Church pulling out of the marriage business

[wapiti]

This discussion reminded me of something that happened on my mission. We were walking on a street that overlooked a river that ran through town. There was a large gathering on the river with a minister in the water performing baptisms. We thought it looked interesting and sat down to watch. The next person walked into the water to be baptized and we instantly recognized her, one of our most active members and the branch president's sister. This is a small town, everyone knew she was a member of the church.

We talked to her later that day. She was embarrassed. She said she did it for her boyfriend but didn't want to go to his church. She would still come to church and perform her calling. At our next opportunity we asked the mission president if he needed to talk with her. His response: "That baptism meant nothing. Move on."

[SCcoug]

Make sure to let us revise you're planned remarks and you'll be golden.

[CardiacCoug]

Honest answer is I don’t know. It caught me completely off guard. I am guessing that not being religious, they don’t want to track down a bishop or minister, but a county clerk seems too informal.

I think just asking a friend or boss to officiate a wedding is becoming more and more common.

Several guys I know who run businesses have been asked by their young, non-religious employees to officiate weddings.

It’s an interesting time when you have a lot of young people who just don’t have anybody else to ask.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Make sure to let us revise you're planned remarks and you'll be golden.

...you’ll be golden. RIP triplet.

[mtnbiker]

Thanks for the replies. Enough anecdotal evidence here that I’m not too worried about it anymore.

Don't you have to at least be registered with the city or state to have some kind of legally-recognized authority?

[LVAllen]

Reminds of Provo, 20 years ago. Provo had some asinine requirement that if you wanted to hold a dance, you had to have state-qualified security guards, metal detectors, and surveillance equipment. If you were a church, school, or government institution, you were exempt from all that. So a couple of BYU students got themselves ordained by the Universal Life Church, and had themselves a dance. They were fined $100.

At first, BYU Honor Code office didn't really care, because they said it didn't look like they really joined another church or left the Mormon church. I think they ended up putting the students involved on probation, possible because of the misdemeanor charges. The dance ordinance was changed sometime after that.

[Bo Diddley]

Did we learn nothing from Footloose?!

[Green Monstah]

the church doesn't give a shit. just do it and don't worry about it.

They actually do. I've had a few friends do this who were called into the bishop's office and asked to resign their membership in the online priesthood. No additional measures were taken, but I think it's incorrect that the church does not care.

[myboynoah]

Reminds of Provo, 20 years ago. Provo had some asinine requirement that if you wanted to hold a dance, you had to have state-qualified security guards, metal detectors, and surveillance equipment. If you were a church, school, or government institution, you were exempt from all that. So a couple of BYU students got themselves ordained by the Universal Life Church, and had themselves a dance. They were fined $100.

At first, BYU Honor Code office didn't really care, because they said it didn't look like they really joined another church or left the Mormon church. I think they ended up putting the students involved on probation, possible because of the misdemeanor charges. The dance ordinance was changed sometime after that.

Commerce always finds a way.

[swampfrog]

LDS leadership, your turn.

https://apnews.com/article/race-and-...aa7cbda2013de2

[Clark Addison]

LDS leadership, your turn.

https://apnews.com/article/race-and-...aa7cbda2013de2

I am probably up at night, as usual, but I thought the Church was already OK with this?

[swampfrog]

I am probably up at night, as usual, but I thought the Church was already OK with this?

With recognizing civil unions? I hadn't heard that.

[smokymountainrain]

With recognizing civil unions? I hadn't heard that.

i too had assumed that has been their position even since the prop 8 stuff several years ago.

[Moliere]

I am probably up at night, as usual, but I thought the Church was already OK with this?

They definitely are not publicly endorsing it but probably just not actively fighting it anymore, but it's been awhile since I cared so I may have old info.

[MartyFunkhouser]

With recognizing civil unions? I hadn't heard that.

Yes they have been okay with recognizing civil unions, they don't want them to be marriages.