Moses was taught by God about the creation of the world. He was shown every particle of it and every person who ever lived on it, and then he asked, "Why do you do all of this?" The Lord answered, "For behold, this is my work and my glory -- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." (Moses 1:39) In other words, the purpose of all this creation, the world, the stars, the planets, and the people was to help these, His children, to have immortality and Eternal Life. "Immortality" and "Eternal Life" sound redundant, but they aren't.
Immortality literally means "not being mortal," or subject to death so those who are immortal live forever in their body, or in the flesh. This is a gift given to all who are born; there are no contingencies. Because Jesus Christ was resurrected all who live on this Earth will once again receive their bodies again, never to die. Immortality is the negative -- you cannot die.
Eternal life, however, is the positive; life goes on forever. It is more than just not dying, it is being part of creation, reproduction -- or life. God has a purpose to create, or reproduce Himself, and those who have Eternal Life take part in this, and continually live and grow.
But, we cannot have life alone. It is only in coming together in unity that we have the power to create. Growth on every level requires uniting with others. Single atoms serve no function in life, they must be united with other atoms to become a molecule. Single molecules have no function in life unless they come together to form a cell. A single cell in a body is nothing without all the other cells that make up the body. Though a cell may be extracted and not die (immortality), it has no power to be anything more without the others. Each level of unity creates another form of life, and continuing forever is Eternal Life.
The gift of Eternal Life
Immortality is a gift no matter what, but Eternal Life is a gift that must be sought after, and accepted. We prepare ourselves to receive it by growing up. Responsible parents don't give their little children gifts fit for adults, like cars, guns, and chain saws; they must grow up and be responsible before receiving such things. In like manner, God gives the gift of Eternal Life to those who prepare themselves to receive it by growing up in the Spirit. The path of this growth is called the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
All those who desire it can receive the gift of Eternal Life. God has done all the work of planning and providing. All we need to do is accept what He has given. He gave us a world and step-by-step instructions on how to return to Him. He gave us agency, the ability to choose His plan -- or not. Most of all, He gave His only begotten Son to provide a way for us to receive immortality and Eternal Life. All we need to achieve the greatest happiness and fulfillment is given, if we accept it.
To do this we must be obedient to the word of God, make sacrifices as commanded by God, live the Gospel, live the law of chastity, and be consecrated fully to the Lord. We are to follow Christ. "He marked the path and lead the way, and every point defines." By following Him, we arrive where He is, and are qualified to receive the gift of Eternal Life. Every covenant, every sacrifice, every ordinance, every work is intended to bring us there.
An Help Meet
Those who live by every word of God become eligible for Eternal Life, but cannot get there alone; we must be united with others, beginning with marriage. "The Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." (Genesis 2:18) The man and the woman are to become one in order to multiply and replenish the Earth because separately and singly they have no power to create, live and grow. Woman was the final act of creation so she is the "why," the crowning end of all that exists in the Universe. She is created to "help" the man "meet" his purpose of Eternal Life. Paul explained, "neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord." (1 Corinthians 11:11) Only together can they have life.
Thus, the ordinance of sealing a man and a woman together for Eternity is the most important event in all the world. The acts of kings and rulers, wars between nations, atomic weapons, business conducted in the largest corporations, travel to the moon, or any other event of man or nature pales in comparison to that covenant. The very purpose for which the world and all that is in it was created is to this end. It is the reason why -- why we live, suffer, repent, are baptized and remain faithful. He created the world for this. He created life for this. And, He sent His only begotten Son into the world to suffer and die for this: a man and a woman receiving Eternal Life.
This makes a wife very important to a man. Nothing he can do, own, or be; no job, money, home, land, car, or other possession could bring him more joy and fulfillment than his wife. She is the end-all and be-all to him. Everything he does must nurture his relationship with her because she is why he lives. Likewise, a woman gives her all to her husband. As they are true and faithful in all things they are enabled to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven and receive the greatest of all the gifts of God -- Eternal Life.
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