Is it fair that some shall be barred from Celestial glory?
Question
Gramps,
D&C 88:22 says “For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.” I understand temple marriage to be an important key to this. But what of those who, though willing to live it, have a spouse who never joins the church, or who never meet someone worthy? It seems unfair that they, due to things beyond their control, should be barred/ banned from celestial glory.
Diane
Answer
Dear Diane,
You are not alone in wondering this. It was the subject of excited discussion following my remarks on this life being the time to sort such things out. This exact scenario is one that I had in mind when I addressed 3 timelines to sort out resurrection confusion. Please take some time to review that answer, as it sets the foundation for this one. For this, we’ll revisit Sunbeam (a contemporary of our time) who, through no fault of her own, was never sealed to a spouse while she was alive. For the sake of our hypothetical, she lived a celestial law (as you note, lots of our sisters do this – either they were never proposed to (in our society it is still the man’s responsibility to do so), or they joined the Church after they were already married, and their husbands never joined, or some such thing).
If dearly departed Sunbeam was married but not in the temple, then her descendants can do that vicarious work for her while she’s still in the spirit world awaiting the resurrection. If she was never married, then her work still needs to be done for her by mortals. But the those on the earth will not know who she needs to be sealed to, so they will not do any temple work for her (the Lord’s house is one of order after all). Then Christ comes and calls forth the celestial saints to rise from the graves to meet Him. Here is the mass resurrection at the start of the Millennium, so now we have a conflict: Sunbeam is celestial quality and should be resurrected at this time; but Sunbeam needs to be sealed to a husband to enjoy her eternal increase she’ll inherit in the celestial glory; and Sunbeam cannot be sealed as a resurrected being, for “in the resurrection there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity.” (Jesus the Christ ch 31).
We first begin to resolve this by remembering that the first resurrection is a glory, not a time. So regardless of whether Sunbeam rises at Christ’s coming or the end of the earth it matters not. She receives a celestial body in the celestial glory in the morning of the first resurrection. President Joseph Fielding Smith further resolves this by reminding us to “keep clearly in our minds that we do not enter into exaltation until after the resurrection. We do not enter into exaltation in the spirit world…. [D]uring the Millennium – and that is the great purpose of the Millennium – we will go into the temples” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, page 167). So Sunbeam is not resurrected with the masses when Christ comes, because she is still in the spirit world awaiting her temple work.
President Smith further resolves this by combining the Lord’s justice and mercy with the work of the Millennium. “We never make matches for the dead in the temples. The Lord will bless all those who are worthy of the blessings, and they will lose nothing. The work of the Millennium will be largely work for the dead who did not have an opportunity when living to obtain the blessings, but who would have accepted the blessings if they had lived. Justice demands this. We need not worry, therefore, because young men or young women die without being married. All who are worthy will be blessed just the same as if they had lived and obtained the blessings” (Doctrines of Salvation, vol. 2, page 177).
So Sunbeam and other sisters like her will have the opportunity during the Millennium (while in the spirit world) to accept the sealing ordinance and the covenant of marriage. The power of this work for the dead is conveyed by President Joseph F. Smith, who saw the righteous dead organizing to teach vicarious ordinances to those who lacked them. Remember it was prompted by pondering on this verse in 1 Peter: “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (4:6). With this organization in the spirit world, those who needed additional faith or works “were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, And all other principles of the gospel that were necessary for them to know in order to qualify themselves that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (D&C 138:33-34). When Sunbeam vicariously receives the sealing ordinance, it will be counted to her as though she had received it in the flesh the same as her married peers who also lived the celestial law.
Gramps
And if the partner does not convert, then what?
In an Ensign article from July 2012 titled “Understanding our Covenants with God” we read
‘Individuals who keep their covenants—even when their spouse does not—do not forfeit the blessings promised in the sealing.’
I think it is wise to remember the Spirit of the law when the letter of the law is not so clear in our mind. If you live a Celestial life you will inherit Celestial glory because the Savior came to ‘save the world and not to condemn it’.
