Happily Ever After

I have always had a preoccupation with fairytales, true love’s kiss, and happily ever afters. The little girl who watched Aladdin every day and wanted to be princess is still in me. And temple marriage is something that I think beautifully encompasses the perfect fairytale that we can have. 4 Nephi 1:11 says, “They were married…and were blessed.” What an amazing little phrase. In this perfect Zion society briefly described by Mormon in 4 Nephi, he chooses to include that they were married and blessed because of it. Marriage is such an important aspect of God’s plan; it’s part of that celestial life that is God’s hope for us. And it is magnificent to reflect on the wonderful institution that marriage is. It is both a “happily ever after” and a “once upon a time” because it does end that search for your prince, but it also opens up the door to eternal families and eternal life. One of my favorite quotes is from President Uchtdorf, where he says, “You are truly royal spirit daughters of Almighty God. You are princesses, destined to become queens. Your own wondrous story has already begun. Your “Once upon a time” is now…And the day will come when you turn the final pages of your own glorious story; there you will read and experience the fulfillment of those blessed and wonderful words: And they lived happily ever after.” This is what temple marriage can bring. Temple marriage gives you the perfect fairytale because it gives you the blessing of forever.