When someone is married civilly, is the marriage recognized in the church? Also if you have been married, and then become Mormon, is it necessary to be sealed?
3 Responses to “When someone is married civilly, is the marriage recognized …”
Leonardo Miranda
2010-12-29 07:13:24
Hi friend. The LDS Church recognizes civil marriages. Married people who join the Church don't need to be remarried; their marriages are automatically recognized and accepted.
Even though Mormons sometimes refer to sealings as "temple marriages" or "eternal marriages," a sealing and a marriage are entirely separate. A marriage joins two people--a husband and a wife--together for life, until death do they part. A sealing joins multiple people--a husband, a wife, ancestors, descendants (living or future children, for example)--together for all eternity, even after death. Marriage relates to a relationship that lasts during life. The sealing ordinance is performed to allow a family to progress spiritually together after death.
In the United States and some other countries, the government is kind enough to grant LDS sealers authority to marry people civilly. Consequently, when two single members of the Church want to be sealed together, they are automatically married in the same ceremony. This may give the false impression that marriage and sealing are the same thing. However, in many countries (i.e., Brazil) the government requires that the marriage and sealing ceremonies be separate. Additionally, some members of the LDS Church choose to first be married and are only sealed at a later date.
Most married couples who join the Church together make a goal to prepare themselves to be sealed a year after their baptism. Let me know if you have any more questions about the difference between sealing and marriage. I'm happy to help.
Richard
2010-12-28 17:25:52
Yes the church recognizes civil marriages, and no when you join the church they don't force you to the temple. :) They may try to convince you of the blessings, but you are still left to choose whether you partake of them or not.
Sealing by the power of God is the authority that will stand when he comes again. It allows us to spend eternity with our spouses/families/kids. It's one of the greatest blessings that come from Church membership.
Patrick
2011-01-19 02:36:02
Civil marriages are good till death do us part, so civilly married couples are encouraged to go to the temple and be sealed for eternity in a temple marriage, but it is not required for membership.
Even though Mormons sometimes refer to sealings as "temple marriages" or "eternal marriages," a sealing and a marriage are entirely separate. A marriage joins two people--a husband and a wife--together for life, until death do they part. A sealing joins multiple people--a husband, a wife, ancestors, descendants (living or future children, for example)--together for all eternity, even after death. Marriage relates to a relationship that lasts during life. The sealing ordinance is performed to allow a family to progress spiritually together after death.
In the United States and some other countries, the government is kind enough to grant LDS sealers authority to marry people civilly. Consequently, when two single members of the Church want to be sealed together, they are automatically married in the same ceremony. This may give the false impression that marriage and sealing are the same thing. However, in many countries (i.e., Brazil) the government requires that the marriage and sealing ceremonies be separate. Additionally, some members of the LDS Church choose to first be married and are only sealed at a later date.
Most married couples who join the Church together make a goal to prepare themselves to be sealed a year after their baptism. Let me know if you have any more questions about the difference between sealing and marriage. I'm happy to help.
Sealing by the power of God is the authority that will stand when he comes again. It allows us to spend eternity with our spouses/families/kids. It's one of the greatest blessings that come from Church membership.