Elder Holland has stated, “Human intimacy, that sacred,
physical union ordained of God for a married couple, deals with a symbol that
demands special sanctity…a symbol of total union: union of their hearts, their hopes, their lives,
their love, their family, their future, their everything. “1 To the world, intimacy is nothing more
than sexual pleasure that fulfills one’s own need. But with God it is a sacred power that
encompasses this total union as Elder Holland describes.
In the beginning of time, Adam and Eve were commanded by God
to cleave (join) unto each other and become one.2 In a very real and
sacred way, our Heavenly Father was commanding them to share in the gift of
intimacy as a married couple.
Elder Holland states that ,”In this ultimate physical expression of one
man and one woman, they are as nearly and as literally one as two separate
physical bodies can ever be. It is
in that act of ultimate physical intimacy that we most nearly fulfill the
commandment of the Lord given to Adam and Eve, living symbols for all married
couples, when He invited them to cleave unto one another only, and thus become
“one flesh”.3
One of the main reasons for God to implant these feelings in
us, of course, is His commandment to have children and become partners with Him
in bringing down those spirit children to the earth in order for them to gain a
body and experience this life on the earth. Many outside of the church believe that we, as members of
the church, think that this is the only reason
and time we share intimacy with our spouses. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
I love what Elder Parely P. Pratt said so long ago, “Our
natural affections are planted in us by the Spirit of God, for a wise purpose;
and they are the very main-springs of life and happiness-they are the cement of
all virtuous and heavenly society-they are the essence of charity, or
love…There is not a more pure and holy principle in existence than the
affection which glows in the bosom of a virtuous man for his companion…The fact
is, God made man, male and female; he planted in their bosoms those affections
which are calculated to promote their happiness and union.” 4
President Spencer W. Kimball 12th president of
the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, “It is the destiny of men
and women to join together to make eternal family units. In the context of lawful marriage, the
intimacy of sexual relations is right and divinely approved. There is nothing unholy or degrading
about sexuality in itself, for by that means men and women join in a process of
creation and in the expression of love.”5
He further states
that “marriage can be more an exultant ecstasy than the human mind can
conceive. This is within the reach
of every couple, every person.” 6
Sacred human intimacy is divine and a great blessing to
those within the bound of marriage.
It is the ultimate expression of love, commitment and unity.
1. Holland,
Jeffrey R. (2001). Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments. Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Deseret Book
2. Genesis 2:24
3. Holland, J.
R. (2001). Of Souls, Symbols, and Sacraments. Salt Lake City, Utah. Deseret Book
4. Pratt.
P.P. Writings of Parley Parker Pratt, 52-53
5. Kimball,
S.W. (2002 Oct) Oneness in Marriage Ensign
6. Kimball,
S.W. (2002 Oct) Oneness in Marriage Ensign
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