When the Pharisees came to Jesus to ask Him questions about marriage law, Jesus chose to answer them by going back to the beginning—the creation of the world:
“But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh” (Matt 19:4-6)
Why would Jesus start at the beginning—at the creation of the world—to teach about marriage and family?
President Nelson provides powerful answers: “Grand as it is, planet Earth is part of something even grander—that great plan of God. Simply summarized, the earth was created that families might be” and “The earth was created and this Church was restored so that families could be formed, sealed, and exalted eternally.”
Planned.
Created.
Formed.
Sealed.
Exalted.
Ordained.
This principle of creation is echoed by apostles and prophets in “The Family: A Proclamation to the World.” In the very beginning of the proclamation, they solemnly proclaim that “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and that the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children.”
Simply put, marriage and family is God’s plan of happiness for His children because it is:
ROOTED in creation (patterned by Heavenly Father + Heavenly Mother, Adam + Eve)
REITERATED throughout scripture
REPEATED by Jesus and His prophets and apostles (both ancient and modern)
REPRESENTED by Christ and the Church (Bride + Bridegroom)
REINFORCED in every temple ordinance
And, as President Nelson taught, “The proclamation on the family helps us realize that celestial marriage brings greater possibilities for happiness than does any other relationship.”