Dear Gramps,

I am teaching a RS lesson on mothers and have found a lot of good material but feel that I must address those sisters who may not have children or be able to have children. I know that if they are faithful they will have the chance to have children in the hereafter. Could you tell me what prophet might have given that information. Thank you.

Linda, from Utah

Dear Linda,

There is much concerning the future that has not been revealed to us. Your quiery seems to ask the question, “Can resurrected beings bear mortal children during the Millennium?” First, let’s answer another question. Will mortal beings live during the Millennium and can they there have children? The answer to this question is a resounding “Yes!” A mortal strain will live during the thousand years of the Millennium. Those living at the beginning of the Millennium, who are not so wicked as to be destroyed at that time, will continue to live in mortality, bear and raise their children, who will grow up, marry, have their families, grow old and then go through the process similar to death where they will change from mortality to immortality “in the twinkling of an eye.”

It may be concluded that single sisters who pass into the Millennium as mortals will have the opportunity there to marry there and bear children. However, what about those who die single, are resurrected and live as immortal beings during the Millennium? The Prophet Joseph Smith is reported to have made the following significant statement with respect to children born during the Millennium of mortals and of immortals–

In a discourse given 16 July 1843, the Prophet made plainer his reason for quoting John 3:6. Joseph Smith said, “[That] the earthly is the image of the Heavenly shows that [it] is by the multiplication of Lives that the eternal worlds are created and occupied [for] that which is born of flesh is flesh that which is born of spirit is spirit” (Franklin D. Richards account of 16 July 1843 (2) discourse). Joseph had previously taught that resurrected beings will have “spirit in their [veins] & not blood” (Wilford Woodruff account of 20 March 1842 discourse). The implication is that if your body is not resurrected, your children will be born flesh and bones, but that if your body is resurrected and has spirit in its veins your children will be spirits (Ehat & Cook, Words, 2 April 1843 (2) Note, p.269-p.270).

So certainly immortals may continue to procreate. However, it is our understanding that in the eternities only those who are worthy and willing to make sacred covenants of marriage with one another in the Lord’s Holy House will live as husband and wife as immortal beings, as revealed in D&C 132:15-17

Therefore, if a man marry him a wife in the world, and he marry her not by me nor by my word, and he covenant with her so long as he is in the world and she with him, their covenant and marriage are not of force when they are dead, and when they are out of the world; therefore, they are not bound by any law when they are out of the world. Therefore, when they are out of the world they neither marry nor are given in marriage; but are appointed angels in heaven, which angels are ministering servants, to minister for those who are worthy of a far more, and an exceeding, and an eternal weight of glory. For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever.

Gramps