Week Nine: Temporal Marriage and the Resurrection

The Sadducees did not believe in angels or spirits, and therefore did not believe in a resurrection, which is the reuniting of body and spirit. Since they did not believe in the resurrection, their question to the Savior about marriage and the resurrection was not asked in sincerity; more likely, it was to try and trip the Savior up and catch Him in His words. Contrary to some denominations' belief, Matthew 22:30 never says that marriage will not exist after the resurrection. Instead, it says that "they neither marry, nor are given in marriage," which literally means that there will not be any marriage ceremonies performed. This is a big difference from the common interpretation:  the first means that no one will be married, while the second one means that only marriages performed on Earth will exist, as no marriages will be performed after the resurrection. Elder James E. Talmage says, "In the resurrection there will be no marrying nor giving in marriage; for all questions of marital status must be settled before that time, under the authority of the Holy Priesthood, which holds the power to seal in marriage for both time and eternity." Doctrine and Covenants 132:15-16 give a little more insight on Christ's teaching to the Sadducees:  "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. 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." These two verses clarify that Christ was telling the Sadducees that marriage is an earthly ordinance, and that only Eternal marriage is recognized in the next life.