Of all the relationships that exist on the earth, none are more important in the eternities than the ones which connect Jesus Christ with husbands and wives. As a healthy, functioning triad (where Christ is at the top and the husband and wife are at the bottom, and all three are connected), families can be raised and reared in the gospel of Jesus Christ and, ultimately, ascend to lofty, exalted spheres. In fact, the theory is that the closer the wife and husband are to Christ, the smaller the triangle, and hence both grow closer to Christ.

Unfortunately, not everything on earth works out the way we planned. Our fairy tale endings can take unexpected twists and turns, sometimes tragically, and dash whatever hopes we had for eternal bliss. For example:

* A spouse is misaligned with their spouse in terms of interests, values and beliefs. You may prefer a spiritual development podcast, and they may prefer video games.

* Both spouses stay in the marriage, but one or both are not in love with another.

* One or both spouses are abusive, neglectful or have spiritually harmful habits which conflict with the values expected in a son or daughter of God.

* You are divorced or single.

Whatever the reason, one or both parties in the bottom of this triad may feel frustrated, hurt, betrayed as well as helpless and hopeless that, because of their misaligned (or unaligned) spousal status, they, too, will never attain the heavenly happiness they yearn and long for.

But is God content with one or both spouses living in eternal torment? For example, if one spouse is hell bent on being abusive, doing porn or drugs, does that mean you’re stuck with said spouse forever, even though you may have been sealed in a temple for time and eternity?

I don’t think so.