This morning as I was on my walk, I noticed a box at the curb with a child's drawing taped inside. Today is garbage and recycling pickup so the box was headed for destruction. It got me thinking about all the childhood "treasure" that are cleaned out on a regular basis by parents who are older and wiser enough to know that we really can't keep everything. Those "treasures" (rock collection, favorite drawings, ticket stubs, posters,etc.) that once meant so much to us will soon be forgotten in the face of more important and longer lasting "treasures".
As a Latter Day Saint, I have access to and a belief in the opportunity to be married for time and all eternity. A civil marriage or one done in a different church is "until death do you part". We even perform these eternal ordinances for the dead that didn't have the opportunity for them while alive. Lest there be any misunderstanding, these ordinances are binding covenants only so long as ALL parties involved keep their covenants. When we sign a legal contract, there are always provisions spelled out for all parties and, if not kept, the contract becomes null and void. God always keeps His word and will never filch on a contract. We, on the other hand, have lots of ways to back out. A temple marriage involves a man, a woman, and God. God will always honor the promises given. The man or the woman has all eternity to back out. All they have to do is refuse to keep the Lord's commandments and/or decide not to treasure their spouse anymore. At that point, the covenant is broken. But God is never the one who breaks it- WE are.
The same is true for children sealed to parents. If any one of the children chooses to break their covenant with God and their parents, they will be released. If the child does their best to maintain all provisions spelled out in the contract, they will still be connected to God and to one or both of their parents, depending on the actions of the parents. The only way we can have family connections for time and all eternity is if and when we choose to keep our covenants with God, who is the only one with authority to determine if the contract is still valid. He would prefer that to always be the case but has authorized each of His children to choose for themselves. He won't force anyone to stay with Him. "God will force no man to heaven."
As a side line, it can be sad to think about someone you love who does not want to make and keep the covenant along with you. It's hard to think of "losing" someone who has chosen to spend eternity elsewhere. However, God will not allow any unclean thing to enter His presence. It's not that He's cruelly limiting, it's that He's merciful in knowing how difficult it is for someone to live with laws they don't like with people who want a different lifestyle. What He has promised is that we will have joy beyond anything we can understand as mortals. Right now, the people in my family are people I love a lot and want to be able to be with them. But, if they choose something different from what I choose, it would only mean eternal conflict and I certainly wouldn't look forward to that. Loving someone who is difficult and contentious is endless torment. If I want peace, love, and unity, it won't work to try to stay with someone who is rebellious and proud and grumpy. So there will be much greater joy without them than with them. The same is true in the other direction, of course. I need to strive to be the kind of person with whom I want to spend eternity. The Lord has prepared many mansions (or kingdoms) and He will allow us to inhabit, for eternity, whichever one we choose. So no one is ever stuck with anything but what they choose to be stuck with.
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