What is the Purpose of Marriage?

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Are you already married?  If not, do you want to be married one day?  Why?!  Seriously.  What for? And don't say, "the tax breaks." Let's think beyond culture and politics.  (Pause and think of an intelligent answer on your own.) 

IF, in fact, there is NO significant reason why a man and woman should join in marriage other than because it is a social more, then I would argue that all moral arguments involving the definition of marriage and family are moot.  (e.g. Gay-marriage advocates would be completely justified in thinking that the world is insane for thinking that a marriage between two men or two women, respectively, is any different than a traditional, bi-gender marriage.)

But, what if there IS a fundamental for why men and women of almost every culture on Earth have historically been drawn together to form families?  Biology is one reasonable solution for why this is--all living creatures feel the need to continue their genetics over the generations.  But then, why is our biology that way? If you keep asking "why" for long enough you'll arrive at one of two conclusions.  Either it was by chance or by divine design.

I believe the later--that marriage is more than a social institution or custom, driven by DNA--marriage a God-given, eternal covenant (a promise) between a man, a woman and our Father in Heaven. And it has been taught and practiced in holy temples since the first man and woman.

Let's get high-level for a moment.  Most people I've talked with agree with my belief that every human on this planet is a spirit son or daughter of God. (Why? They don't know, they just do.) (Now get ready for this next idea, 'cause it blew my mind when I first heard it put this way back in 1995.)  Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose.  In other words, we were male and female long before we took upon ourselves these mortal shells.  We are all here to work toward achieving a single objective. . .and that is to become like God, our Father, who has an exalted body and family of his own.  To that end, Father has prepared a plan for his children to form families that can be sealed eternally here in mortality in sacred places called temples.  (And, yes, God's plan includes those who may not have had the full opportunity to receive those eternal ordinances in this life.)

If you want to learn a bit more about why families are meant to be eternal, check out this official document on God's purpose for families.