Section 130-132

Choice #1 (section 132): “That which is wrong under one circumstance may be and often is, right under another. … This is the principle on which the government of heaven is conducted—by revelation adapted to the circumstances in which the children of the kingdom are placed. Whatever God requires is right, no matter what it is, although we may not see the reason thereof till long after the events transpire” (Teachings of the Prophets Joseph Smith, p. 256). Read the Historical Background in the student manual for Section 132. Then write a sentence or two to explain why Doctrine and Covenants 132:1–33 are more relevant for us today than the remaining verses in the section. The first part of section 132 applies more to us today because we are commanded to marry and take part of the covenant of celestial marriage. Since the church no longer participates in plural marriage we don’t really need to worry about the second half of this section. It is just a good record to have about why polygamy once was. Activity 1. Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:1–6. Also read the student manual commentary for “Doctrine and Covenants 132:3–6. ‘ If Ye Abide Not That Covenant, Then Are Ye Damned’” (p. 327), and for “Doctrine and Covenants 132:4. Will Those Who Do Not Have the Opportunity to Marry in This Life Be Damned?” (p. 328). Then write responses to the following: • What is the meaning of the “new and everlasting covenant”? The meaning of the new and everlasting covenant is marriage. Celestial marriage. Where a man and a woman are sealed together for all eternity. • Explain in a few sentences why those who this law must abide by it to progress eternally. The scriptures have taught us that we are not able to get to the highest degree of celestial glory without taking part in the celestial covenant of marriage. Not only do we have to be married in the temple but we must also always remember our covenants that we have made and we must be careful not to sin. Once we are married the second step to progressing eternally is building the marriage and living righteously. • How can an individual who does not have the opportunity to marry in mortality claim the blessings of “the new and everlasting covenant”? Those who are not married while they are here on earth they will be given the chance to find an eternal companion during the millennium. The Lord understands that there are circumstances in which one has tried hard to get married but it just doesn’t happen to them. He has allowed them to have a second chance of partaking part in the new and everlasting covenant. Activity 2. Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:7–14 and the student manual commentary for “Doctrine and Covenants 132:7. What Does It Mean to Be ‘Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise’?” (pp. 328–29). Write a paragraph that explains what the Holy Spirit of Promise has to do with marriage and every ordinance in the Church. In your paragraph, also explain what a married couple would need to do to have their marriage “sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise.” The Holy Spirit of promise has a lot to do with marriage. It cannot seal a covenant that is not right. Therefor when a couple gets married it is sealed the Holy Spirit. A couple wanting to get married need to pray and make sure what they are doing is right and they can do that by having the spirit tell them that they are supposed to be together. The main way of knowing this is by asking in prayer and being righteous and paying attention to the commandments of God. The Holy Spirit of Promise makes sure that in order to a covenant to be sealed the participants must be worthy. Activity 4. Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–25 and the student manual commentary for “Doctrine and Covenants 132:19–22. How Does an Individual Obtain a Fullness of God’s Glory?” (pp. 329–30). Then write a paragraph that explains in your own words the eternal possibilities that await those who righteously enter into and live according to the “new and everlasting covenant” of eternal marriage. Being sealed in the temple is only a small part of the new and everlasting covenants. As a couple they must be willing to work hard to get their marriage seal by the Holy Spirit of Promise. In order to do this they must be willing to follow the commandments of God and help build each other up. If couples that are married in the temple do all they can to be good and come closer to God they have a chance to live together for eternity and they have the chance to become gods of their own worlds. Being able to live and rule with the one you love would be the best blessing in the world. Striving to do good to be able to that should help motivate all couples to do well. Activity 5. Read Doctrine and Covenants 132:26–27 and the corresponding entry in the student manual commentary, “Does Marriage in the Temple Assure One of Exaltation, No Matter How One Lives?” (pp. 330–31). Then respond in writing to the following: • Explain how an individual who is keeping his or her temple covenants would feel a greater desire to repent, rather than thinking that the sealing covenant excuses him or her from repentance. Those that cherish the covenants they have made know what can be waiting for them in the eternities. If they remember the covenants they made with the Lord they want to do the best they can to make it back to His presence. They will want to repent so they can stand unashamed before God. Those who don’t remember or cherish their temple covenants they tend to think that they did their part by getting married. I kind of think of it as baptisms in other religions. They believe that once you are baptized you are saved and you don’t have work on being righteous. Some think the same of marriage. Oh I got married so I am going to the celestial kingdom. But that is not the case we still have to strive to make our covenants and be the best we can in order to receive the blessing we are promised. • How can these verses provide encouragement to us when we make mistakes, even after having entered into sacred covenants? The Lord loves every one of us. He wants us to be able to come back into his promise. The lord just doesn’t believe in second chances but he believes as in as many chances we need in order to get it right and be what he wants us to be. Knowing that if we truly repent it is forgotten is an amazing thing. We know we are not doomed if we make a mistake. We just have to be willing to fix what we did wrong.