For many people, marriage is one of life’s most meaningful milestones. It represents love, commitment, companionship, and shared purpose. In most cultures and religious traditions, marriage is understood as a lifelong bond—yet one that ultimately ends at death. Latter-day Saints, however, believe marriage can be far more than a temporary arrangement. They believe it can be eternal.
This belief explains why members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints choose to marry in temples. For them, a temple marriage is not simply a wedding location or a religious custom. It is a sacred covenant with God, entered with the belief that marriage can continue beyond death and into eternity.
Understanding why Mormons marry in temples requires understanding how they view God, Jesus Christ, covenants, authority, family, salvation, and eternal life. Temple marriage reflects a deeply hopeful view of human relationships—one in which love, growth, and commitment are not meant to end at the grave.
Marriage in Latter-day Saint Belief
Latter-day Saints believe marriage is divinely ordained. From their perspective, marriage is not merely a social institution created by human society, but part of God’s plan for His children.
Marriage is seen as a partnership designed to help individuals grow spiritually, emotionally, and morally. It provides a setting where love, sacrifice, patience, forgiveness, and service can be learned and practiced daily.
Unlike some religious traditions that emphasize individual salvation apart from family relationships, Latter-day Saints believe family relationships are central to God’s plan. Marriage is not incidental—it is foundational.
Difference Between Civil Marriage and Temple Marriage
Civil marriage is legally recognized and meaningful. Latter-day Saints respect civil marriage and believe it plays an important role in society. However, they also believe civil marriages are temporary by nature, lasting only until death.
Temple marriages, by contrast, are believed to be eternal. They are performed by priesthood authority in a temple and are often referred to as sealings. Through this ordinance, husband and wife are sealed together not only “until death,” but for eternity.
This distinction is not meant to diminish civil marriage, but to explain why Latter-day Saints seek something more enduring—something they believe requires divine authority.
Eternal Perspective on Marriage
Temple marriage emphasizes an eternal perspective. Couples who marry in a temple are encouraged to view their relationship through the lens of eternity rather than convenience or temporary happiness.
This perspective shapes how couples approach challenges. Difficulties are not seen as reasons to abandon the relationship, but as opportunities for growth, repentance, forgiveness, and Christlike love.
Marriage is understood as a long-term spiritual partnership rather than a short-term contract.
Covenants Rather Than Contracts
A key difference between civil and temple marriage is the concept of covenant. A contract is an agreement between two parties, often based on mutual benefit and enforceable only under certain conditions.
A covenant, in Latter-day Saint belief, is a sacred promise made with God. Temple marriage is not just a promise between two people—it is a covenant between husband, wife, and God.
Latter-day Saints believe covenants invite God’s guidance, strength, and grace into the marriage. They also bring accountability, reminding couples that their relationship has eternal significance.
Authority and Eternal Marriage
Central to temple marriage is the belief in priesthood authority. Latter-day Saints believe Jesus Christ gave authority to His apostles to perform ordinances that would be binding both on earth and in heaven.
Jesus taught that what is bound on earth can be bound in heaven. Latter-day Saints interpret this as evidence that God can authorize eternal ordinances performed by those holding His authority.
They believe this authority was lost after the deaths of the apostles and later restored through modern revelation. Temple marriages are performed under this restored authority.
Without this authority, Latter-day Saints believe marriage remains a beautiful and meaningful relationship—but one that does not extend beyond death.
Biblical Foundations for Eternal Marriage
Latter-day Saints believe the Bible supports the idea of eternal marriage, even if the doctrine is not fully explained in traditional Christian theology.
The Bible emphasizes covenant relationships and God’s power over death. Jesus Christ’s resurrection demonstrates that death does not have ultimate authority.
Marriage is presented in scripture as divinely instituted. God joined Adam and Eve and commanded them to become one. Latter-day Saints see this as evidence that marriage was intended to be more than a temporary arrangement.
They also point to teachings about sealing authority and eternal covenants, which they believe lay the foundation for eternal marriage.
The Role of the Temple
Temples play a unique role in Latter-day Saint worship. Unlike chapels, which are used for weekly services, temples are reserved for sacred ordinances believed to have eternal effect.
Temple marriages are performed in a reverent setting designed to focus attention on God rather than spectacle. There are no elaborate decorations, music, or social displays during the ceremony itself. The emphasis is on humility, commitment, and covenant.
