I have a friend that is a member of the church. She is married in the temple. She has become inactive over the past few months because she is afraid of being excommunicated. I do not know the answer to the question, so I figured I would find out anonymously for her. My friend and her husband had a sexual relationship before getting married, and they lied about it in order to get married in the temple. Will she be excommunicated? She has a baby now and is afraid she will no longer be sealed to her family. What can I do to help her?
2 Responses to “I have a friend that is a member of the church. She is marri…”
Daniel Rubio
2012-01-22 04:31:10
Jesus Christ is central to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which bears His name.
Hi brother. Thanks for posting your question here. It's great that you're looking out for your friend. The sealing ordinance is only valid if the two participants are keeping the covenants they have made in the temple. It doesn't make a lot of sense, then, for one to become less active because one fears his sealing ordinance will no longer be valid; those who are not honoring their covenants by attending church regularly (among many other things, of course) are putting the blessings of the sealing ordinance in jeopardy anyway.
The proper way to honor temple covenants is to repent of past sins and to try to become better. Of course your friend has made some terrible mistakes, but those mistakes do not place her beyond the reach of Christ's atonement. Repentance is always possible.
I don't know if excommunication will be necessary in your friend's case; that's really up to her local leadership. However, for those who really want to make their lives right, excommunication is not an insurmountable challenge anyway. Excommunicated members of the church can still attend church and worship with us. After the proper repentance and spiritual progress, excommunicated members can be rebaptized, and all their blessings, including the sealing blessings, are restored to them. That's the proper way for your friend to preserve her sacred sealing; it's the way God has set up for us.
I hope this answer helps your friend. Please let her know that God still loves her very much and wants her to find spiritual peace once again. That's why He sent His son to pay for her sins.
Anonymous
2012-01-31 00:31:29
In all candor it is very unlikely that she and her spouse would be excommunicated... Especially if they go to their Bishop, make a complete confession, and commit to living the commandments. Excommunication always has more to do with the sinner's state of mind of the person and willingness to do better. It can also have to do with members who hold high profile office in the Church who have sinned in the presence of greater knowledge. And consider this.. She is already excommunicating herself by doing nothing and wallowing alone in her feelings of guilt.
The proper way to honor temple covenants is to repent of past sins and to try to become better. Of course your friend has made some terrible mistakes, but those mistakes do not place her beyond the reach of Christ's atonement. Repentance is always possible.
I don't know if excommunication will be necessary in your friend's case; that's really up to her local leadership. However, for those who really want to make their lives right, excommunication is not an insurmountable challenge anyway. Excommunicated members of the church can still attend church and worship with us. After the proper repentance and spiritual progress, excommunicated members can be rebaptized, and all their blessings, including the sealing blessings, are restored to them. That's the proper way for your friend to preserve her sacred sealing; it's the way God has set up for us.
I hope this answer helps your friend. Please let her know that God still loves her very much and wants her to find spiritual peace once again. That's why He sent His son to pay for her sins.