I'm told that according to Mormon doctrine, a Mormon woman has to be granted entry into heaven by her Mormon husband. Assuming my impression is correct, what would happen if the husband turned from Mormonism and then died? Would the wife need to quickly remarry a Mormon before she died in order to get to heaven?
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Somewhat related: What does the LDS Church teach about marriage in the afterlife?– Ryan FrameJun 22, 2013 at 1:30
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I really think that for answers on LDS doctrine we must go to the official LDS theology site. This requires that the answerer has a membership ID, otherwise you will get quotations from material written for "gentiles."– WaeshaelJun 22, 2013 at 1:50
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1@Waeshael: What site are you referring to? The only places I've seen on official LDS sites that require you to be logged in with a Church membership identification involve membership records or other "personal profile" level information, (the sort of thing any site would want to protect behind a login,) not doctrine.– Mason Wheeler ♦Jun 22, 2013 at 2:55
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It's a bit like the NT. You can read about the activity of Jesus, but the description of his training methods (how to baptize, raise the dead, heal lepers, make the blind see, the lame walk etc.) was not released to the public, but was retained by the Bishops in church archives. Unless you were a Priest in those days, you wouldn't be told what to do.– WaeshaelJun 22, 2013 at 7:28
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Regarding the LDS web site after login. It forbids copying any of the data to another site. It allows only personal use of the material.– WaeshaelJun 22, 2013 at 7:34
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2 Answers
Perhaps some things should be clarified a bit here first.
First part of your question:
I'm told that according to Mormon doctrine, a Mormon woman has to be granted entry into heaven by her Mormon husband. Assuming my impression is correct, ...
Not really.
Unmarried women can certainly get to heaven -- and depending on what you mean by "heaven," they don't even have to be Mormon. Remember, Mormons believe what Paul teaches about the three degrees of glory in 1 Corinthians more literally than most Christians, in that there are three main kingdoms, all of which are called "heaven."
Unmarried men and women can even obtain the highest kingdom. However, in the Doctrine and Covenants, section 131, more is revealed about this state (the celestial glory):
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
To obtain this highest glory is called exaltation. It is living like God does, being as He is.
Eternal marriage (also called a sealing), faithfully kept by both individuals, happens to be that final requirement.
I suppose then, that what you mean by "going to heaven" is actually exaltation.
So, on to the next part of your question:
... what would happen if the husband turned from Mormonism and then died?
He would face the consequences in the hereafter on his own. It's not even so much about turning from "Mormonism" at that point, but rather about breaking your covenants made in the temple, to God and to your wife, for which he would need to repent.
Would the wife need to quickly remarry a Mormon before she died in order to get to heaven?
No. Again, assuming you mean, "in order to obtain exaltation": LDS members are taught and reminded (a few sources below) that all who are faithful here will have everything and more made up after this life, and all who do not have the opportunity to be eternally married here will be able to be sealed to a faithful husband there, if that be their desire.
The eternal nature of covenants performed in the LDS temples means that whether they are made in this life or the next, they are in effect for eternity (cf. parable of the laborers in the vineyard).
Sources and further reading:
Gospel Principles, Chapter 38: Eternal Marriage "all Heavenly Father’s children who are faithful to their covenants in this life will have the opportunity to receive all the blessings of the gospel in the eternities, including the opportunity to have an eternal family."
The Eternal Blessings of Marriage (a recent General Conference address) "All things are possible to the Lord, and He keeps the promises He inspires His prophets to declare. Eternity is a long time. Have faith in those promises and live to be worthy of them so that in His time the Lord can make them come true in your life. With certainty, you will receive every promised blessing for which you are worthy."
To the Single Adult Sisters of the Church "I also recognize that not all women in the Church will have an opportunity for marriage and motherhood in mortality. But if those of you in this situation are worthy and endure faithfully, you can be assured of all blessings from a kind and loving Heavenly Father—and I emphasize all blessings. I assure you that if you have to wait even until the next life to be blessed with a choice companion, God will surely compensate you. Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind."
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3This is a good answer, but I want to add one clarification. During a temple marriage (a sealing) the husband and wife each make a commitment to God to honor the marriage, rather than to each other. If one person in the marriage decides to leave the faith, that does not automatically cancel the sealing covenant. The belief is that if the other spouse remains true to the covenant, it will be honored by God in His own way. Many people find their temple promises strengthen their marriage even when one spouse leaves the faith.– resplinJul 3, 2014 at 5:08
Simple answer: Every worthy person will inherit all blessings they qualify for, regardless of any other person (parent, spouse, children, ancestor, etc.) The seeming confusion may come from the statement that the highest level of heaven is for married couples, which means that neither a man nor a woman can live there without the other. But, a person dying without being married is not hopeless, because there is the age of the Millennium in which a person could also get married. After that, God will have ways to bless anyone who desires to be married, and not keep her/him from that blessing. Otherwise the system would be incomplete, and it's not (even if we can't see it all).
