How One Word Can Make All The Difference

I have a tendency to become verbose when I write, but I can be more concise when I speak. Here I will attempt to be succinct.

Latter-day Saints (Mormons) believe that a man and woman should get married in an LDS Temple, not till death do them part, but "for all time and all eternity". We LDS often use a simple phase to convey this idea: "Families can be together forever."

However, sharing this particular belief with our fellow Christians often invites the following question:

Where in The Bible does it say that people are commanded to get married (sealed) in temples for all time and all eternity?

Well, surprise-surprise, there is no explicit statement in the form of "Thou shalt marry in the temple for all eternity" in The Bible or in any other LDS book of scripture. To be sure, the doctrine is clear in a revelation given to Joseph Smith:

... All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise...are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead. (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132:7)

And again, verily I say unto you, if a man marry a wife, by my word, which is my law, and by the new and everlasting covenant, and it is sealed unto them by the Holy Spirit of promise... [it] shall be in full force when they are out of the world...(Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132:19)

But is it true that the doctrine of "eternal families" and "temple marriage" is not in The Bible?

Let's look at what The Bible says about marriage. As it turns out, there is a single Biblical commandment on marriage, and it is found in Genesis, chapter 2:24:

Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.

As it turns out, the full application of this verse hinges on a single word, "therefore". In English "therefore" means 'for that reason, consequently'. However, the Hebrew phrase that is translated "therefore" is "'al kehn", literally 'on(to) like-that'. This conjunction can be understood well enough as "therefore", in the sense of 'consequently' and "wherefore" 'as a result of which', but also "like so" or "like that".

So is the only Biblical command to marry (not counting marriages under very specific and unseemly circumstances per the Law of Moses) stating that mankind should marry simply as a consequence of Adam and Eve's marriage, or is the passage in question, Genesis 2:24, stating that "like so" or "like that" should mankind marry?

If we consider the valid translation of "like so" or "like that", either of which conveys the sense of 'that is how', let us consider the marriage of Adam and Eve.

1. Genesis 2:8   The Lord God places Adam in the Garden of Eden.
2. Genesis 2:19  When the Lord God declares that "it is not good that the man should be alone", the Lord God brings animals to Adam and tests him on their names. Adam passes, which is perhaps a demonstration of his readiness to assume stewardship.
3. Genesis 2:22  The Lord God, having formed Eve, brings her to Adam in the Garden of Eden.
4. Genesis 2:24  In the Garden of Eden the declaration is made: "Like that shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

The Garden of Eden was the first temple, and all subsequent temples were symbolic of it. Consider the following comparison of the Garden of Eden to the Hebrew Tabernacle and Temple (per http://www.spiritandtruth.org/teaching/Book_of_Revelation/commentary/htm/04160501.htm):

1. Garden of Eden and Tabernacle both have doors that open to the East. 
2. Cherubim guarded (restricted not prohibited) entry into the Garden of Eden, and veils with representations of Cherubim marked the entry to the Tabernacle.
3. Cherubim had a "flaming sword" and in the Tabernacle an altar with a fire on it was found after the veil.
4. A river flowed from Eden (presumably for washing), and the Temple had a bronze laver filled with water, for washing.
5. Since the river flowed from Eden it may be presumed that Eden was elevated, and the Temple is referred to as "the mountain of the Lord's House". The Temple in Jerusalem was on a mount.
6. The Tree of Life stood in the center of Eden, and in the Holy of Holies the Testimony of the Law of Moses, their "life" (Deuteronomy 32:46-47) was stored in the Ark of the Covenant.

Also consider the following facts:

1. When the Lord God married Adam and Eve there was no death in the world, so presumably their marriage, performed in the Garden of Eden, by God, by His authority, was indefinite or eternal.
2. After both Adam and Eve transgressed and both sin and death entered into the world, at no time did God rescind their marriage or impose a "till death do you part" clause as a consequence of the Fall. 
3. Instead God let stand the original statement, "Like that shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh."

So it is true, there is no Biblical commandment in the form of "Thou shalt marry in the Temple for all time and all eternity", but the only marriage proscribed by God for all His children is (a) between a man and a woman, (b) in the Temple, (c) by His authority, and (d) for all time and eternity.

One note: Just as in their mortal life not all have the opportunity to hear the message of the Restored Gospel, not all have the opportunity to marry. Some people pass away young, others have physical and/or mental impediments, some for a variety of reasons are not ready for or able to undertake the responsibility. One group of our brethren are homosexual and, facing the grave and stark decision to pursue family and love outside of God's proscriptions or celibacy inside God's proscriptions, choose the latter. Especially among our brethren who came of age before both the Church and society understood homosexuality better, these our brethren find themselves married, but unable to continue the pretense of heterosexuality. My heart goes out to my fellow Gays in and out of the Church, and I will make every effort to apply the balm of God's mercy, as He has done, for all, for to acknowledge their challenges is to shoulder their burden. Brotherhood does not mean that we have an answer for every challenge, but by standing shoulder to shoulder with our brethren, even burdens we cannot comprehend seem lighter to them. Especially in this day and age (we are all aware of the issues), when my brethren take a moment to ask how I feel, simply because circumstances can create in me the sense of marginalization, I feel included, not alienated. Gosh darn it, caring concern from another strengthens me. I just wanted to share this last note in the hope that we always remember that "All are alike unto God", and that Jesus came to gather all people to Him. The Lord hasten that great day.