"Love For How Long" (short essay)

Years ago Bruce R. McConkie (then an Apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) on the length of love. I’ll paraphrase him and his comments with my words. Consider you’re in love and are going to be married. For how long? A day – a week – a year or even several? Or will it be for time and all eternity? The choice is yours between the two – a measured time or an eternity. No marriage ordained by earthly authority can extend beyond the lengths of that authority. Only one that has eternal authority can go beyond the veil or outside the parameters of mortality. Thus there are two forms of authority given to those who can perform a marriage on this earth. One by governments of men/women to men/women and one from Heavenly Father to ‘Seal’ for time and all eternity. Since all of the manmade churches claim no eternal or heavenly authority (regardless of faith/creed/location) then they do not have authority to claim a marriage beyond the extent of mortality. John, Peter, James each had the authority to Seal on Earth what would be Sealed in Heaven – then in turn passed this same Priesthood to Joseph Smith Jr. and those then called with them same authority. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored by the Father and the Son to this Earth – and thus fulfilling the versus in Malachi for the purpose of this earth. Elijah came with the Sealing Keys – Temples (Houses of the Lord) were built and continue to be built for this purpose – e.g. the eternal ordinances for both the living and the dead on this earth.

Consider when being asked or asking one to marry – ‘I will love you for ten days’  would you ask such a question or answer such positively? Yet over and over – such is the case – we read in the media of a couple going on their honeymoon and one or the other or both being killed in an accident. At that point their marriage is over if not being married in the House of the Lord. Please you can be mad at me but that is exactly the way it is – ‘till death do you part’.

Now consider this I’ve met none – not one happily married couple who can conceive of not being together with their family and loved ones for time and eternity. Yet when reading the Scriptures (not those altered by men/women) but literally reading the Scriptures (all of them) one can clearly see what has to happen to have such a marriage. First and foremost it comes with the knowledge Jesus Christ is the Savior of this world. We are to be obedient to him alone! Obeying all of the Commandments (not just the ten but all). We know it requires Faith, Repentance, one Baptism (by those having authority – Heavenly authority and then to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost by those having authority (Heavenly Authority). This means being baptized into the Lord’s Church and not men/women’s churches.

Currently there are about 16,000,000 (many who are inactive) belong to this Church. That’s about .002% of the world’s population or less. Eventually all will hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ preached – but those who’ve already heard it will respond then as they have now. It is those who’ve no opportunity to hear the Gospel or lived on this earth when the Gospel was not present who will hear for the first time. They in turn will accept or reject had they heard it here.

How long will love last? I’ve many friends who’ve lost loved one and grieve horribly. Their lives are shattered understanding the eternal plan of happiness is there for them – but they are unwilling to turn to look – listen – and most of all hear. When I met my bride some 49 years and 10 months ago – the first thing I told her was we were going to get married and it would be for time and all eternity. I was not a member of the Church but I knew by reading 1 Peter 3:7 that this was the way it was supposed to be. She thought I was crazy – smile – sometimes she still does. But we both knew there had to be more than what we were encountering. After five (5) years of marriage we were introduced to the Church shortly after joining and one year later going to the Temple. This is not to say everything has been roses – but we know what we are enduring for – eternal life with Father and the Son forever. This is the Plan we all agreed to and covenanted to when we came into mortality – it’s what make it all worthwhile – and nothing else does. c/ork

“Love For How Long”

cji

2/14/18

A day – a month – a year

Valentine’s day is today

hearts and kisses to be

candies and flowers full

love meaningful truthful

extending all of ourselves

to our complete others

seeking to become as one

a day – a month – a year?

Copyright © 2018 – cji