A pamphlet entitled, "A Public Discussion, between J. Taylor and C. W. Cleeve, J. Robertson and P. Cater."
"Joseph Smith's Prophetic Calling," Mil. Star, Vol. 42, pages 164, 187, 195, 227.
Epistle of D. W. Patten, History of J. Smith, July 31, 1838.
O. Spencer's Letters to Rev. Wm. Crowel, No. 1.
MARRIAGE—A DIVINE INSTITUTION, AND DESIGNED TO BE ETERNAL.
Marriage is ordained of God unto man, that the earth might answer the end of its creation, and "Be filled with the measure of man, according to his creation before the world was made;" Doc. & Cov. 49. 15-17.
Outside of marriage the salvation of man would be incomplete: "Neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord;" 1 Cor. 11. 11. All the works of God receive the impress of eternity: "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be forever: nothing can be put to it, nor anything taken from it;" Eccl. 3. 14.
When the Creator joined Adam and Eve together, as the progenitors of the human race, we do not learn that he set any limit to the continuance of their marriage relations. We have no reason to doubt that the gift of Eve, to Adam, was designed to be as eternal as himself.
Man, in his fulness, is a twofold organization—male and female. Either being incapable of filling the measure of their creation alone, it requires the union of the two to complete man in the image of God, for in Gen. 1. 27, it expressly says, that he was created male and female in the image of God. Therefore, without the proper union of the sexes, man would be less than what God created him.