Saturday, November 3, 2007

Eternal marriage

Early this morning I dropped my wife Jeannine off at the airport. She will be in Chicago for two days on business, and I already miss her.

On the drive home, I was pondering the relationship between a man and a wife. I find it amazing, in a way, that someone will be born and live with their parents who will then provide for them for roughly 20 years. Then they will meet someone, fall in love, and in a relatively short period of time, marry this almost stranger from another family, and in some cases, from another state or country. They will never look back, and never go back home again. They will remain together, as my parents and Jeannine's parents , for 50+ & 60+ years. Man, that is a LONG time for two strangers to live together. But we are no longer strangers. On the way to the airport this morning, on two occasions I said something, when Jeannine looked over and said that she was just thinking that. That happens all the time between us. We are so close that at times we don't need to talk. It has been said that marriage is the best method ever devised for becoming acquainted.

Andrew Jackson said "Heaven will not be heaven to me if I do not meet my wife there." Jeannine and I were married in a civil ceremony where the words "until death do you part" were said, as in most ceremonies. We were then sealed in the Bountiful Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for time and all eternity by one who held the keys and the Priesthood. Latter-day Saints, or Mormons, believe that marriage can be forever. Matthew 19: 3-6 states, "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh.What therefore GOD hath joined together, let not man put asunder." This is a clear statement that the marriage covenant, when properly performed, is eternal. The person performing the marriage ceremony must have the authority from God to seal up the marriage for time and all eternity. Everyone who performs a marriage ceremony in the House of the Lord can trace their authority back to the Prophet Joseph Smith, who received the keys and authority from the ancient Prophet Elijah.

For me, this is a huge comfort. Knowing that Jeannine and I will be together forever throughout the eternities, is one of the greatest gifts of all. IMHO