Question
Gramps,
I’ve wondered for some time now, will there be physical intimacy in heaven? I’ve struggled in my marriage for quite some time now with my partner’s almost complete lack of desire for physical intimacy, despite my desire to “cleave” physically. It makes me feel alienated, inadequate, frustrated, and very alone. I have a strong desire to honor the temple covenants I made with my partner, but I’m not expecting any material change during this life. Is this a temporal experience only?
Anonymous
Answer
Anonymous,
In Latter-day Saint theology, the answer isn’t given in explicit, detailed descriptions—but the doctrines surrounding resurrection, eternal marriage, and exaltation point in a clear direction.
At the heart of the gospel is the belief that our bodies are eternal. Through Jesus Christ, every person will be resurrected—body and spirit reunited in a perfected, immortal state. As Paul taught, the body is “raised in incorruption” (1 Corinthians 15:42). This means our physical nature is not temporary or disposable—it is essential to our eternal identity and joy.
That doctrine alone already sets the stage for understanding intimacy in the next life. If we remain embodied beings, then relationships involving both spirit and body continue to matter eternally.
But Latter-day Saint theology goes even further. It teaches that marriage—when performed by priesthood authority in the temple—can last forever. Doctrine and Covenants 132:19 promises that a man and woman who are sealed and faithful “shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers” and that their union will continue eternally.
This is not symbolic language. It describes a real continuation of the marital relationship beyond death.
Because of that, intimacy within marriage is not viewed as something temporary or merely mortal. It is part of a divine pattern. Church leaders have consistently taught that physical intimacy is sacred, purposeful, and tied to eternal principles—not just earthly ones. President Howard W. Hunter taught that “the intimate relationship between husbands and wives is good and honorable in the eyes of God,” emphasizing that it is ordained and meaningful within marriage.
So what does that imply about the afterlife?
One of the most important doctrines connected to eternal marriage is something called “eternal increase.” This refers to the continuation of family life and the power of creation beyond this life. The Lord revealed that those who enter into and honor the new and everlasting covenant of marriage will “continue” and have a “continuation of the seeds forever and ever.”
That phrase—“continuation of the seeds”—has been consistently interpreted by prophets and apostles as meaning that exalted beings will have the power to create and expand family relationships eternally.
The Prophet Joseph Smith taught this very directly:
“Those who are married by the power and authority of the priesthood… will continue to increase and have children in the celestial glory.”
That statement is about as clear as anything we have on the subject. It ties together eternal marriage, resurrection, and procreation—suggesting that the powers associated with physical intimacy are not temporary, but part of exaltation itself.
President Spencer W. Kimball likewise emphasized that marriage is central to God’s eternal plan, teaching that without it, one cannot receive the fullness of exaltation. In other words, the relationship between husband and wife—including its unity in every sense—is not just preserved but perfected.
At this point, it’s worth pausing and being very clear about something: the Church does not provide detailed descriptions of what physical intimacy looks like in the afterlife. There is a reason for that. The focus of the doctrine is not on mechanics—it is on covenant, unity, and divine potential.
Still, the logical framework is consistent:
- We will have perfected physical bodies
- Eternal marriage continues beyond death
- Exaltation includes eternal increase (posterity)
- The powers of creation are part of becoming like God
Taken together, these teachings strongly suggest that marital intimacy—in its complete, perfected form—continues to be part of the exalted life.
However, this blessing is not universal in the same way for everyone. Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–3 teaches that the highest degree of the celestial kingdom requires entering into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage. Those who do not receive or accept that covenant may inherit glory, but not the fullness of what is described as exaltation.
This distinction matters because the continuation of family relationships—and the divine powers associated with them—is part of that highest state.
It’s also important to understand that whatever intimacy exists in the next life will be fundamentally different from what we experience now. Mortality is marked by weakness, misunderstanding, and sometimes selfishness. In contrast, exalted relationships are described as perfectly unified—emotionally, spiritually, and physically.
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland once taught that intimacy is meant to symbolize total union of heart, mind, and soul—not just physical closeness. In eternity, that unity would be complete and unbroken.
So rather than thinking of intimacy in the afterlife in purely physical terms, it’s more accurate to see it as part of a perfect, divine oneness between eternal companions.
For some, this topic can feel uncomfortable or even confusing. That’s understandable. We’re trying to comprehend eternal realities with mortal experience. But the gospel consistently redirects our focus to something deeper: God’s plan is about relationships that last, grow, and become more meaningful—not less.
In the end, the doctrine doesn’t just answer a biological or physical question—it answers a relational one.
Will love continue? Yes.
Will marriage continue? Yes.
Will families continue? Yes.
And within that eternal union, everything that is pure, sacred, and ordained by God—including the full expression of marital unity—belongs to that everlasting life.
The takeaway is simple but powerful: what is most meaningful and holy about marriage here is not temporary. It is a glimpse of something eternal.
Gramps
