Some of the functions in the celestial body will not appear in the terrestrial body, neither in the telestial body, and the power of procreation will be removed. I take it that men and women will, in these kingdoms, be just what the so-called Christian world expects us all to be-neither man nor woman, merely immortal beings having received the resurrection. Doctrines of Salvation 2:288

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The prophet’s remark tells me that we really don’t know much. I suspect that much of what we think we know will turn out to be erroneous.

Although the slogan “Families can be together forever” is undoubtedly true, it tells us next to nothing about the kind of life we can expect in the hereafter. We’ll be together; but together doing what?

Sometimes we Mormons talk glibly about exaltation and the Celestial Kingdom. Once, when I was teaching a Gospel Doctrine class, I asked whether anyone expected to be at all surprised at anything in heaven. One stalwart sister answered with an emphatic No! She was sure that she knew exactly what to expect. I have my doubts that she does.

I wonder whether the schematic from the old missionary discussions whereby man enters one of three distinct pastel-colored spheres after the final judgment, conditions us into viewing the kingdoms of glory as geographical locations. (I note that Preach My Gospel seems to omit this schematic, at least in its discussion of the Plan of Salvation.)

But really, other than the statements that the celestialized earth will become a “home for the righteous”, do we have any other authoritative sources for the preposition that the degrees of glory are distinct, geographical locations?

To me, it isn’t whether or not the family relationship continues or not. It’s a question of what kind of relationship that will be.

The question isn’t “will I be able to say ‘good morning’ to my wife every day in the eternities?”, but “will I become one part of a divine unit, with my wife constituting the other part?”

The question isn’t “will I see my parents whenever I want to?”, but “will the chain of individuals through which I receive the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and (in my case) Ephraim include my biological father, or some other individual?”

The question isn’t “will I be with my kids forever?”, but “once [or "if"] I become a king and a priest to the Most High God, will my children remain a part of my own little kingdom so that, just as my own righteousness reflects and adds to the glory of our heavenly Parents, my children’s righteousness reflects and adds to the glory of my wife and myself?”

To talk of “eternal families” is, of course, technically accurate. But I think it’s a monumental understatement of what the temple sealing really encompasses. (Your results may vary, of course! )

Interesting concept. So families are forever no mater what kingdom we are in, or other family members are in!

That being the case then why the emphasis on eternal families if it’s going to happen anyway? Which kind of is my point of this post.

I will shortly have a juris doctor degree. My brother has a bachelor’s degree in business finance. My father has a master’s degree in sociology. My sister has an associate’s degree in french. Doesn’t mean we can’t hang out–just means there are different things each of us is capable of doing.

We feel we will be family with everyone in the here after. Our time won’t be spent with just our family but the entire family of God. So of course we’ll be with our family, and Michelangelo, and Aquinas, and Billy Graham, and etc. . . .