Eternal Companion
Within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, eternal companion is a term referring to a person’s husband or wife. Eternal companions enjoy a celestial marriage or an everlasting covenant of marriage.
Looking at the definitions of both words guides an understanding of the term. Eternal is defined as “of or relating to eternity” and “seemingly endless”[1] and companion as “one that accompanies another” and “one employed to live with and serve another.”[2]
Latter-day Saints believe that when they marry they will be with their spouse beyond the confines of this earth life. In other words, when a man and a woman marry in the temple, they are sealed together as husband and wife for time and eternity. This belief guides the careful selection of one’s spouse as well as the commitment and treatment of one’s eternal companion.
Eternal companionship also refers to God’s plan for His children: “marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God and . . . the family is central to the Creator’s plan for the eternal destiny of His children. . . . The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”[3]
