Eternal Family Units Begin with Marriage in the Temple
Doctrine and Covenants 131:1–4
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
Elder L. Tom Perry said:
“One of [the] great eternal truths which the gospel anchors to a sure foundation is the doctrine of the eternal nature of the family unit. . . . Can we think of anything more important than residing in an eternal family unit with parents loving children, and children loving parents? It begins, of course, with a husband and wife married in the holy temple of God for all eternity by those holding priesthood authority. For we know that ‘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 marriage]’ (D&C 131:1–2). There is no other way to start an eternal family unit than to be married in the proper place, at the proper time, by the proper authority, receiving the proper instructions that will lay the proper foundation.”
(“Born of Goodly Parents,” Ensign, May 1985, 21–22.)
