LDS- Marriage, Sealings, and endowments

[Luvs2Learn]

Hi,
I have read a few threads regarding LDS marriages etc…, Can someone from the LDS please explaine what the difference between being married and being sealed is? and what are endowments? And what is the LDS view of the sacrament of marriage?

 

[zerinus]

Hi,
I have read a few threads regarding LDS marriages etc…, Can someone from the LDS please explaine what the difference between being married and being sealed is?

LDS believe that marriage when performed in the Mormon temple is eternal and does not get dissolved at death. “Sealing” is a bit of Mormon jargon that loosely refers to the “externalization” of an existing marriage that was not performed in the temple, but valid according to the laws of the land. In other words, if you and your existing wife became Mormons, and wanted to make your existing marriage eternal by solemnizing it in a Mormon temple, that act is loosely referred to as “sealing”. It is basically the same thing as marriage. You could just easily call it marriage as sealing.

and what are endowments?

Mormons have more sacraments than the Catholic Church does! Some of those sacraments exclusive to Mormons are performed in our temples, from which non-Mormons are excluded. The Endowment ceremony is one of those rites. Brigham Young described the Endowment as follows:

‘Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father, … and gain your eternal exaltation.’” [Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe (1941), 416.] (Russell M. Nelson, “Personal Preparation for Temple Blessings,” Ensign, May 2001, 32.)

And what is the LDS view of the sacrament of marriage?

We believe that Marriage was intended by God from the beginning to be eternal. We can make it eternal by solemnizing it in our temples by a special rite of the priesthood that only we have and are able to perform.

 

[AtticusFinch]

A sealing is a cool ceremony. You kneel acrooss your intended on either side of an altar, looking into each others’ eyes. Behind each of you, there are large mirrors. Looking into the mirror ahead of you, it reflects the mirror behind you infinitly (really cool looking). It symbolizses the sealing is for “time and all eternity”.

The endowment ceremony is what a Mormon does after a certain age. Missionaries are not allowed to serve until they have their endowments. If you are single, or go alone, you do it by yourself. If you are getting married or have your wife with you, you do it together. I have not been since I left the LDS Church, but men and women sit on different sides of the room. Prior to 1990, the program you watched started with Jesus creating the world along with Micheal. You then watched Satan tell a Catholic Priest (or collared preacher) to trick Eve and make them sin. The prgram proceeds thru the terrestial, telestial and finally, the celestial kingdoms. Along the way, you learn secret phrases and handshakes (almost identical to the ones Masons used, which should not a surprise since Joseph came up with the ceremony right after going thru the Masonic one). You also make blood oaths and vow to allow yourself to be killed (by slicing your throat or bowels) if you divulege any of the ceremony. Untimately, you are brought thru the veil (a curtain) ito a celestial kingdom (a very very beautiful peaceful room). If you have a wife, you bring her thru after you. It is after this ceremony, if it is your first time, that you are allowed to wear the long underwear and tshirt with the special markings. After you go thru for yourself, each time you go afterwards, you go for someone who had died.

You can also do baptisms for the dead.

Mormons are asked to go to the temple at least once a year if one is not close. If one is close, you are asked to go weekely or at least monthly.

One cannot go to the highest level of heaven unless you go to the temple. Once cannot go to the temple unless one follows all the rules, especially paying your tihes. So, ultimately, one cannot go to heaven unless one pays his or her money. Heaven is for sale.

 

[dnu]

It would totally be worth becoming Mormon for 18 months to see that.

 

[adstrinity]

The Blood Oath is no longer done according to the LDS.

And, zerinus, I thought the Mormons could decide to be wedded “til death do us part” or forever, I thought they had that choice.

 

[zerinus]

And, zerinus, I thought the Mormons could decide to be wedded “til death do us part” or forever, I thought they had that choice.

Yes, they can. They are not forced to have a temple marriage. The information I gave was in answer to the questions asked.

