I’m a member of the church who’s already received her personal ordinances. I’ve been divorced for the past seven years. When I was first getting to know the church, I wondered how I could have an eternal family since I’m not married. One of the missionaries told me that if I was worthy, I could write a letter to the presidency of the church asking for permission to be sealed to my children. After a time, another elder told me the same thing. I wanted to know if this is true. Can a single member of the church write a letter to the presidency of the church so they can be sealed to their children?
Temples are considered houses of God, places of holiness and peace separate from the preoccupations of the world.
Hi sister. I confess that as a missionary I thought this was possible as well. I later convinced myself, based on what I'd heard, that it was not possible. But now that you say two separate missionaries have told you that it is possible, I'm once again uncertain! Certainly if you remarried you could be sealed. Your children could be sealed to you and your new husband with the permission of their biological father. However, I don't know if someone who is single can be sealed to his or her children.
One thing I do know for certain, though, is that God is a God of justice. The prophets have taught that if someone is not able to be sealed in this life through no fault of their own, they will nevertheless receive all the blessings of God in the eternities if they honor their covenants. If you are dedicated to God but are for whatever reason unable to remarry, I'm certain you'll have the opportunity to be sealed to your children in the next life. God will work out all the details.
God bless you, sister! God has a special place in His heart for single mothers like you who do all they can to teach their children the beautiful principles of the gospel.
Grandpa Chet, The Mormonyoyoman
2012-11-18 19:44:51
The key question seems, to me, to be if a member has the right to question an unclear point of doctrine, and to go to the proper authority or authorities for a clear answer.
In that case, the answer can only be "But of course!" That's how the restoration began, after all, with a teenage boy asking the Ultimate Authority a pretty basic question.
The church is very open to questions and even criticism. (We had to grow a very thick skin very quickly!) It's possible that local authorities, such as your stake president, could answer this. Indeed, a letter to the first presidency might result in one of them contacting your stake president and suggesting he counsel you.
As to whether you can be sealed to your children - is there any doubt that either now or later you can be? For that matter, were you and your ex-husband sealed in the temple before any of the children were born? This last question is, however, merely a side issue. The short answer is that Jesus loves you, and Heavenly Father & He WANT you and your children sealed.
One thing I do know for certain, though, is that God is a God of justice. The prophets have taught that if someone is not able to be sealed in this life through no fault of their own, they will nevertheless receive all the blessings of God in the eternities if they honor their covenants. If you are dedicated to God but are for whatever reason unable to remarry, I'm certain you'll have the opportunity to be sealed to your children in the next life. God will work out all the details.
God bless you, sister! God has a special place in His heart for single mothers like you who do all they can to teach their children the beautiful principles of the gospel.
In that case, the answer can only be "But of course!" That's how the restoration began, after all, with a teenage boy asking the Ultimate Authority a pretty basic question.
The church is very open to questions and even criticism. (We had to grow a very thick skin very quickly!) It's possible that local authorities, such as your stake president, could answer this. Indeed, a letter to the first presidency might result in one of them contacting your stake president and suggesting he counsel you.
As to whether you can be sealed to your children - is there any doubt that either now or later you can be? For that matter, were you and your ex-husband sealed in the temple before any of the children were born? This last question is, however, merely a side issue. The short answer is that Jesus loves you, and Heavenly Father & He WANT you and your children sealed.