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False Gods and Temple Marriage
In Deuteronomy, Israel was ready to enter into the land of promise. Now it was time for them to live in the world and prove their obedience. The Lord commanded them to follow his “statutes and judgements” (Deuteronomy 4:1). Statues and judgements are referring to Gods’ law, or more specifically, the Ten Commandments. The Israelites are promised prosperity in the land if they keep the commandments of the Lord. They will also have “wisdom and understanding” (Deuteronomy 4:6). The word of the Lord is what brings people to conversion. That coupled with confirmation from the Holy Ghost. Without Gods’ law, no man will have the ability to become converted. The Lord also wanted Israel to know the commandments so that they could teach their children. A parent’s responsibility is to teach their children the laws of God, and to follow them. If a parent neglects that responsibility, then the sins of that child will also fall onto the parent.
While the Israelites were preparing to enter into the Promised Land, the Lord commanded His people to love him. The Lord commanded the Israelites to “love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). They were also commanded to teach their children the commandments of God. They were to “bind [the commandments] for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be a as frontlets between thine eyes” (Deuteronomy 6:8). They were also commanded to write the law “upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates” Deuteronomy 6:9). The Israelites were commanded to keep the commandments close to them, so that they will always know them, especially the greatest commandment to “love the Lord thy God.” Later in history, the Jews established a custom called “phylacteries and mezuzah”. The phylacteries custom included writing down the scriptural passage of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 onto small pieced of parchment. The parchment was folded up and placed into a one and a half inch square leather box. These boxes were then secured over the forehead, or on the left bicep. This custom proved their devotion to the Lord with full heart and mind. Another parchment was inscribed in the same manner and placed into a tiny cylindrical box. This box was placed to the door frame of their homes. As a person would enter or exit their home, they would touch or kiss the box. This custom was called mezuzah. Both customs were to show their devotion to the Lord and his commandments.
During this time, the Israelites were also reminded to worship only the Lord, and not the gods of the Canaanites. They were commanded to “overthrow their altars and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and [they] shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place” (Deuteronomy 12:3). The Israelites were a young and impressionable nation. While this made them easy to teach the will of the Lord, they were also easily swayed away from the true gospel. The Lord required them to remove all temptation to worship false gods, so that they could remain faithful to Him. It is through Heavenly Fathers plan that true happiness comes. That is why the Lord felt strongly about idol worship. Today idol worship doesn’t look like a golden calf that we bow down too. Today, idolatry exists whenever the things of the world are put before the things of the Lord. If a person chooses to play a game, or watch a show instead of taking the time to study the scriptures, that is idolatry. Anything that is used as a replacement of worship can be considered idol worship. A person can avoid these pitfall by putting the Lord before all that we do. When scripture study, temple worship and Sunday worship is put before entertainment, that person has enriched his or her life. By putting the Lord first a person proves the devotion felt towards the Lord.
The Israelites were so impressionable that the Lord restricted marriage outside of the covenant. If the Israelites were allowed to marry those of a different faith, they would be more easily swayed to believe. By marrying those who believe the same, helped the Israelites remain true to their covenants with the Lord. Families are central to the plan of our Heavenly Father. Once the Israelites began marrying others outside of the covenant that was when idol worship began again. They were influenced by their spouses to worship other gods and idols.
One of the most important benefits of marrying in the covenant is families being sealed together for time and eternity. I married my husband in the Cardston, Alberta temple in October 2002. Being together twelve years has had its ups and down. Knowing that our relationship was set up to last forever, has helped me hold on it when times got hard. Having an eternal family has given me comfort during hard times, especially when I was fighting cancer. I took comfort in know that even if I died, I would be with my family again.
I got married in the temple because I wanted to not only be sealed with my family forever, but to also reach the highest degree of glory in Heaven. By marrying in the covenant, I qualify myself and my family for exultation: to live forever with God, and with eternal increase. I will be able to continue to have children. Satan wants us to forget this truth, because he knows the joy we will feel in that place. Misery wants company, and Satan is the father of misery.
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