After a mission, a temple marriage is one of the most important events in the life of a Mormon male and probably the most important event in the life of a Mormon women. Temple marriages last for time and eternity. The LDS theological view is that most religions grant an automatic divorce for married couples when the husband or wife dies.
A couple must prove that both the bride and groom are worthy before getting married in the temple. Mormons go through temple recommended interviews every view years to maintain the privilege of temple attendance. When two worthy members decide to marry each other, they go to the temple to be sealed.
The Purpose of Temple Sealings
“Families can be Together Forever,” is a song that gets sung by Mormon children. This children's song introduces the concept or eternal families to Mormons at a young age. The sealing ceremony binds the couple and any children produced together forever. After the resurrection and the judgment, all the members of the family stay together when they make it to the Celestial Kingdom.
Children born to parents who are sealed in the temple are referred to as Born in Covenant, abbreviated as BIC. This typically means that they were born into the church and were raised as Mormons. Some couples, particularly those who live in areas with a low Mormon population, go through a church marriage and wait a year before getting sealed in the temple.
Who Can Attend Temple Marriages
Only faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who hold a temple recommend can attend a temple sealing ceremony. In areas with a high Mormon population where most of the family is Mormon, such as Utah and Southern Idaho, this is not a problem. In the areas that the Utah Mormons refer to as the "mission field", which is anywhere except Idaho and Utah, a different practice has emerged. Even if a Mormon couple gets married in the temple, a wedding reception is held off of temple grounds after the couple goes through the ceremony.
Because only temple recommended holders can visit a Mormon temple owned by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many friends and family members who would be invited to a wedding held at the church of another denomination get left out. Mormon couples living outside of areas with a high Mormon population hold a civil ceremony and wait the year required before getting sealed in the temple.
LDS General authorities have spoken out against the practice of delaying temple marriages, but it helps prevent hurt feelings of non-Mormon friends and family members, who cannot attend the sealing ceremony.
Resources:
All About Mormons – Temple Weddings
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