This setting reflects the belief that eternal marriage begins with God, not with performance or public recognition.
Focus on Jesus Christ
Temple marriage ceremonies are centered on Jesus Christ. The purpose is not to celebrate romance alone, but to begin a marriage grounded in faith, obedience, and reliance on Christ.
Latter-day Saints believe that only through Jesus Christ can marriage become eternal. His atonement makes forgiveness possible, His teachings guide family life, and His resurrection makes eternal relationships achievable.
Preparation and Worthiness
Before marrying in a temple, couples prepare spiritually. This preparation includes learning gospel principles, committing to live according to Christ’s teachings, and reflecting on the seriousness of the covenant they are about to make.
This preparation is not about perfection. It is about sincerity, humility, and willingness to grow.
Marriage, Family, and Eternal Growth
Latter-day Saints believe temple marriage is foundational to eternal families. They believe children born to parents sealed in the temple are automatically part of that eternal family unit.
This belief influences how parents approach family life. Parenting is seen not only as a responsibility for this life, but as part of an eternal stewardship.
Families are viewed as central to spiritual growth. Home life becomes a place where faith is practiced daily, where children learn values, and where discipleship is lived in ordinary moments.
Marriage as a School of Discipleship
In Latter-day Saint belief, marriage is one of the primary settings in which individuals learn to follow Jesus Christ.
Marriage requires patience, humility, sacrifice, forgiveness, and service—qualities that are central to Christian discipleship. Temple marriage frames these challenges as spiritually meaningful rather than merely emotional or practical.
Couples are encouraged to see their relationship as a joint effort to become more Christlike together.
Eternal Marriage and Agency
Although temple marriage is believed to be eternal, it is not automatic or unconditional. Latter-day Saints believe agency remains central.
Eternal marriage depends on faithfulness to covenants. Individuals must choose to follow Jesus Christ, repent when they fall short, and continue striving to live according to God’s will.
This emphasis on agency preserves moral responsibility and avoids the idea that eternal blessings are guaranteed regardless of personal choice.
Temple Marriage and Grace
Temple marriage does not eliminate the need for grace. Latter-day Saints believe no marriage is perfect and no individual is without weakness.
They believe God’s grace makes growth, healing, and reconciliation possible. Eternal marriage is not based on flawless performance, but on repentance, forgiveness, and reliance on Jesus Christ.
Grace does not remove accountability, but it makes enduring commitment possible despite human imperfection.
Common Misunderstandings
One common misunderstanding is that temple marriage diminishes romance or emotional connection. Latter-day Saints believe the opposite. They believe temple marriage deepens love by grounding it in shared faith, purpose, and eternal commitment.
Another misunderstanding is that those who marry outside the temple are excluded or lesser. Latter-day Saints believe everyone has opportunities to receive temple blessings, either in this life or in the next.
Some also assume temple marriage is about social pressure. In reality, Latter-day Saints view it as a personal choice rooted in belief and faith.
Temple Marriage and Loss
For Latter-day Saints, temple marriage provides profound comfort in times of loss. The belief that marriage can continue beyond death offers hope that separation is not final.
This belief does not eliminate grief, but it provides a framework of hope, reunion, and trust in God’s plan.
Why This Belief Matters
Temple marriage matters because it offers a vision of marriage rooted in eternity rather than convenience. It encourages commitment, patience, and long-term devotion.
For Latter-day Saints, marrying in a temple is an expression of hope—hope that love can endure, that families can remain united, and that God’s plan is bigger than mortality.
It also provides motivation to work through challenges rather than abandon relationships when difficulties arise.
A Broader View of Love and Commitment
Temple marriage reflects a broader view of love. Love is not only a feeling, but a covenant-based commitment that grows through effort, sacrifice, and faith.
This view challenges cultural ideas of marriage as disposable or temporary. It invites couples to think long-term and eternally.
An Invitation
Latter-day Saints invite others to learn about temple marriage, study the teachings of Jesus Christ, and seek understanding through prayer.
They believe God’s plan for families is rooted in love, growth, and eternal connection—and that sincere seekers can come to understand His purposes.
Sources
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Gospel Topics: Marriage
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org
Gospel Topics Essays – Marriage and Family
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics-essays
Doctrine and Covenants Central
https://doctrineandcovenantscentral.org
Scripture Central
https://scripturecentral.org