MELONI - While reading the Doctrine and Covenants, I came
across SECTION 132 which says:
15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the
world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and
he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and
she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of
force when they are dead, and when they are out of the
world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when
they are out of the world.
16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they
neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are
appointed angels in heaven, which angels are
ministering servants, to minister for those who are
worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal
weight of glory.
17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore,
they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and
singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition,
to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but
are angels of God forever and ever. (D&C 132:15-17)
My question to you is that if people are not married
or given in marriage when they are out of the world,
then how are people able to have sealings performed
for them in the temple after their death? Also, what
is the purpose of sealing them if they cannot recieve
exaltation as stated in verse 17?
On another topic, I was wondering if we will ever have
our memory of pre-existence restored. If so, at what
point that will happen?
JOEL - One thing to keep in mind is that when the scripture
says, "when they are out of the world", it is talking
about a time after the resurrection and final
judgment. Verse 17 says "they remain separately and
singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition",
indicating that the scriptures are talking about
people who are already saved souls; something that
happens after the final judgment.
Jesus also described this in Luke:
"Therefore in the resurrection whose wife of them is
she? for seven had her to wife.
And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of
this world marry, and are given in marriage:
But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain
that world, and the resurrection from the dead,
neither marry, nor are given in marriage:
Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto
the angels; and are the children of God, being the
children of the resurrection" (Luke 20:33-36).
And in Mark:
"For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither
marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the
angels which are in heaven." (Mark 12:25)
So here they are talking about the condition of a
civily married husband and wife after the resurrection
which of course hasn't happened yet.
These scriptures are explaining that once one has been
resurrected, judged, and assigned a kingdom of glory
there is no longer the possibility to be married or
sealed to someone and achieve exaltation in the
Celestial kingdom, and that the civil marriage they
had on earth will no longer be valid. But before the
resurrection happens the spirits of all those
deceased, who are in Spirit Prison, are being taught
the gospel and waiting for us to perform the
ordinances for them in our temples. Those who would
have accepted the gospel on earth if they had been
given a chance to hear it will have the
opportunity to accept it in heaven and eventually
obtain exaltation(D&C 137: 7-8), provided of course
that they accept it and have the required temple
ordinances performed before their resurrection.
In regards to our memory of the pre-existance,
President George Q. Cannon said:
"You have heard of men who have been drowning or have
fallen from a great height describe that in about a
second or two every event of their lives passed before
them like a panorama with the rapidity of lightning.
This shows what power there is latent in the human
mind, which, when quickened by the power of God, will
make men and women recall not only
that which pertains to this life, but our memories
will stretch back to the life we had before we came
here, with the associations we had with our Father and
God and with those bright spirits that stand around
His throne and with the righteous and holy ones."
(Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President
George Q. Cannon, p. 60)
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