The Most Important Human Link

The culminating ordinance of salvation is the sealing of a husband and wife.  As with previous ordinances such as baptism and the endowment, we make covenants as we receive this ordinance.  According to the Doctrine and Covenants, Section 131, verses 1-4, if we are to enter into the highest heaven in the Celestial Kingdom, we "must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage]".

It's possible and common for children to be sealed to their parents, but I've been told and it makes sense to me that the most important sealing is that between husband and wife, and that when a son or daughter is sealed to their spouse that the new sealing takes precedence.

There are at least two reasons why a sealing to a husband or wife is the most important.  Firstly, as the aforementioned passage states, those who don't enter into that covenant with their spouse "cannot have an increase" because they cannot have spirit children.  Secondly, to be sealed to a spouse is to make a covenant; that covenant, like others we make, guides us and strengthens us.  That covenant defines our sealing in a way that is different than if we are "born in the covenant" to parents who are sealed or if we are sealed to them after birth.

The covenant of a temple marriage and sealing is also something that distinguishes the marriage from other common marriages, not only because it is eternal, but because of the nature of the covenant itself.  Rather than being just a contract between two people, a sealing is a covenant that two people each make with God.  The defining relationship is that between us and Heavenly Father.  This is important in that as we each draw nearer to God we will become closer to each other, like two lines meeting at a common point.

It is also vital to remember this when one spouse fails to stay on that path.  I have counseled friends to remember this principle: if we have been hurt by an unfaithful spouse we will do well to remember that the covenant whe made was with God, and that regardless of our spouse's actions, we are still obligated to live up to our covenants, and doing so includes loving and forgiving our spouse.

Last thoughts for now:
I hope that my wife will forgive me of my mistakes, and I intend to always forgive her as well.  I'm grateful for my covenants and particularly those I have made in the holy temple of God.  I hope for everyone to find the love of God as they follow His word and I hope for everyone to enter into the everlasting covenant of marriage.