Getting engaged is one of the most exciting times of life. And, in order to help me have the best day possible, they put my desires in front of their own. There is another explanation, that I think warrants some attention. These marriages are considered to be “for time AND all eternity.” Instead they will have a civil marriage, “until death do you part.” Latter-day Saints believe that all mankind were spiritually created by God before the creation of the earth. The keys of the kingdom refer to the Priesthood or the authority of God. My wedding day was made even better because of the way my non-Mormon (and less active Mormon) family and friends handled a challenging situation. Your email address will not be published. When my wife and I got engaged, I knew there would be some difficult decisions. That marriage, whether performed by a civil authority or an ecclesiastical authority, including a bishop in the Mormon Church, is authorized only for the mortal duration. When marrying a non-member, they will not be able to have a marriage inside one of the Mormon temples. If you are a Mormon with non-Mormon friends or family, however, it can be more than a little complicated. While most of my wife’s family were active Mormons (they held temple recommends and could attend our wedding, that was not the case with my family. They recognized that my wedding was for me… not for them. First, let me just say, that the decision to get married in the temple had nothing to do with how much or little I love him. The scriptures call the authority to unite families forever the sealing power. Should Prayers Be Memorized or in One's Own Words? Most civil marriage ceremonies include the famous lines: “Until death do you part.” That idea is not a part of the LDS perspective of marriage. Weddings are one of the most significant events in our lives and we naturally want those we love to be a part of that important day. He provides temples so that families can be together forever” (. Trust me. Required fields are marked *. My wife and I were sealed in the Salt Lake City Temple. The contract has then been fulfilled, and the marriage at that point is null and void. Any marriage between two members of the Mormon Church that is performed outside the temple must be performed by a bishop of the Mormon church or by some civil authority and is, of course, the same as explained under item 1. link to Should Prayers Be Memorized or in One's Own Words? This altar has significant symbolic meaning to Latter-day Saints that is similar to other religious faiths. Why the cultural stereotype? For the official Church websites, please visit churchofjesuschrist.org or comeuntochrist.org. I have friends and family that have asked me why our weddings are so “secret.” I think that is a fair question. It is impossible to understand why members of the Church are so fixated on temple marriages without understanding some basics to LDS teachings. You may hear your Mormon guy or gal refer to a "Temple Marriage". They supported me and participated in other ways throughout the day. On top of that, none of his side of the family would be able to come. The short answer is a resounding yes! The question how to maintain a sense of sacredness regarding important rites and passages is crucial. If the contracting parties are true to the covenants thus entered into, they will be raised from the dead in the morning of the first resurrection and will inherit the glory of exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom, which represents the greatest and highest blessing that our Father in Heaven has prepared to give to any of his children as they pass from mortality into eternity. The sealer, by the way, is often an older man that is a stranger to the bride, the groom, or both of them. Latter-day Saints believe that, if weddings are performed by someone with the appropriate authority, marriage and family can endure beyond death. I have had some people ask how I could choose to get married in a place knowing that my dad–who I love and have a great relationship with–would not be able to attend. The number of chairs varies from room to room and temple to temple. I have tried to explain the beliefs behind my decision to get married in the temple even though my dad–one of my best friends to this day–would not be there. We don’t have to look far today to see examples that reinforce the need to guard the sacred or personal in our lives. Such marriages are solemnized by officiators who have received from the President of the Mormon Church the authority “to seal on earth and it shall be sealed in heaven.” Associated with those marriages are sacred covenants of continued obedience to all the principles of the gospel made between the contracting parties and the Lord himself. How would you explain or describe spiritual maturity? Just in the spirit of understanding your spouse and their background. So how are temple marriages different from a regular civil ceremony? I believe the room we had seated 50 people and it was one of the larger sealing rooms in that temple. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the position of the Church. M. Russell Ballard said, “It is within the Church that we form the commitments and covenants of eternal families that become our passport to exaltation” (, “With the Lord, families are essential. In that ordinance, the sealer pronounces certain blessings upon the heads of the couple according to their continued faithfulness to Christ and His gospel. Even though they would have liked to be there, they understood how important a temple marriage was to me because of my deeply held beliefs. Check out this article t0 learn more about how long temple marriages last compared to a national average. And, finally, the famous, and long-awaited invitation, “You may kiss the bride.”. Answer. Mormons can marry whomever they please in a legally-binding ceremony, and it will be recognized by the church as as valid marriage. When you think of marriage, if you are like me, you probably imagine a father walking his daughter down the aisle to Canon in D. A minister standing at the front of the room. The rest of the furniture in the room includes a large chandelier hanging over the altar, three specific chairs for the sealer and the two witnesses, a love seat for the bride and the groom, and then a number of chairs for the wedding guests. He created the earth that we could gain physical bodies and form families. Absolutely! This is why Mormons feel such a pull to be married in the temple. Mormon marriages are all performed in a “sealing room” in the temple. If you've never heard that term, it will sound confusing.