The Marriage Covenant
"MARRIAGE BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN IS ORDAINED OF GOD...SACRED ORDINANCES AND COVENANTS AVAILABLE IN HOLY TEMPLES MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR INDIVIDUALS TO RETURN TO THE PRESENCE OF GOD AND FOR FAMILIES TO BE UNITED ETERNALLY"
(The Church, 1995).
The Covenant Relationship
"...Marriage is a purposeful, divinely created relationship, not merely a social custom...Couples have [a] God-given covenant obligation to one another" (Duncan, 2012). "The Lord Jesus Christ is a focal point in a covenant marriage relationship. The Savior is positioned at the apex of this triangle, with a woman at the base of one corner and a man at the base of the other corner. Now consider what happens in the relationship between the man and the woman as they individually and steadily 'come unto Christ' and strive to be 'perfected in Him' (Moroni 10:32). Because of and through the Redeemer, the man and woman come closer together" (Bednar, 2006).
References
Bednar, David A. (2006). Marriage is Essential To His Eternal Plan. Liahona, June.
Duncan, S., & Zasukha, S. (2012). Foundational Processes for An Enduring, Healthy Marriage. In A. Hawkins (Ed.), Successful marriages and families: Proclamation principles and
research perspectives (p. 28). Provo, UT: BYU Studies and School of Family Life, Brigham Young University.
Faust, James E. (1998) Search Me, Oh God, and Know My Heart. Ensign, May.
Hafen, Bruce C. (2005). Covenant hearts: Marriage and the joy of human love. Salt Lake City: Desert Book.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (2015). Marriages Made in Heaven. retrieved from www.mormon.org/values/family.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. (1995). The Family: A Proclamation to the World. Ensign, November, 102.
An Eternal Promise
"A temple marriage doesn’t include phrases like, 'Till death do you part' or 'So long as you both shall live. When a man and woman enters one of our holy temples to be married, they covenant (or promise) they will stay together forever—on earth and in heaven after they die" and "honor marital vows with complete fidelity" (The Church, 1995). The blessing of spending eternity together depends on "if they are faithful to each other and their promises to the Lord. If we keep these promises, our children also become part of this heavenly promise—sealed to us forever" (The Church, 2015).
Contract Versus Covenant
"When troubles come, the parties to a contractual marriage seek happiness by walking away. They marry to obtain benefits and will stay only as long as they're receiving what they bargained for. But when troubles come to a covenant marriage, the husband and wife work them through. They marry to give and to grow, bound by covenants to each other, to the community, and to God. Contract companions each give 50 percent. But covenant companions each give 100 percent. Enough and to spare. Each gives enough to cover any shortfall by the other" (Hafen, 2005).
“Many covenants are indispensable to happiness here and hereafter. Among the most important are the marriage covenants made between husband and wife. From these covenants flow the greatest joys of life” (Faust, 1998).