We have two wedding anniversaries. June 10th is the anniversary of the ceremony in which we were joined “til death do you part” by a person with authority to perform the ceremony which was for this life only. The marriage would be over when one of us died.
As we learned more about God and His plan, we learned, believed, and knew, that God’s plan is for marriage to transcend this life and extend into the eternities. Jesus Christ explains this to Peter in Matthew16:19 when he gives Peter authority that extends into heaven. “And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
In these days the authority to bind marriages for eternity has been given to “sealers” who perform this holy ordinance in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We had to wait a year after our baptism before we could be married in the temple for eternity. This time was used for learning about the doctrines, talking and praying about this commitment we were going to make with each other and with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. April 8 is the anniversary of our marriage for eternity. We made that commitment to each other, to God, to our children – and our ancestors and posterity. We do not want death to dissolve our marriage. We are in this together – forever.
We are still conscious of the before and after. Our perspective changed to an eternal perspective. This eternal commitment makes a difference to us individually, as a couple, and as a family. Our decisions take into consideration Jesus Christ and His teachings. What would Christ do is more than a catchy phrase. It guides our decisions and our lives. The eternal perspective makes the tough times somewhat easier to deal with because we know we are building for eternity and the bumps in the road on this earthly journey are temporary. An eternal perspective makes the good times even better.
We are together – forever. Thanks be to the Lord.
Click here to read about our first 37 years together (posted in 2013)
Click here to see pictures of us through those 37 years
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