When it comes to binding a man and a woman together in an Eternal covenant, “marriage” between a man and a woman is really worthless. The requirement for a man and a woman to be “licensed” to marry does not effect the outcome of God’s requirement to seal a couple for eternity. Civil government’s power/authority to create a lasting marriage union is limited to its perceived power to control and enforce by fee and penalty a legal contract between two entities. Death supercedes government contracts.
The real binding between a man and woman takes place when the Holy Spirit of Promise validates the Priesthood authorized action of one who has deligated rights and powers. God’s power to bind on earth and bind in heaven, supercedes earthly government’s circumstantial voracious need to control everything.
There are three “types” of “marriage.” Doctrine and Covenants Section 132 describes each:
MARRIAGE IN THE WORLD FOR TIME | Til death do us part
15 Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world.
16 Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory.
17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.
MARRIAGE IN THE WORLD FOR “ETERNITY” WITHOUT PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY | Forever and ever…
18 And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, and make a covenant with her for time and for all eternity, if that covenant is not by me or by my word, which is my law, and is not sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, through him whom I have anointed and appointed unto this power, then it is not valid neither of force when they are out of the world, because they are not joined by me, saith the Lord, neither by my word; when they are out of the world it cannot be received there, because the angels and the gods are appointed there, by whom they cannot pass; they cannot, therefore, inherit my glory; for my house is a house of order, saith the Lord God.
MARRIAGE (SEALING) FOR TIME & ETERNITY BY PRIESTHOOD AUTHORITY | Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise
19 And again, verily I say unto you, 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 if it be after the first resurrection, in the next resurrection; and shall inherit thrones, kingdoms, principalities, and powers, dominions, all heights and depths—then shall it be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, that he shall commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, and if ye abide in my covenant, and commit no murder whereby to shed innocent blood, it shall be done unto them in all things whatsoever my servant hath put upon them, in time, and through all eternity; and shall be of full force when they are out of the world; and they shall pass by the angels, and the gods, which are set there, to their exaltation and glory in all things, as hath been sealed upon their heads, which glory shall be a fulness and a continuation of the seeds forever and ever.
20 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.
21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye abide my law ye cannot attain to this glory.
The definative reason for joining two people by covenant, then, is for the purpose of Creation. There is a biological function to the Plan. And, without that biology, the purpose for an Eternal Life is mitigated.
We further learn in THE FAMILY: A Proclaimation to the World, that “gender (aka sex) is an essential characteristic in individual, pre-mortal, mortal and eternal identity and purpose.” That purpose: perpetual procreation.
The promises of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Israel). Progeny as great as the sands of the sea, as numerous as the stars in the heavens.
