This passage is a confusing scripture for many. The word of the Lord seems to justify divorce only in the situation of infidelity. Furthermore, the scripture sounds like it is the divorce itself which makes an adulterer of the individual. But, in Mark, we learn that the adultery occurs when the divorced person is remarried (Mark 10:11-12). Yet, many good people, though married in the temple, have been remarried without being charged in Church courts with adultery. Certainly, we don't consider those who have been divorced and remarried (for reasons other than infidelity) to be adulterers. So what is meant by this passage?
As Latter-day Saints, in the dispensation of the fullness of times, we enjoy the blessings of higher law as given by the Savior. We glory in the fact that the law has been given in its fullness. Yet, unbeknownst to many, we really aren't living the law as it has been revealed. The most glaring example is that of the law of consecration and the United Order. The saints tried it, and failed. Few would be so bold as to claim that the saints of today are ready for this unselfish plan to be reinstituted. Yet, the mercy of the Lord grants us our weakness and we live the law "in spirit" only.
The same can be said of the law of celestial marriage. In the most perfect form of the higher law, divorce is not allowable except for cases of infidelity. But today, we are not living that law in its fullest, most perfect form. Again, the mercy of the Lord grants us our weakness and allows the divorce of individuals married in the temple because we as a Church are not ready to live the higher law. What the Lord said to the Pharisees about Moses' day applies equally well to ours, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so (Matt 19:8). The Lord continues:
'And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery.
His disciples say unto him, If the case of the man be so with his wife, it is not good to marry.
But he said unto them, All men cannot receive this saying, save they to whom it is given.' (Matt 19:8-11)
"Jesus said that all could not 'receive this saying'—the whole message of verses 4 through 9 [of Matt 19]—'save they to whom it is given.' (v. 11) Obviously, he was referring to a law of marriage higher than some of the social practices of that time…The reader can also see the Lord's recognition of persons whose current societal circumstances are different from the celestial standard.
"Elder Bruce R. McConkie has commented,
'Divorce is not part of the gospel plan no matter what kind of marriage is involved. But because men [and women] in practice do not always live in harmony with gospel standards, the Lord permits divorce [as in Moses' time] for one reason or another, depending upon the spiritual stability of the people involved…
'In this day divorces are permitted in accordance with civil statutes, and the divorced persons are permitted by the Church to marry again without the stain of immorality which under a higher system would attend such a course.' (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 1:547)
"If our societies were on a higher plane, then, marriage covenants would be held in great, sacred trust; essentially, divorce would not exist or be considered except for truly serious reasons such as adultery. I would also suggest that in a higher system, with individuals living in harmony with all the Lord's teachings, there would be no such serious problems and thus no divorce.
"Unfortunately, our societies are less than ideal. Some persons do live in unbearably difficult marital circumstances, suffering as victims of spouse abuse, substance abuse, promiscuity, and other evils that are sometimes addressed through divorce as a last resort. In such cases, the Lord in his mercy 'permits his agents to exercise the power to loose [to authorize divorce] as well as the power to bind.' (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 204)
"President David O. McKay stated,
'In the light of scripture, ancient and modern, we are justified in concluding that Christ's ideal pertaining to marriage is the unbroken home, and conditions that cause divorce are violations of his divine teachings…There may be circumstances which make the continuance of the marriage state a greater evil than divorce. But these are extreme cases—they are the mistakes, the calamities in the realm of marriage. If we could remove them I would say ther never should be a divorce. It is Christ's ideal that home and marriage should be perpetual—eternal.' (Treasures of Life, p. 66)"
(Jonathan M. Chamberlain, "I Have A Question," Ensign, Jan. 1993, pp. 59-60)