 

[AtticusFinch]

Yes, they can. They are not forced to have a temple marriage. The information I gave was in answer to the questions asked.

as was the information I gave

 

[AtticusFinch]

Going into the Celestial room is a lot like going into any Catholic parish. Very quiet and peaceful. A good place to contemplate.

 

[Dominic_Korozya]

Hi,
I have read a few threads regarding LDS marriages etc…,

Is there a section here on these forums for LDS?

Can someone from the LDS please explaine what the difference between being married

I think it is expected of you to actually marry if you become an official member of the church.

and being sealed is?

This ensures your bondage together after physical life on earth, so that you can be together still afterwards.

and what are endowments?

I don’t know.

And what is the LDS view of the sacrament of marriage?

I think it is a must.

 

[Dominic_Korozya]

It would totally be worth becoming Mormon for 18 months to see that.

Is this how long you have to attend until you are considered an official member? Will I get communion then?

 

[ParkerD]

Is this how long you have to attend until you are considered an official member? Will I get communion then?

Dominic,
Good day to you. Becoming an “official member” happens when one is baptized and immediately thereafter (within a day or within the hour) receives the “gift of the Holy Ghost.” The baptism shows the person’s repentant heart and their covenant with Christ to follow Him and do His will to the best of their ability, and the gift of the Holy Ghost is so that they will have help along the way to be able to keep their covenant of baptism, plus have a great peace and comfort as they go through all the ups and downs of life.

If an adult couple joins the LDS church and were already married before, then they would usually need to wait at least a year in order to be “sealed” in an LDS temple (by the authority that Peter had to “bind and loose” on earth and in heaven), so that during that year they show how sincere they were in making their baptismal covenants as they continue to attend church and the Holy Ghost helps them to gain greater insights as they read the scriptures.

Being “sealed” in an LDS temple is like the most important covenant that can be made by mortals with God, and it is also a covenant with one’s spouse so there are three parties to that covenant. The “baptismal covenant” is the door-opening covenant to enter the gate and the path toward eternal life through the grace of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

After their baptismal covenant, a person is able to show every week that they are keeping their covenant with all their heart by partaking of the “communion” or the “sacrament of the Lord’s supper” which is the bread (symbolizing the body of Christ given for all of us, and His word and His resurrection) and water (symbolizing the redeeming blood of Christ and also the “water of life” which He gives to all mankind). They don’t need to “go to confession” before partaking of the “communion”, since they have confessed their sins to God in private prayer and thus have repented each week before coming to church. (This is an ongoing process of repenting from sins during the course of one’s life.)

 

[ParkerD]

Is there a section here on these forums for LDS?

No, but several LDS participate in this particular forum of non-Catholic religions.

I think it is expected of you to actually marry if you become an official member of the church.

Not quite correct. If two people happened to be living together as a couple then they would certainly need to be married (civilly) before they would be considered ready to be baptized and become members. But of course many single people become members, and some stay single their whole life and they are welcomed always as official members in good standing. (But the lay leadership are usually married, except in developing nations where that may not always be the case.)

I don’t know.

An endowment means a special gift of power to resist temptation plus a special covenant with God that is taken very seriously.

I think it is a must.

To clarify again, marriage in an LDS temple is considered very important, but not “essential” to be a “covenant member of the church.” It would be when the couple are ready to make solemn promises to each other and to God that are eternally binding promises, which they seriously intend to keep throughout their life and throughout eternity so those covenants are extremely important, and need to have been prepared for.

There are many, many single adult members of the LDS church, in many, many parts of the world.

 

[AtticusFinch]

Not quite correct. If two people happened to be living together as a couple then they would certainly need to be married (civilly) before they would be considered ready to be baptized and become members. But of course many single people become members, and some stay single their whole life and they are welcomed always as official members in good standing. (But the lay leadership are usually married, except in developing nations where that may not always be the case.)

When I was a missionary in Honduras, most adult couples were not married. We could not baptize them until they were married. We often paid for their weddings (civil) if they could not afford it.

An endowment means a special gift of power to resist temptation plus a special covenant with God that is taken very seriously.

