In Mormonism, a sealing is an ordinance (ritual), generally performed in temples, that "seals" familial relationships, purportedly making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity. Mormonism is a religion, movement, ideology and subculture originating in the early 1800s as a product of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving a covenant with God. ... Nauvoo Illinois Temple, dedicated in 2002, is one of the newest LDS temples. ...

Sealings are typically performed as marriages or as sealing of children to parents. They were practiced for a few years prior to the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. (the main founder of the Latter Day Saint movement), and are currently performed in many Latter Day Saint denominations, such as The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other denominations, such as the Community of Christ, view sealing as an artifact of Smith's practice of plural marriage. Joseph Smith, Jr. ... The Latter Day Saint movement (also called the Mormonism movement or the Mormon movement) is a religious movement beginning in the early 19th century that led to the set of doctrines, practices, and cultures called Mormonism and to the existence of numerous churches, the majority of which call themselves Latter... A Latter Day Saint is a person who identifies with the Latter Day Saint movement, and is a follower of Mormonism. ... The temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints located in Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... Community of Christ Temple in Independence, Missouri, USA. Dedicated 1994 Community of Christ, previously known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints or RLDS church is a branch of Mormon Restorationism, and is the second largest denomination of the Latter Day Saint movement. ... Plural marriage (also formerly known as spiritual wifery) is a type of polygamy that was practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

Sealings in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Unlike civil marriages, which LDS faithful believe are dissolved at death if they are not later solemnized with a sealing, Latter-day Saints believe that a couple who has been sealed in the temple will be married beyond physical death. An illustrative difference in the marriage ceremony performed in LDS temples is the replacement of the words "until death do you part" with "for time and all eternity". Look up belief on Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Death is the cessation of physical life in a living organism or the state of the organism after that event. ...

The Vernal, Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was dedicated on 2 November 1997 as the 51st Temple of the LDS Church.

The LDS church recognizes other monogamous, heterosexual marriages, both civil and religious, although they believe that such marriages will not continue after death because "Eternal Marriages" must be performed by a Priesthood authority. However, "Eternal Marriages" are also performed vicariously for the deceased so that once all the prior temple ordinances are completed for a deceased individual, couples who were not sealed during their life may accept the proxy sealing to each other and their children. The Mormon Temple in Vernal, Utah File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Mormon Temple in Vernal, Utah File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Vernal is a city located in Uintah County, Utah. ... Nauvoo Illinois Temple, dedicated in 2002, is one of the newest LDS temples. ... The Salt Lake City temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ... November 2 is the 306th day of the year (307th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 59 days remaining. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... In Mormonism, priesthood is considered to be the power and authority to act in the name of God, including the performance of sacred rites and ordinances, and the performance of miracles. ...

Couples who have children born to them before the couple is sealed, may have their children sealed to them after the couple is sealed. Couples who have children after being sealed do not have to have their children sealed to them in a separate ceremony. Children born to sealed parents are "born in the covenant" and are automatically sealed to their parents.

Divorce rates for sealed couples were reportedly far lower than national rates for decades but have risen significantly over the last several years. Although a divorce legally dissolves a civilly-recognized marriage, the Church still recognizes a sealed couple as being sealed. A couple who has been sealed may request to have their sealing "cancelled", but this is uncommon, occurs only under special circumstances and is only granted by the highest LDS officials. Some refer informally to a "cancellation" as a “temple divorce”, but the terminology designated by Church leaders is "cancellation of a sealing". Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse, which can be contrasted with an annulment which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognized in such unions, such as spousal support, child custody...

A cancellation typically follows after a civil divorce and when the woman then seeks to be sealed to another man. Some have criticised the LDS church for allowing a man to be "sealed" to multiple wives while a woman can be "sealed" to only a single man, and some further argue this is tacit approval of the LDS church's purportedly abandoned practice of plural marriage. [1] Divorce or dissolution of marriage is the ending of a marriage before the death of either spouse, which can be contrasted with an annulment which is a declaration that a marriage is void, though the effects of marriage may be recognized in such unions, such as spousal support, child custody... Plural marriage (also formerly known as spiritual wifery) is a type of polygamy that was practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

The LDS church’s policy on sealings and cancellations reflect its doctrine of plural marriage although that doctrine is currently prohibited from being practiced in the Church: a man can be sealed to multiple women, but women can only be sealed to one man. A man sealed to one or more women, but civilly divorced or a widower, may be sealed to another woman assuming the couple is worthy and the union is permitted by Church authorities. Although a woman can only be sealed to one man, she can be married civilly to another man and have that marriage recognized by the Church. Plural marriage (also formerly known as spiritual wifery) is a type of polygamy that was practiced by Joseph Smith, Jr. ...

The union of a sealed couple is regarded as valid only if both individuals have kept their religious commitments and followed LDS teachings. A sealed couple who have successfully kept their religious covenants, and whose sealing remains in force after death is said to have their sealing “sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise”. The sealing of a sealed couple whose union has been disrupted by a civil divorce (amicable or acrimonious) is not likely to remain in force. Just as deceased individuals may refuse any temple ordinance (such as a sealing) done by proxy on their behalf, couples, parents and children who were sealed to each other during their own life may exercise their agency to refuse to accept a sealing of which they were a part. No one will be sealed to any one with whom they do not want to be sealed.

Since the LDS church rejects same-sex marriages, these unions are not performed in temples nor recognized by the LDS church. Same-sex marriage is marriage between individuals who are of the same legal or biological sex. ...

Excommunication voids all ordinances performed for a person, including sealings. If an excommunicated member rejoins the Church, he may have these blessings restored.

Only worthy members of the LDS Church, who hold current valid temple recommends, can attend and witness sealings. Non-member family and friends generally wait in the temple waiting room during the sealing ritual.

Recognition of sealing

Many LDS members aspire to be married in the temple. However, it is an interesting fact that not all countries recognise an LDS temple marriage as being legally valid. This is the situation in Argentina, Brazil, and Britain, for example.

In Argentina, all marriages are performed at the local municipality by a registrar who is duly authorized to perform marriages. Then the couple may go to have a religious ceremony performed.

In Brazil, all marriages must be performed in the state in which the couple resides. Since not all Brazillian states have a temple within their boundaries, the couple may then have their sealing performed at the nearest temple upon completion of the civil marriage.

In Britain law requires that a marriage must be performed at a public ceremony. Since attendance at a temple sealing is restricted, a couple will be married locally by a person who is duly authorised to perform marriages. This person will usually be a registrar of marriages. The marriage can be performed at the local registrars office, or sometimes in an LDS chapel. Some Bishops or Branch Presidents have been officially given the title of a deputy registrar, so are legally able to perform a civil ceremony in the chapel. The couple will then travel to the nearest LDS temple (London or Preston) for their temple marriage.