Mormon Wedding Sealing: What To Expect

A Mormon wedding sealing is a sacred tradition that takes place inside a temple, binding the couple for eternity. The sealing ceremony is conducted by a bishop or temple president, who has the authority to perform sealings. The couple kneels at an altar facing each other, with two mirrors creating an infinite reflection of the couple. The groom takes his vows, and the couple receives blessings as a married couple. The temple sealer reads the vows, and the groom responds with yes. The couple is then pronounced husband and wife. The sealing ceremony is one of the most important ceremonies in a Mormon's life, as it ensures their marriage lasts an eternity.

The couple kneels at the altar facing each other, holding hands

The temple sealer then reads the vows to the groom, who responds with "yes". The temple sealer repeats the vows, adding the names of the bride and groom. The temple sealer then pronounces the couple as husband and wife and says nuptial blessings for the couple. The couple takes their vows to be faithful to each other even after death. The groom takes his vows first, followed by the bride.

The sealing ceremony is a sacred tradition that ensures the marriage lasts an eternity. The temple sealing is one of the most important ceremonies in a Mormon's life. The couple will be married beyond physical death and resurrection if they remain faithful. The main purpose of the sealing is to seal relationships beyond the physical nature of human life.

The groom takes vows, and the couple receives blessings

The groom's vows are an essential part of the sealing ceremony, which takes place in a Mormon temple or a couple's home. The groom and bride kneel at the altar, facing each other, with the groom on the right and the bride on the left. They wear special ceremonial temple robes, with the bride in a veil and the groom in a cap, and white shoes.

The groom takes his vows, with the temple sealer reading them aloud and then repeating them with the couple's names added. The groom responds with "yes". The vows are followed by a blessing from the Church. The couple is then pronounced husband and wife.

The temple sealer reads:

> " [Name], do you take [Name] by the right hand and receive her unto yourself to be your lawfully wedded wife (give yourself to him to be his lawfully wedded wife, and receive him to be your lawfully wedded husband), for time and all eternity, with a covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites, and ordinances pertaining to this holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant; and this you do in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?"

The sealing ceremony is a sacred and binding ritual, and the most important ceremony in a Mormon's life. It is conducted by the bishop or temple president, who has the authority to perform sealings. The couple kneels between two mirrors, projecting their infinite image, and face each other, holding hands in a patriarchal grip. The mirrors symbolise their eternal marriage and are a fundamental feature of the sealing ceremony.

The sealing ceremony ensures the marriage lasts an eternity, and in the afterlife, the family will be together.

The couple wears special ceremonial temple robes

The couple's wedding attire is an important part of the sealing ceremony. The bride and groom wear special ceremonial temple robes, which are white and provided by the church. The bride's outfit includes a veil, and her body is covered except for her hands. The groom wears a cap. Both wear sashes and white shoes, and green aprons.

The temple robes are significant as they are similar to the religious dress of other faiths, such as hijabs, turbans, cassocks, or vestments. They are also a reminder of the couple's belief in and connection to God. The white colour of the robes and shoes symbolises purity, and the green apron represents nature and growth.

The couple's wedding attire also includes special garments worn under their clothing. These garments are like armour, protecting the couple from the 'onslaught of immorality, crime, substance abuse, and other insidious influences' of the modern world. They are also a reminder of their belief in and connection to God throughout the day.

The bride and groom's outfits are an important part of the sealing ceremony, with the white robes and shoes symbolising purity and new beginnings, and the green aprons representing nature and growth. The garments worn underneath are a protective armour against the challenges of the modern world and a reminder of their faith.

The temple sealer reads the vows to the groom, then repeats them with the couple's names

The temple sealer reads the vows to the groom, who is then required to respond with a "yes". The vows are then repeated with the names of the couple. The vows are as follows:

> Brother [last name], do you take Sister [last name] by the right hand and receive her unto yourself to be your lawfully wedded wife (give yourself to him to be his lawfully wedded wife, and receive him to be your lawfully wedded husband), for time and all eternity, with a covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites, and ordinances pertaining to this holy order of matrimony in the new and everlasting covenant; and this you do in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?

The temple sealer will then pronounce the couple as husband and wife and say nuptial blessings for the couple.

The groom's response of "yes" is important, as the marriage is only valid if both parties consent. The temple sealer cannot seal a person to another individual they do not want to be sealed to. The consent of the deceased is also required for posthumous sealings, and it is left to God to decide if the relationship will continue after death.

The temple sealer will also ask the couple to clasp hands during the ceremony. The couple will kneel around an altar, facing each other, and facing double mirrors that create their infinite reflection, symbolising their eternal marriage. The mirrors are a fundamental feature of a sealing ceremony and the sealing cannot take place without them.

The temple sealer will be a man who holds the priesthood, or the authority from God. Only the prophet can give the sealing power to other men, and relatively few men hold this authority at any given time.

The couple is pronounced husband and wife

The temple sealer will now pronounce the couple officially as husband and wife. The man and woman are now "sealed" together, their family relationships bound for eternity. The sealing ritual is a vital part of salvation in the Mormon faith, and by solemnizing marriages in this way, Mormons believe they are joining families across generations.

The temple sealer will say nuptial blessings for the couple. The couple is now promised blessings and will be given special blessings. They are pronounced "one flesh" by the priesthood holder.

The couple is now married for "time and all eternity". Their marriage will only remain valid if they follow the teachings of the church and retain their religious covenants. They have promised to be faithful to each other for eternity and to remain faithful to the church.

The couple will now walk out of the temple to greet their loved ones. Only members with a temple recommendation can have or attend a temple sealing, so non-Mormon wedding guests and members with no valid temple recommend will wait in the waiting room of the temple or outside during the wedding ceremony.

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