To: My Beloved Family & Friends
From: Dad, Grandpa etc.
Re: Marriage
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” Declaration of Independence
Sadly, it appears that 99.5 percent of mankind seem to believe that this means that our life gives us liberty to pursue happiness according to our own carnal desires, which always has and always will lead to bondage in this life and eternal suffering here after.
Our life belongs to the God who made us and He made us that we might have joy, but we can only have joy eternally by living as He lives. He is not asking the impossible for his burden is easy and his yoke is light.
Living contrary to His way of life is to follow Satan and his burden is horribly heavy and his yoke is eternally crushing.
And the very nucleus of all happiness, even the very foundation of all joy is centered in the family, a man and a woman joined together for time and all eternity who with their children and children’s children will secure to themselves the power to become as He/She is and there is no other way. Anything short of this will bring eternal regrets to those who have not accepted this offer of eternal glory.
Divorce is not an option except in the case of abuse in all of its hydra-headed horrors. Any man and any woman who will live the laws of God by marriage and obedience to the covenants there of can have a happy marriage here and eternal felicity here after. Actually three actions followed by both husband and wife, will secure this eternal joy 1. Gentleness, 2. meekness, and 3. love unfeigned.
When my sweetheart died nearly eight years ago on July 13, 2000, I started writing these memos in an effort to prepare our extensive family now numbering over 200 to be prepared to meet her when they pass thru the curtain we call death and enter into that beautiful land named by God as Paradise. Here we wait for the resurrection when our physical bodies come forth out of the ground to rejoin our spirit bodies and thus become immortal souls as our Savior resurrected at Jerusalem three days after his crucifixion. And who was the first person he went to at that awesome moment, a woman named Mary Magdalene. And why her? It should seem obvious to all. Wouldn’t you want to meet your eternal companion first, above all others, when you are resurrected?
Blaspheme cries the world. They who defame marriage by their adulterous living would deny God the very heart of all happiness, an eternal, forever, sweetheart and companion.
There is a collection of 26 books called The Journal of Discourses a record of sermons of the early prophets and apostles. In volume II starting on page about 78 is recorded a sermon by Apostle Orson Hyde on the marriage of Jesus. When he finished, Brigham Young concluded the Semi-annual conference by saying ,“Amen and amen to the splendid discourse of the Saviors marriage, if I had time I could add a great deal more to it.”
But we do not teach it to the world. And only indirectly in the church but refer to it every time we say, Father in Heaven or sing "O My Father” and in so many other ways.
I wish I could sit down with each of you and your children and teach you the fantastic future that lays ahead for every person that enters into the eternal marriage covenant. For the Lord Himself has said. “Then shall they be Gods, because they have no end; therefore shall they be from everlasting to everlasting. Because they continue; then shall they be ABOVE ALL, because all things are subject unto them. Then shall they be Gods, because they have all power, and the angels are subject unto them.
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.
But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall also be.
This is eternal lives ~ to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom He hath sent, I am he, receive ye, therefore my law.” Doctrine and Covenants 132:20-24
I am thinking of that future which is eternal. It is our Heavenly Father’s desire and mine that it be an eternity of happiness for you and it will be if you grasp it.
Grandma appeared to me a few weeks ago dressed in the prettiest dress she ever had, a light blue in color. She appeared to be about 25 years old and beckoned to me to hurry up and get over there. Since then my health has failed rapidly and I’ve become so weak I can only walk a few steps with a cane. I expect by the time you receive this memo (about March 2011) NOTE Dad gave me a couple to insert before he gave me this book of memos so he was right on! I will be with her. If you have only a civil marriage now you can easily change that by going to your Bishop and get his instructions as to how to make it an eternal one.
There are three types of marriage in the world. Two of these are of the world and at the best will only last ‘til one of the couple dies. The third is doing it the Lord’s way and by obedience to the covenants it will last forever. So I will soon be with my wife never to be separated again.
