Insert: “Royalty and Temple Marriage” talk given by Elder Royden G. Derrick, Seattle Temple President, June 1, 1986
ROYALTY AND TEMPLE MARRIAGE
Nearly everyone, if not all, has read the beautiful story of Cinderella. It has kindled dreams and aspirations in the hearts and minds of little girls that have smoldered through adolescence. Nearly every young lady has dreamed of marrying a prince, but have placed doing so beyond the realms of reality.
The Apostle Peter, writing to the saints of his day who held the Melchizedek Priesthood, addressed them as “a royal priesthood” (1 Peter 2:9). Why would he make such a salutation? The most clarifying attribute of royalty is the blood line. “In general, the Lord sends to earth in the lineage of Jacob those spirits who in pre-existence developed an especial talent for spirituality and for recognizing truth. Those born in this lineage (have) the blood of Israel in their veins and (find) it easy to accept the gospel… Since much of Israel has been scattered among the gentile nations, it follows that millions of people have mixed blood, blood that is part Israel and part gentile. The more of the blood of Israel that an individual has, the easier it is for him to believe the message of salvation as taught by the authorized agents of the Lord. This principle the Lord had in mind when he said to certain Jews: ‘ I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine… But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.’” (John 10:14, 26-27; Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 81)
The royal line of Israel is through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Nevertheless, one can enjoy all the promises and special blessings the Lord has given to the children of Israel through the law of adoption. Those who received the gospel and obey the principles of the gospel, regardless of their blood line are adopted into the lineage of Abraham (Abr. 2:9-11). “The effect of the Holy Ghost upon a gentile is to purge out the old blood, and make him actually the seed of Abraham” (Teachings, pp 149-150). In the oath and covenant of the priesthood we learn that those who magnify their callings in the Melchizedek Priesthood are “sanctified by the spirit unto the renewing of their bodies. They become the … seed of Abraham” (D&C 84:33-34). Therefore, all the promises that have been given to Abraham and his posterity are given to them, predicated upon their righteousness, as though they had been of the actual blood lineage of Abraham.
Royalty connotes that there is a king and a kingdom. In temple marriages Heavenly Father is the king. The kingdom of heaven. The groom is the prince and the bride is the princess. The prince inherits his father’s kingdom. “Therefore all that (his) Father hath shall be given unto him, “ the Savior promised (D&C 84:38). The princess shares the kingdom, for “man is not without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord.”
In the sealing room of the temple a beautiful princess kneels on one side of the altar and a handsome prince on the other. He who is authorized seals the couple in holy matrimony, not until death do they part, but for time and for all eternity, for he holds the authority to bind in heaven that which is bound on earth. This is the same authority to which the Savior referred when he said to Peter, “I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of Heaven: And whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth will be bound in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19) these same keys were given by Elijah the prohphet to the Prophet Joseph Smith in the Kirtland Temple on April 3, 1836 and the sealing authority has been given to others for this purpose. Thus haing satisfied civil and eternal law a new family begins in mortality to be extended into the eternities based upon their remaining faithful to the covenants they received in the temple. The two are welded together in the bond of holy matrimony and share together all the promises and blessings extended through the oath and covenant of the Melchizedek Priesthood. It now behooves the young prince to build his wife into a beautiful queen and the princess to build her husband into a great king. Her childhood fantasy of Prince Charming thus becomes reality – which is only a beginning.
Insert: Poem (author unknown), handwritten caption on side of poem: I have treasured and drawn strength from this Poem so many times. Hope it does the same for you –
EDUCATION WEEK PROGRAMS
Jaynann M. Payne, Instructor
A Solitary Way
There is a mystery in human hearts.
And though we be encircled by a host
Of those who love us well, and are beloved,
To every one of us, from time to time,
There comes a sense of utter loneliness.
Our dearest friend is “stranger” to out joy
And cannot realize our bitterness:
“There is not one who really understands,
Not one to enter into all I feel”;
Such is the cry of each of us in turn,
We wander in a solitary way.
No matter what or where our lot may be;
Each heart, mysterious even to itself,
Must live its inner life in solitude.
And would you know the reason why this is?
It is because the Lord desires our love.
In every heart He wishes to be first.
He therefore keeps the secret key Himself,
With perfect sympathy and holy peace
Each solitary soul which comes to Him.
So when we feel this loneliness it is
The voice of Jesus saying, “Come to Me.”
It is a call to us to come again.
For Christ alone can satisfy the soul.
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have a solitary way.
And when beneath some heavy cross you faint,
And say, “I cannot bear this load alone,”
You say the truth, Christ made it purposely
So heavy that you must return to Hi.
The bitter grief, which “no one understands,”
Conveys a secret message from the King,
Entreating you to come to Him again.
The Man of Sorrows understands it well
In all pints tempted He can feel with you.
You cannot come too often, or too near,
The Son of God is infinite in grace.
His presence satisfies the longing soul.
And those who walk with Him from day to day
Can never have a solitary way.
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