Family is central to Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness. This is the reason why the church places a strong emphasis on eternal families, which includes marrying in the temple and raising righteous families. In a church that emphasizes the importance of eternal families, some members who have never married, or are separated or widowed, may wonder how they fit in. Here are some truths that may help single adults understand that they are not left out in a family-centered church.
The Plan of Salvation is in full effect to single adults
We hear about attaining the highest degree of celestial glory all the time. This topic might cause single adults to cringe and fear for their future. But they need not fear because the blessings of the Plan of Salvation are in full effect even to single adults. Julie Beck once said, “We did not fight a war in heaven to be single eternally. We did not sign up for only part of the program. We signed up for the whole plan—to make covenants, to be sealed eternally and have posterity in the eternities.”
Exaltation is not withdrawn from you
From the beginning, Heavenly Father hoped for all of His children to be exalted. That hope still stands to this day and no mortal circumstances will change it. Exaltation is available to all His children when they seek it. Heavenly Father will not take away the opportunity for single adults to be exalted just because they are single in this life. Ezra Taft Benson, addressing the single adults of the church, said, “if those of you in this situation are worthy and endure faithfully, you can be assured of all blessings from a kind and loving Heavenly Father—and I emphasize all blessings.”
Single adults in a family-centered church.
Being single is not wrong
Some might think that people who are not married have a problem or the whole situation of not having a spouse is just not right, especially in a family-centered church. Comments like, “You’re still single? What in the world are you doing?” or “You don’t have anyone yet. What’s the problem?” seem to convey that single adults are not in the right relationship status and they need a fix. But in most situations, there isn’t anything to fix because these single people are not broken in the first place. There is nothing wrong in being single and single adults need not feel like lesser members of the church because of the “you should get married” trend that is so deeply imbedded in the church culture.
Heavenly Father sees us individually
Heavenly Father loves us regardless of marital status. He sees our works as individuals. He recognizes that the efforts of single adults living the gospel of Jesus Christ are just as precious as the efforts of married people in the church.
Each of us, whether married or single, has a spark to share in our quest to share the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ with the world. Each of us is a strand in the grand tapestry of the Plan of Salvation. We are all important servants in the Lord’s vineyard.
