How does Matthew 20:30 fit in with celestial marriage?

Question

Dear Gramps,

For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. Matthew 22:30 This is direct from the Saviours mouth – how does this meet with the idea of Celestial Marriage?. Matthew 22:30

This is direct from the Saviours mouth – how does this meet with the idea of Celestial Marriage?

Bob

Answer

Dear Bob,

In the first place it is necessary to understand who is talking about whom. To whom does the pronoun they in verse 30 refer? If you read the prelude to verse 30, starting with verse 23, you will find that the Savior is referring to the Sadducees, who do not understand nor believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. They, not being members of the Christ’s church, have no hope for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Unless they repent and obey all the principles of the gospel in this life, they can never by more than angels of God in heaven.

All of the saving ordinances of the gospel are performed in mortality, not after the resurrection. Baptism, for instance, is performed in mortality, and if the baptism is perform by the authority that is recognized by God and the recipient is true to the baptismal covenant, he will be saved in the Celestial Kingdom of God.

Likewise, if a couple are sealed to one another in one of the Lord’s holy temples, and they live according to the new and everlasting covenant of marriage that they take upon themselves in that holy ordinance, then they shall remain related as husband and wife as exalted beings in the Celestial Kingdom for all eternity. There is no marrying nor giving of marriage in heaven, but those who are properly married in mortality remain so, just as much as those who obey the baptismal covenant are saved in the Celestial Kingdom for all eternity.

Gramps