It is, or at least was, also a blood oath.

To clarify again, marriage in an LDS temple is considered very important, but not “essential” to be a “covenant member of the church.” It would be when the couple are ready to make solemn promises to each other and to God that are eternally binding promises, which they seriously intend to keep throughout their life and throughout eternity so those covenants are extremely important, and need to have been prepared for.

However, when I was LDS, I was taught that, in order to attain the highest level of heaven, one must be married. I doubt I would have gotten married back then if not for that doctrine. Also back then, Men pledged to obey God, women pledged to obey yheir husbands.

 

[Dominic_Korozya]

Dominic,
Good day to you. Becoming an “official member” happens when one is baptized and immediately thereafter (within a day or within the hour) receives the “gift of the Holy Ghost.” The baptism shows the person’s repentant heart and their covenant with Christ to follow Him and do His will to the best of their ability, and the gift of the Holy Ghost is so that they will have help along the way to be able to keep their covenant of baptism, plus have a great peace and comfort as they go through all the ups and downs of life.

If an adult couple joins the LDS church and were already married before, then they would usually need to wait at least a year in order to be “sealed” in an LDS temple (by the authority that Peter had to “bind and loose” on earth and in heaven), so that during that year they show how sincere they were in making their baptismal covenants as they continue to attend church and the Holy Ghost helps them to gain greater insights as they read the scriptures.

Being “sealed” in an LDS temple is like the most important covenant that can be made by mortals with God, and it is also a covenant with one’s spouse so there are three parties to that covenant. The “baptismal covenant” is the door-opening covenant to enter the gate and the path toward eternal life through the grace of the Savior, Jesus Christ.

After their baptismal covenant, a person is able to show every week that they are keeping their covenant with all their heart by partaking of the “communion” or the “sacrament of the Lord’s supper” which is the bread (symbolizing the body of Christ given for all of us, and His word and His resurrection) and water (symbolizing the redeeming blood of Christ and also the “water of life” which He gives to all mankind). They don’t need to “go to confession” before partaking of the “communion”, since they have confessed their sins to God in private prayer and thus have repented each week before coming to church. (This is an ongoing process of repenting from sins during the course of one’s life.)

Thankyou Parker, you gave me more than I expected.

Is the Eucharist in the LDS church taken as seriously as in the Catholic Church? Excluding transubstantiation of course?

 

[ParkerD]

ParkerD;6464381:

Not quite correct. If two people happened to be living together as a couple then they would certainly need to be married (civilly) before they would be considered ready to be baptized and become members. But of course many single people become members, and some stay single their whole life and they are welcomed always as official members in good standing. (But the lay leadership are usually married, except in developing nations where that may not always be the case.)

When I was a missionary in Honduras, most adult couples were not married. We could not baptize them until they were married. We often paid for their weddings (civil) if they could not afford it.

An endowment means a special gift of power to resist temptation plus a special covenant with God that is taken very seriously.

It is, or at least was, also a blood oath.

To clarify again, marriage in an LDS temple is considered very important, but not “essential” to be a “covenant member of the church.” It would be when the couple are ready to make solemn promises to each other and to God that are eternally binding promises, which they seriously intend to keep throughout their life and throughout eternity so those covenants are extremely important, and need to have been prepared for.

However, when I was LDS, I was taught that, in order to attain the highest level of heaven, one must be married. I doubt I would have gotten married back then if not for that doctrine. Also back then, Men pledged to obey God, women pledged to obey their husbands.

Hi, Atticus,
I guess the “ball is in my court”, so I feel like I should respond to some of the things you have written here.

First and foremost, regardless of your religion or the mistakes or regrets of your past, you will know in your heart that God loves you as you are and loves you for who you are, and also believes in you. As each of us looks back on our lives and encounters regrets, it’s so important to keep this uppermost in mind!

