`Sacred bond of marriage' ordained of God
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"In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
"And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood
meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriageT;"And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
"He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase." - D&C 131:1-4
At the October 1994 general conference, President Howard W. Hunter spoke of the sacred bond of marriage.
"With a knowledge of the plan of salvation as a foundation, a man who holds the priesthood looks upon marriage as a sacred privilege and obligation," President Hunter said. "It is not good for man nor for woman to be alone. Man is not complete without woman. Neither can fill the measure of their creation without the other. (See 1 Cor. 11:11; Moses 3:18.) Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God. (See D&C 49:15-17.) Only through the new and everlasting covenant of marriage can they realize the fulness of eternal blessings. (See D&C 131:1-4; 132:15-19.)
"As a matter of priesthood responsibility, a man, under normal circumstances, should not unduly postpone marriage. Brethren, the Lord has spoken plainly on this matter. It is your sacred and solemn responsibility to follow His counsel and the words of His prophets.
"The prophets of the past have spoken also of those who may not have opportunity to marry in this life. President Lorenzo Snow said:
" `There is no Latter-day Saint who dies after having lived a faithful life who will lose anything because of having failed to do certain things when opportunities were not furnished him or her. In other words, if a young man or a young woman has no opportunity of getting married, and they live faithful lives up to the time of their death, they will have all the blessings, exaltation, and glory that any man or woman will have who had this opportunity and improved it. That is sure and positive.' (The Teachings of Lorenzo Snow, comp. Clyde J. Williams
Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1984T, p. 138.)
"I believe President Snow's statement to be true."
