Is it true that sometimes family members are denied attendance at the wedding of their own children in the temple because they have not kept all the Mormon commandments?
AnonymousCody
I appreciate your questions, and apologize for the delayed response. It seems that you are intrigued by the temple and have many questions relating to the temple. Before I attempt to answer any of your questions, may I first suggest you visit a website produced by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Purpose of Temples website has links to a number of articles written by past and present leaders of the church about the purpose of temples. I hope that you will read these articles to better understand the temple.Now to answer you question. You asked about family members being 'denied' attendance to the marriage of their own child in the temple. I can understand why this would appear appalling. I hope you have visited the website I mentioned above and read about the sacredness of temples. Mormons believe that temples are literally the house of the Lord, the most sacred and holy place on earth. Just like ancient temples we believe that temples are not ordinary worship houses but sacred edifices dedicated and set apart for the most sacred ceremonies and ordinances. In accordance with God's will, a standard of preparation has been established for those that enter the temple. We believe that this standard comes from God and requires that those who enter the temple have a testimony of the Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, that they are morally clean, that they keep the commandments, that they have made sacred covenants (promises) through baptism, etc. Members certify that they are living according to the commandments of God and that they are prepared to enter the temple in two interviews with two local ecclesiastical leaders. Every member who is not living according to the commandments or who has not yet finished the necessary prepatation and therefore cannot enter the temple is invited and encouraged with love to prepare themselves to enter the temple. So it isn't that the church denies people attendance to the temple. It is that those people who can not enter the temple are invited to prepare themselves. I believe that God desires that everyone would enter His temples.
Often when a parent cannot attend the temple marriage of a child there are arrangements and accommodations made so that that parent can feel involved and included in the process. For example, couples will sometimes hold a simple ring exchanging ceremony outside the temple at a different venue following their temple marriage. The Church asks that this ceremony be simple so as not to downplay the sacredness of their temple marriage. I know that the leaders of the Church are very aware and compassionate concerning family members who are not able to attend the temple.