Second, although from time to time there has certainly been encouragement for returned missionaries to look for a wife and to marry (and that may have led some to rush into marriage), there has also been an underlying message that free will and choice and making a careful, prayerful, but ultimately a personal decision about marriage and whom to marry are paramount to the marriage question. If a single person decides marriage is not really what they want in their life, and if they have dealt with lingering personal doubts about themselves or about forming relationships and have sought the Savior’s help in overcoming such possible lingering situations in their life, then the decision to stay single would not per se be an “unrighteous” decision, and there is a place in the Celestial glory for those who make such a choice. But it means they didn’t want marriage, so it is not going to be forced on them of course, yet they would be Celestial qualifiers and rejoice in their resurrection as such.

Your case is now different since although you had written “I doubt I would have gotten married back then,” the implication is that you did. I guess I am inferring that you may have a complicated situation with family, so I guess that means you get to work out the difficulties and use the help of God and of prayer and of the Savior in doing that.

This life is always going to be about making difficult choices and about figuring out the sincerity of our love for God, love for others, trust in the redeeming love and power of Christ, and the need to work out relationships with others where they are learning those things also and we are all learning to communicate while we all have different points of view.

Two other points: the endowment has always been about gaining power from God through having made a serious and binding covenant with God. It would be well to read the book of Revelation about how the righteous “overcome” (with Christ’s help) but that means they are going to be tested along the way, so being threatened as you suggested can be one of those tests (though hopefully not), but I have never felt threatened in that way nor did I ever think there was some huge deal about promising to put my life on the line if needed.

Also, within marriage the underlying condition within the eternal marriage covenant is that both the man and the woman are personally righteous and love each other above all other earthly relationships, and that the man looks at the woman as his partner at his side–therefore his equal in their partnership and always with the need to not only counsel together but more often than not for the man to listen to his wife and use her counsel and insights for being better off than without those helps in his life.

Best wishes to you.

 

[ParkerD]

Thankyou Parker, you gave me more than I expected.

Is the Eucharist in the LDS church taken as seriously as in the Catholic Church? Excluding transubstantiation of course?

Dominic,
“Communion” or the remembrance of the “Last Supper” is done each week as an ordinance that is simply referred to as “the Sacrament”. The meeting where this is done is referred to as “Sacrament meeting.” It is a much simpler ordinance in the LDS church meetings, but the intent is that each member will think about their baptismal covenants, think about Christ’s life, example, atonement, suffering for us, death, and resurrection, and about His promise to be with us through the Holy Ghost as well as through the power of His grace.

Young men assist in giving this ordinance to the members, which means the young men have an important responsibility that helps them see the need to stay worthy in their lives so that they remain worthy to act in such an important responsibility of service to others.

 

[Dominic_Korozya]

Dominic,
“Communion” or the remembrance of the “Last Supper” is done each week as an ordinance that is simply referred to as “the Sacrament”. The meeting where this is done is referred to as “Sacrament meeting.” It is a much simpler ordinance in the LDS church meetings, but the intent is that each member will think about their baptismal covenants, think about Christ’s life, example, atonement, suffering for us, death, and resurrection, and about His promise to be with us through the Holy Ghost as well as through the power of His grace.

Okat, that explains it.

Young men assist in giving this ordinance to the members, which means the young men have an important responsibility that helps them see the need to stay worthy in their lives so that they remain worthy to act in such an important responsibility of service to others

Once you have married someone within the church could you remain married but just not have children?

Also, why re-baptise people?

 

[ParkerD]

Okat, that explains it.

Once you have married someone within the church could you remain married but just not have children?

Also, why re-baptise people?

Dominic,
It’s pretty important to understand the concept of free will and choice, and that certainly applies to the idea of having and raising children. (So, “yes.”) It’s also important to understand that a person who has made the kind of covenant with Christ that implies they will be making changes throughout their life as Christ guides them to make those changes through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and through the process of repentance (which really does mean “change for the better”), will make many changes and their outlook will change, so what they had thought was a plan they had for their life may change later on.

Also, there is not one right answer for every different situation, meaning that it really does become a joint decision involving a couple and how they are guided by the Holy Ghost in their life, while also having an inclination toward helping bring again Zion with however they are guided to help in doing that.

