Church may do away with...

[All-American]

I think I would find a meeting like that insulting.

The couple went through all the hoops to get married in the temple. They did what they were supposed to. Let them have another damn ceremony if they want. If it doesn't mean anything in the church's view, why even care?

Because, ostensibly, it would take away from the significance of the sealing ceremony.

And I am all for doing nothing that would take away from the significance of the sealing ceremony. Getting sealed in the temple is the most important thing a person can do in this lifetime. For a lot of people-- heck, maybe even most people-- an extra ceremony could make the sealing seem less important than what it is.

My objection is in thinking that this is true in each and every case. For some, excluding family members from one's own wedding is incredibly and unnecessarily hurtful. The decision of whether to have such an extra ceremony in order to include all of one's loved ones should belong to the couple, after careful prayer and consideration, rather than someone in an office in Salt Lake.

[Uncle Ted]

Because, ostensibly, it would take away from the significance of the sealing ceremony.

And I am all for doing nothing that would take away from the significance of the sealing ceremony. Getting sealed in the temple is the most important thing a person can do in this lifetime. For a lot of people-- heck, maybe even most people-- an extra ceremony could make the sealing seem less important than what it is.

My objection is in thinking that this is true in each and every case. For some, excluding family members from one's own wedding is incredibly and unnecessarily hurtful. The decision of whether to have such an extra ceremony in order to include all of one's loved ones should belong to the couple, after careful prayer and consideration, rather than someone in an office in Salt Lake.

In the case of Brigham Young and others they had lots of significant events.

While getting sealed is, indeed, very significant but so is one's family. In fact, the main reason one gets sealed is one's family (as the name implies). It seems very ironic that it seems the church goes to, what seems like, an extra measure to potentially create (extended) family problems and hurt.

The Doctrine and Covenants use to have the following statement about marriage:

According to the customs of all civilized nations, marriage is regulated by laws and ceremonies: therefore we believe that all marriages in this church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose: and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high priest, high priest, bishop, elder, or priest, not even prohibiting those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married by other authority. We believe that it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the church, if it be there determination so to do, but such persons shall be considered weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving; and at the solemnization, the persons to be married, standing together, the man on the right, and the woman on the left, shall be addressed by the person officiating, as he shall be directed by the holy Spirit; and if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each by their names: “You both mutually agree to be each other's companions, husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition; that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all others, during your lives.” And when they have answered “Yes,” he shall pronounce them “husband and wife” in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the laws of the country and authority vested in him: “may God add his blessings and keep you to fulfill your covenants from henceforth and forever. Amen.”

http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary?target=XD6FBA1B4-5B9A-4A09-A62C-288A4EFEDB52

Of course, this was later removed.

[Jeff Lebowski]

PFS takes the rumor public:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/57531159-180/temple-lds-mormon-policy.html.csp

Kind of weird to write an entire column about an internet rumor, but there you go. I hope she is right.

[Pheidippides]

PFS takes the rumor public:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaithblog/57531159-180/temple-lds-mormon-policy.html.csp

Kind of weird to write an entire column about an internet rumor, but there you go. I hope she is right.

My sense with PFS is that she will write articles for two reasons: if she has good sources (i.e., there is actual fire) or she is trying to push the issue. I got the sense this was the latter.

[Uncle Ted]

My sense with PFS is that she will write articles for two reasons: if she has good sources (i.e., there is actual fire) or she is trying to push the issue. I got the sense this was the latter.

I am guessing she is a lurker on CS to find things to write about.

[Topper]

I am guessing she is a lurker on CS to find things to write about.

Then we will have to conceal your status as one of the Twelve with his second anointing. Nobody knows your secret, Ted.

[Uncle Ted]

Then we will have to conceal your status as one of the Twelve with his second anointing. Nobody knows your secret, Ted.

You're confusing me with Clack.

[Topper]

You're confusing me with Clack.

Elder Eyring, your secret is safe with us.

[pellegrino]

I am guessing she is a lurker on CS to find things to write about.

nah, that didn't start here. She admitted in the article that she got it from John Dehlin, which is where phippo got it. I do think this is a case where PFS is pushing for it, given the sources she's citing.

[Pelado]

Dehlin writes on his Facebook page that he has heard that "this change is primarily motivated out of a desire to help the church avoid discrimination-based litigation once same-sex marriage is allowed in all 50 states."

By separating "civil ceremonies from the temple ceremonies (ahead of time)," Dehlin writes, "apparently the church feels like it will avoid discrimination lawsuits down the road."

Not sure if this was mentioned earlier in the thread, but it's the most likely reason for a change, if it does go through.

[SCcoug]

This seems like a common sense thing to do.

[Jeff Lebowski]

nah, that didn't start here. She admitted in the article that she got it from John Dehlin, which is where phippo got it. I do think this is a case where PFS is pushing for it, given the sources she's citing.

You think she really thinks that her article would have a significant impact? I doubt it.

[Paperback Writer]

Then we will have to conceal your status as one of the Twelve with his second anointing. Nobody knows your secret, Ted.

You're confusing me with Clack.

Elder Eyring, your secret is safe with us.

We are simply getting our dimensions confused. There is a dimension where Elder Nugent is in the Q12. He forms a Q12 power trio with Elder Flowers and Sister Knight.

[Uncle Ted]

Kirby: Family should matter more in LDS temple weddings
[…]

This was a time when The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was really cruising with the catchphrase "Families Are Forever." Just about every station wagon in Utah sported a bumper sticker announcing it.


It’s a nice thought but for the fact that it’s also a veiled threat. The average Mormon family as constituted here on Earth isn’t going to be the same family in heaven. That’s because not everyone will be worthy.


Statistically speaking, families aren’t forever. Somebody in every family is always going to be too apathetic, too unconventional, too stubborn or just too evil to make the celestial kingdom cut.


Won’t you be surprised when you get to heaven and discover that for all that hard work, your forever family consists of you, your mom, two cousins (one of whom you never liked), your least favorite sibling, one of your four grandparents and none of your children.

Of course, this assumes that you made it to heaven yourself. If you didn’t, your spouse will be sealed to some other person, your kids won’t visit and you’ll have to room with a crazy sister-in-law who won’t shut up about what a bum your brother was back on Earth.


It was a beautiful day when we got married but also vaguely troubling. Looking around the sealing room in the temple, I realized just how much the celestial kingdom was going to suck if I had to spend it without the company of some of the people I loved the most.
[…]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/lifestyle/57535616-80/temple-family-sltrib-church.html.csp