I will briefly describe the three. 1st. And I’m paraphrasing right out of the scriptures so that I might more easily explain. The first and most common marriage throughout the entire world is just to start living together. No matter what kind of promises they make to each other the longest such a marriage can last is ‘til one of them dies. That is the end, they will not meet again as I am going to soon meet your Grandma.
This is the most prevalent type of marriage in the world currently and is called common-law. Sadly only about ten percent of such last even until death.
The 2nd. Type of marriage is arrived at by the couple going to the county recorder’s office and buying a license to marry. It comes in duplicate. They take this to anyone authorized by the state, which includes all religious leaders, Christian and non Christian. A justice of the peace, judges, many attorneys, some sheriffs, captains of ships and others.
The officiator does not need to perform any type of ceremony. All he/she really has to do is get five signatures on the license, present one to the couple and send the others to the recorders office. This is called a civil marriage. The five signers are the couple, the officiator and two witnesses eighteen years old or above. In fact one officiator to see if it would be accepted signed his dogs name, Fido, and it never came back so it must have been accepted. This is called a civil marriage, about fifty percent stay together ‘til death.
I’ve performed many of these in two different countries, several states and for both members and non members. And can do so now although retired but I have turned down any that has asked since then. All these end at death.
The third type of marriage and God’s way. The Church Proclamation of Marriage states:
“We solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God and that family is central to the creators plan for the eternal destiny of his children.”
“If a man marry a wife by my word which is my law and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise by him who is anointed unto whom I have appointed this power and the keys of this priesthood; and it shall be said unto them ~ Ye shall come forth in the first resurrection...and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms and powers. That marriage, if both parties KEEP their covenants is ETERNAL. They will be reunited at the death of the second one to go. I cannot even imagine the future without may darling wife.
I’m having Rose enclose The Family A Proclamation to the World. I have underlined a few lines although it is ALL eternal truth!
My Love always,
Dad, Grandpa Pratt etc.
The Family
A Proclamation to the World
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑Day Saints
We, the First Presidency and the Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints, solemnly proclaim that marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.
All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.
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.
The first commandment that God gave to Adam and Eve pertained to their potential for parenthood as husband and wife. We declare that God’s commandment for His children to multiply and replenish the earth remains in force. We further declare that God has commanded that the sacred powers of procreation are to be employed only between man and woman, lawfully wedded as husband and wife.
We declare the means by which mortal life is created to be divinely appointed. We affirm the sanctity of life and of its importance in God’s eternal plan.
Husband and wife have a solemn responsibility to love and care for each other and for their children. “Children are an heritage of the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). Parents have a sacred duty to rear their children in love and righteousness, to provide for their physical and spiritual needs, and to teach them to love and serve one another, observe the commandments of God, and be law‑abiding citizens wherever they live. Husbands and wives—mothers and fathers—will be held accountable before God for the discharge of these obligations.
The family is ordained of God. Marriage between man and woman is essential to His eternal plan. Children are entitled to birth within the bonds of matrimony, and to be reared by a father and a mother who honor marital vows with complete fidelity. Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. By divine design, fathers are to preside over their families in love and righteousness and are responsible to provide the necessities of life and protection for their families. Mothers are primarily responsible for the nurture of their children. In these sacred responsibilities, fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Disability, death, or other circumstances may necessitate individual adaptation. Extended families should lend support when needed.
We warn that individuals who violate covenants of chastity, who abuse spouse or offspring, or who fail to fulfill family responsibilities will one day stand accountable before God. Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets.
We call upon responsible citizens and officers of government everywhere to promote those measures designed to maintain and strengthen the family as the fundamental unit of society.
This proclamation was read by President Gordon B. Hinckley as part of his message at the General Relief Society Meeting held September 23, 1995, in Salt Lake City, Utah.
You can read many articles about the proclamation at: http://lds.org
They are up lifting and inspire me to do my best to live the three things Dad suggests couples do for a happy marriage.
1. Gentleness, 2. Meekness and 3. Love unfeigned. I know these are Christ like traits.
When I type Dad’s words I remember coming in to see him and how hard he worked to make these happen for us! I miss him immensely! I really appreciate all he did to make these come together for us.