A baptismal covenant, because it is recorded in heaven through keys given to men on earth, needs to be done with those keys fully in place and authorized by God for the specific time and place. A person does not baptize themselves–they allow another person who is acting as a representative of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to place them fully into the water and bring them out again as a symbol of the death of their “old carnal self” and a rebirth of their “new child-like, humble, born-again self” who is ready to go forward on the path toward sanctification.

 

[AtticusFinch]

Hi, Atticus,
I guess the “ball is in my court”, so I feel like I should respond to some of the things you have written here.

First and foremost, regardless of your religion or the mistakes or regrets of your past, you will know in your heart that God loves you as you are and loves you for who you are, and also believes in you. As each of us looks back on our lives and encounters regrets, it’s so important to keep this uppermost in mind!

Thank you

Second, although from time to time there has certainly been encouragement for returned missionaries to look for a wife and to marry (and that may have led some to rush into marriage), there has also been an underlying message that free will and choice and making a careful, prayerful, but ultimately a personal decision about marriage and whom to marry are paramount to the marriage question. If a single person decides marriage is not really what they want in their life, and if they have dealt with lingering personal doubts about themselves or about forming relationships and have sought the Savior’s help in overcoming such possible lingering situations in their life, then the decision to stay single would not per se be an “unrighteous” decision, and there is a place in the Celestial glory for those who make such a choice. But it means they didn’t want marriage, so it is not going to be forced on them of course, yet they would be Celestial qualifiers and rejoice in their resurrection as such.

That is odd to hear. I was always taught that to get the highest level, you had to be married. Are you saying that what I was taught was wrong or that it is no longer true?

Your case is now different since although you had written “I doubt I would have gotten married back then,” the implication is that you did. I guess I am inferring that you may have a complicated situation with family, so I guess that means you get to work out the difficulties and use the help of God and of prayer and of the Savior in doing that.

lol…yes, I got married. She was also a retuerned missionary. It was a long rocky marriage. It did not last.

Two other points: the endowment has always been about gaining power from God through having made a serious and binding covenant with God. It would be well to read the book of Revelation about how the righteous “overcome” (with Christ’s help) but that means they are going to be tested along the way, so being threatened as you suggested can be one of those tests (though hopefully not), but I have never felt threatened in that way nor did I ever think there was some huge deal about promising to put my life on the line if needed.

Also, within marriage the underlying condition within the eternal marriage covenant is that both the man and the woman are personally righteous and love each other above all other earthly relationships, and that the man looks at the woman as his partner at his side–therefore his equal in their partnership and always with the need to not only counsel together but more often than not for the man to listen to his wife and use her counsel and insights for being better off than without those helps in his life.

COLOR=“SlateGray”]Things have changed in the LDS Church since I was a member

Best wishes to you.

And to you

 

[ParkerD]

Thank you

That is odd to hear. I was always taught that to get the highest level, you had to be married. Are you saying that what I was taught was wrong or that it is no longer true?
And to you

Atticus,
I first want to reiterate that the first prior comment was not just pretense or happenstance–I knew what I was writing was true and was what I was impressed to write at that moment in time, for you to “hear” and “know” in your heart. (I feel that now, as well, for you to know.)

You will remember that there is a statement about “three heavens or degrees” in the Celestial kingdom. (D & C 131) It makes complete sense that the situation of having the kind of joint throne (meaning real rulership but only through having learned how to do that by means of Christ having taught the married couple all they will need to know and by their having a complete oneness with each other and with the divine will) that is promised in the eternal marriage covenant, if the couple are faithful to their covenants, would come to a couple and not to a single person since the whole idea is that they will be “Parents” of spirits to guide and prepare those spirits to be ready to live on an earth like we have done.

So those not choosing the eternal marriage covenant for themselves, would not be showing they want to be “Parents” of spirits, and instead would be showing they wanted to be “Ministering Angels” who also live in the presence of God and receive tremendous joy and love in that supernal relationship with God and Christ.