From my point of view, one of the greatest love stories of all time has rarely been recognized as such. In fact, if you have read the story, you probably did not recognize it as a love story at all.

The particular story I am talking about is the story of Adam and Eve.

When Adam was placed on the earth, he was a perfect physical and mental specimen made in the likeness and image of God. But Adam had a basic weakness. He had no memory of where he came from or of what he had known before he was placed on the earth. He was required to learn everything from scratch.

After Adam was created, the Father told the Son: “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” (Gen. 2:18.) The scriptures do not use the word helpmate or helpmeet, but meet, which means of the same worthiness, the same intelligence, the same quality or nobility, worthy to stand beside the man as a fit companion and helper.

So Eve was created and became Adam’s companion and wife. And since at that time death had not yet entered into the world, their marriage was to endure for all eternity.

Now comes the great love story.

When Adam saw Eve, that glorious being who had been sealed to him as his wife, he was filled with love for her, for she had been taken symbolically from the rib next to his heart. She was not taken from his head to stand over him, nor from his breast to go before him, nor from his back to walk behind him, nor from his foot to be trodden upon. She was taken symbolically from his side—close to his heart to stand by him as a noble companion. He said: “This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” (Gen. 2:23.) Of marriages such as theirs, the Savior said: “Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” (Matt. 19:6.)

One of the things that concerns Church leaders about marriage, and particularly about temple marriage and sealing, is the light-mindedness with which some of our members enter into this holy and eternal order. It appears that too many people enter into a temple marriage with the idea that it is pretty much like any other type of marriage. But a temple marriage is performed under special priesthood authority from God. It is therefore a holy ordinance which should be taken very seriously. Temple marriage is meant to last forever.

When Love Dies

Many Church members fail to understand the sacredness of the temple marriage covenant. It is as if they say: “If this marriage doesn’t work out, we can make a change. If I tire of my partner, I can get a cancellation of this sealing and try it again with another companion!” If we enter into a celestial marriage with that attitude, whatever love formed the basis for that relationship in the first place will sooner or later change to dislike, perhaps even hatred.

How does love die in a marriage? Let us observe the great difference between the attitudes and actions of Jehovah and Lucifer. They represent the difference between love and hatred.

Jesus did not think only of himself, but caught the greater view of true love which the Father holds. Jesus thought not only of his own interests, but also o