunity to hear and understand the fullness of the gospel message while they are here on the
earth, will have that opportunity in the Spirit World after they die. If they accept the teachings of Jesus Christ there, including the doctrine of
eternal marriage, they will, in fact, have the opportunity to be sealed together for all eternity, along with all of their children and other loved ones
who will also have the opportunity to hear and understand the gospel message as well.
I'm sorry you feel the way you do and I hope that this helps in some way.
Sincerely,
Donny Osmond
See related multimedia presentations
|
