Question
Will single sisters be able to marry in the Celestial Kingdom?
Gary
Answer
Gary,
Single sisters will be given the opportunity for marriage. But they will not marry in the Celestial Kingdom. In order to obtain the highest degree of the Celestial Kingdom, marriage must be in place first. And that marriage must happen in this life. Jesus taught us in Matt 22:30 (see also Mark 12:25)
“For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven”
“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:”
From these teachings we know that marriage is a work that must be accomplished in this life. Marriage will not be performed on resurrected beings.
However, we also know from latter-day teachings that those who are worthy and willing, but do not have the chance for marriage, will not be deprived of exaltation. So how does this work? Well, through work for the dead. Joseph Smith taught “people could now act for their friends who had departed this life, and that the plan of salvation was calculated to save all who were willing to obey the requirements of the law of God.” We don’t know all the details of how this will work. What we do know is that the millennium will be a time for accomplishing the mammoth undertaking of completing the work for the dead. Joseph Smith also taught that immortal beings will frequently visit the earth. These resurrected beings will help with the government and other work. A large part of this will be working out the details of the work for the dead.
The Gospel Principles manual clarifies this idea further:
“There will be two great works for members of the Church during the Millennium: temple work and missionary work. Temple work involves the ordinances that are necessary for exaltation. These include baptism, the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost, and the temple ordinances—the endowment, temple marriage, and the sealing together of family units. Many people have died without receiving these ordinances. People on the earth must perform these ordinances for them. This work is now being done in the temples of the Lord. There is too much work to finish before the Millennium begins, so it will be completed during that time. Resurrected beings will help us correct the mistakes we have made in doing research concerning our dead ancestors. They will also help us find the information we need to complete our records. (See Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:167, 251–52.)”
Finally, James E Talmage drives the point home in his book Jesus the Christ,
“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).
Gramps