But will you be with the less vigilant spouse, or will you be separated and given another?
I’m a faithful member of the church and my wife is a Catholic. According to her words, she will never join the church…and I have to believe her. That means I’m living the gospel only to know that I’ll never have Celestial Glory, that is increase in the next life…that’s painful. Or, am I relegated to the spirit world until my temple work is completed in the millennium and my wife vowing to never accept the gospel…this is a complicated matter. It really bums me out because i’ve never gotten a straight answer.
Hello Wax,
Let’s begin with this statement, ” It really bums me out because i’ve never gotten a straight answer.” In our mortal probation Wax, we are informed of two categories of judgements: eternal and intermediate. Eternal judgements, which is what you are requesting, are not our to make and is the reason why you have never been given a straight answer.
We are informed in this life that we are judged according to our works and the righteous desires of our hearts. As a husband, take every opportunity you can to share the gospel with your spouse: fast and pray. In the end, we know this, and if you have done your best remember these words and let these words of our Savior bring rest in your mind (D&C 45: 3-5):
3 Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him—
4 Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased; behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified;
5 Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life.
Hi Anddenex,
Really appreciate your time replying to my post, it’s comforting and I love the scripture you referenced. I had faith in those word previously and know that the Lord Atoned from my sins and is the advocate to the Father on my behalf. I wished I could bare my testimony freely to my wife who I love so much, but its very uncomfortable to say the least. She is not outwardly spiritual and does not like to go deep. So I keep it light and brush the edges. I will confess, fasting is the most difficult thing for me to do, I need to really work on it. That will keep me from heaven because I cannot master it. Thanks again friend in Christ!
PS forgive me for being ignorant but is there a meaning behind your name?
Yes, there is intent behind my name. It is a compound of my full name, other than this, no other meaning.
I know fasting isn’t easy. I know that it does bring blessings when our mind is single to the glory of God.
With regards to your wife, remember these verse D&C 121: 41-46. A lot of times, it isn’t forcing an opportunity, it is being wise, discerning, as to when those moments do occur where you can be open, and her heart is open.
Hi Wax, salutations to you in your concern for your wife.
Brought home some chocolate covered lumps of ice cream once, some common brand that is not important. Offered it to my children. One of them did not want to try it saying she did not like it. I pointed out that she had not tried it so how could she know. She insisted that she did not like it. Rather than being a reasonable and considerate father I told her that she did have to at least try it. After trying it she still held that she did not like it. We mortals have a tendency to do this sort of thing.
The only unforgivable sin is to deny the Holy Ghost. By the power of the Holy Ghost we can know the truth of all things. Merely suggesting that us mortals can be both stubborn and stupid. I fit that description better than I am comfortable with. We do not like to eat our words. Will make ourselves look awful stupid out of foolish pride.
Its a two part problem. First, her best example of the difference the Gospel can make in us is you. Actually living the Gospel is the only testimony that cannot be refuted. Yeah more easily said than done but of a piece with Truth. Second, as you know and love her, what do you think she will do when the Holy Ghost witnesses to her. More powerful than a chorus of angels from on high. Knowing the truth, and knowing the consequences of refusing it, what do you think she will do ?
Living the Gospel works. Arguments do not. She has free agency (thank you Lord, for that simply amazing gift) and she will not change her mind due to mere words. Balls in your court.
Consider carefully what Jesus said in Mark chapter 12 when he said “Do ye not therefore err, because ye do not know the scriptures neither the power of Go? For when they shall rise from the dead” (“they” in this case referred to the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection). “They” also referrers to any unbeliever, then, and now. But to the believer, to the obedient, to the righteous, the “Power of God” makes all things possible. As stated above by the prophets, (paraphrasing), when a righteous woman dies never having been proposed to or a righteous man dies in battle, God has full power to give both a chance, remember there is still agency, to be married and enjoy all blessings of exaltation. Now look again at D%C 132:15, 16, and 17, “They” clearly means those who do not believe and are not married by His word which is His law. So Sunbeam should not worry; obedience here will open wide the doors in the hereafter.