“Sacred Ordinances and Covenants Available in Holy Temples Make It Possible for Individuals to Return to the Presence of God and for Families to Be United Eternally”
The third paragraph of “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” states:
“In the premortal realm, spirit sons and daughters knew and worshipped God as their Eternal Father and accepted His plan by which His children could obtain a physical body and gain earthly experience to progress toward perfection and ultimately realize their divine destiny as heirs of eternal life. The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally” (see “The Family: A Proclamation to the World,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2010, 129).
President Dallin H. Oaks said:
“God created this earth according to His plan to provide His spirit children a place to experience mortality as a necessary step toward the glories He desires for all His children. While there are various kingdoms and glories, our Heavenly Father’s ultimate desire for His children is what President Monson called ‘eternal life in the kingdom of God,’ which is exaltation in families. This is more than salvation. President Russell M. Nelson has reminded us, ‘In God’s eternal plan, salvation is an individual matter; [but] exaltation is a family matter’ [Russell M. Nelson, “Salvation and Exaltation,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2008, 10].
“The restored gospel of Jesus Christ and the inspired family proclamation . . . are essential teachings to guide mortal preparation for exaltation. Even as we must live with the marriage laws and other traditions of a declining world, those who strive for exaltation must make personal choices in family life according to the Lord’s way whenever that differs from the world’s way.
“In this mortal life, we have no memory of what preceded our birth, and we now experience opposition. We grow and mature spiritually by choosing to obey God’s commandments in a succession of right choices. These include covenants and ordinances and repentance when our choices are wrong. In contrast, if we lack faith in God’s plan and are disobedient to or deliberately refrain from its required actions, we forgo that growth and maturity. The Book of Mormon teaches, ‘This life is the time for men to prepare to meet God’ (Alma 34:32).”
(“The Plan and the Proclamation,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2017, 29.)
