All That the Father Hath

In the most recent general conference, Elder Matthew L. Carpenter spoke of eternal marriage and the covenant we make when sealed to our spouse. He said this, "If you remain faithful to the covenants you made when you were endowed, you will receive the personal blessings promised to you in the endowment even if your spouse has broken his or her covenants or withdrawn from the marriage. If you were sealed and later divorced, and if your sealing is not canceled, the personal blessings of that sealing remain in effect for you if you remain faithful." For those tragic circumstances, he gave this counsel, "Sometimes, due to feelings of betrayal and very real hurt, a faithful spouse may want to cancel their sealing with their unfaithful spouse to get as far away as possible from them, both on earth and for eternity. If you are concerned that you will somehow be tied to an unrepentant former spouse, remember, you will not! God will not require anyone to remain in a sealed relationship throughout eternity against his or her will. Heavenly Father will ensure that we will receive every blessing that our desires and choices allow." He continued, "However, if a cancellation of sealing is desired, agency is respected. Certain procedures can be followed. But this should not be done casually! The First Presidency holds the keys to bind on earth and in heaven. Once a sealing cancellation has been granted by the First Presidency, the blessings related to that sealing are no longer in force; they are canceled both laterally and vertically. It is important to understand that to receive the blessings of exaltation, we must demonstrate that we are willing to enter into and faithfully keep this new and everlasting covenant, either in this life or the next." I was surprised by this counsel about the cancellation of sealing, partly because it is not a topic that is typically discussed in general conference. The other surprising part is that his teaching suggests that there are eternal blessings still promised to someone who has made the covenant marriage, even when the other spouse has violated those covenants. In other words, the blessings of a temple sealing are not gone for a faithful spouse no matter what the other spouse does. This answers I think a question I have wondered about: what happens to children who have been sealed to parents when one of those parents no longer keeps their covenants but the other one does? The answer, if I understand Elder Carpenter's message correctly, is that the faithful parent is indeed still sealed to his or her children no matter what the other spouse does. The blessings of that sealing remain in force so long as that faithful parent keeps his or her covenants.

Elder Carpenter summarized his message with these words, "I testify that God has restored the authority to bind on earth and in heaven. That authority is found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is held by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve and is exercised under the direction of President Russell M. Nelson. Those who enter into the new and everlasting covenant of marriage and keep that covenant can become perfected and eventually receive the fulness of the glory of the Father, regardless of circumstances beyond their control." We can trust that God will give us all the blessings He has covenanted to give us no matter what others do. I love this scriptural promise: "For since the beginning of the world have not men heard nor perceived by the ear, neither hath any eye seen, O God, besides thee, how great things thou hast prepared for him that waiteth for thee" (Doctrine and Covenants 133:45). I trust that the Lord's blessings in store for the faithful are greater than anything we can imagine, even when life's heartaches seem unbearable. In the oath and covenant of the priesthood, the Lord gave this incredible promise: “And also all they who receive this priesthood receive me, saith the Lord; For he that receiveth my servants receiveth me; And he that receiveth me receiveth my Father; And he that receiveth my Father receiveth my Father’s kingdom; therefore all that my Father hath shall be given unto him” (Doctrine and Covenants 84:35-38). This promise is for men and women alike, for all of us as we receive the covenants of the priesthood in the temple, we indeed receive Him. And there is no greater blessing we could receive than to have all that He has.