Talk:Celestial marriage

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Perhaps this article should be merged with "Sealing (Mormonism)". There is significant overlap but different approaches to the subject. At least they ought to be made consistent with one another. --andersonpd 08:28, 29 August 2005 (UTC)

This article needs to be cleaned up quite a bit. The opening paragraph suggests that only The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints performs celestial marriages, but subsequent paragraphs confuse the different usage of the term among different groups. As it stands, it's not very useful and should either be re-written or merged into another article. --NThurston 22:44, 31 May 2006 (UTC)

Contents 1 Celestial marriage historically synonymous with plural marriage 2 Swedenborg 3 Celestial Marriages and Celestial Plural Marriages 4 External Links & Swedenborg

[edit] Celestial marriage historically synonymous with plural marriage

The article states that historically, celestial marriage and plural marriage were synonymous terms. I believe this is accurate, but there are some editors who are intent on changing this. I think to do so they would need to find a pre-1890 source where it is clear that a non-polygamous marriage is being referred to as "celestial marriage". This does not mean just quoting D&C 132 and interpreting it as you please—we need another source.

To illustrate the problem of using D&C 132: one editor in an edit summary said evidence that the terms were not synonymous could be found in that D&C 132 mentions "wife" in the singular. This interpretation totally disregards that the section speaks of marrying this wife in the "new and everlasting covenant", which historically was also understood to mean plural marriage.

Of course, the LDS Church interprets these words differently today, but that's not the point. The point is that historically they were the same. –SESmith 23:14, 26 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Swedenborg

Someone added a paragraph that contradicted the Swedenborg section, and seemed to be written with a very apologetic bias so I removed it. If the author disagrees with the removal, please provide evidence to support your assertion. Descartes1979 05:10, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

For what it's worth, I thought it should be removed too and was about to. –SESmith 05:13, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

As did I, but I didn't remove. The someone was an anonymous editor, User:201.220.15.66. My edits were to remove the "some historians" and other weasel language and pro and con POV language. -Visorstuff 19:06, 6 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Celestial Marriages and Celestial Plural Marriages

It isn't simply that the scripture itself says "a wife" singular is included in the doctrine of celestial marriage. It is the history.

The fact is that sealings for time and eternity (i.e. Celestial marriages) were being performed for monogamous couples long before 1890. The majority of the sealings were between one man and one wife all throughout the Church's history.

The Official History of the Church, Vol. 5, p.134-136:

"...it is borne in mind that at this time the new law of marriage for the Church—marriage for eternity, including plurity of wives under some circumstances—was being introduced by the Prophet, it is very likely that the following article was written with a view of applying the principles here expounded to the conditions created by introducing said marriage system."

Marriage for eternity included plural wives only "some circumstances". Most eternal marriages were not plural. The Doctrine and Covenant's "new and everlasting covenant" referred to eternal marriage as opposed to "till death do us part". I invite anybody to read the section for themselves.

Notice that Lorenzo Snow had to specify that he was referring to Celestial plural marriage instead of just celestial marriage:

"He knew the voice of God—he knew the commandment of the Almighty to him was to go forward—to set the example, and establish Celestial plural marriage. He knew that he had not only his own prejudices and pre-possessions to combat and to overcome, but those of the whole Christian world…; but God…had given the commandment" [The Biography and Family Record of Lorenzo Snow, pp. 69-70 (Salt Lake City, 1884)].

However, if you prefer to keep your bias in the Wiki page rather than my supposed bias, feel free to do so. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Smpf38 (talk • contribs) 17:55, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] External Links & Swedenborg

The link for heaven and hell chapter 40 is not really related to this article neither is the reference. I noticed that Swedenborg stuff has already been removed and I think these are just left overs. It would be better to have a link to an article written by someone in the LDS church. I will remove the two items, and if someone can find reason to put it back be my guest. Redrok84 (talk) 02:56, 10 April 2008 (UTC)

I restored the content and the link - I think it is quite relevant. I could use some help looking up the reference so we can get it sourced, since I don't have a copy of Quinn's book.--Descartes1979 (talk) 19:32, 10 May 2008 (UTC)