Deborah Chan
Mormon weddings are a sacred celebration of faith and love. They are based on Bible verses about marriage and the Latter-Day Saints' belief that marriage is part of God's plan. The wedding ceremony involves blessings and promises made to the couple and their family, and the couple promises to be sealed, to honour and love each other, and commit themselves to the teachings of the church. The groom, like the bride, makes a vow to ''take' and consecrate his time, means, and talents to the church.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding venue | LDS temples |
| Wedding attire | Modest and not revealing |
| Wedding vows | To be sealed, to honour and love each other, and commit themselves to the teachings of the church |
| Wedding blessing | To be together for time and all eternity |
| Wedding bands | Exchanged after the temple ceremony |
| Wedding reception | Large parties or intimate gatherings that reflect the couple's style |
| Wedding guests | Friends and family who are 18 years or older and members in good standing of the church |
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What You'll Learn
The couple promises to be 'sealed'
The couple promises to be sealed by the priest, or "sealer", who has the authority from God to seal the couple's marriage for time and all eternity, even after death. The couple kneels at an altar, representing their humility before God. The sealer explains that the wedding means the couple will be married and asked to care for and love one another. The bride and groom are then asked if they are willing to make that promise to one another and to God.
The sealing ceremony is a quick four-sentence rite, which is similar to a traditional religious marriage. The officiant (sealer) says "for time and all eternity" instead of "till death do us part". The couple may also exchange rings, although this is not an official part of the temple wedding ceremony.
Mormon weddings are typically held in LDS temples, a building dedicated to the sacred worship of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The ceremony includes blessings and promises made to the couple and their family. The couple's friends and family are invited to the wedding and sit in the "sealing room" in the temple to watch the ceremony.
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The man vows to 'take'
A Mormon wedding ceremony is quite distinct from other traditional weddings. Weddings for members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are typically held in LDS temples, a building dedicated to the sacred worship of their faith. The couple invites friends and family to attend the wedding—generally 25 to 40 people. All attendees must be at least 18 years old and members in good standing of the church.
The ceremony includes blessings and promises made to the couple and their family. The bride and groom enter the room after the group of friends and family are seated. The bride wears a typical wedding dress, but one that is modest and not revealing. The ceremony begins with a very short speech by the priest, whom Mormons call a "sealer" because they have the authority from God to "seal" a couple for time and all eternity. The couple kneels down at an altar, representing their humility before God.
The man vows to "take" his bride. The couple promises to be sealed, to honour and love each other, and to commit themselves to the teachings of the church. They receive a wedding blessing to be together for time and all eternity. The sealer explains that the wedding means the couple will be married and asks them to care for and love one another. The sealer also asks the bride and groom individually if they are willing to make that promise to one another and to God.
The couple may exchange rings, although this is not an official part of the temple wedding ceremony. Couples sometimes choose to exchange wedding bands after their temple ceremony.
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The couple promises to honour and love each other
A Mormon wedding ceremony involves a sacred temple wedding, traditional wedding attire, and sometimes more than one wedding reception. The weddings are held in LDS temples, a building dedicated to the sacred worship of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
During the ceremony, the couple promises to honour and love each other and commit themselves to the teachings of the church. They receive a wedding blessing to be together for "time and all eternity", which replaces the traditional "till death do us part". The bride and groom kneel down at an altar, representing their humility before God. The "sealer", or priest, explains that the wedding means the couple will be married and asked to care for and love one another. The sealer asks both the bride and groom individually if they are willing to make that promise to each other and to God.
The couple may also exchange wedding rings, although this is not an official part of the temple wedding ceremony. Couples may choose to hold a separate ceremony to exchange rings, which is held at a different location after the temple ceremony and before the wedding reception.
The success rate of Mormon weddings is remarkably high, with a divorce rate of only 6% among Mormons who marry in a temple, compared to the 52% divorce rate among non-Christians and most other Christian religions.
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They commit to the teachings of the church
During a Mormon wedding ceremony, a man and woman (a man and another man dressed as a woman, or two women are not permitted) make their marriage vows to each other. The wedding is held in a temple, a building dedicated to the sacred worship of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). The couple invites friends and family to attend the wedding—generally 25 to 40 people. All attendees must be at least 18 years old and members in good standing of the church.
The ceremony includes blessings and promises made to the couple and their family. The couple kneels down at an altar, representing their humility before God. The wedding officiant, or "sealer", has the authority from God to "seal" a couple for time and all eternity, meaning the marriage endures even in heaven. The sealer gives a short speech about how to have a happy marriage and asks the couple if they are willing to make a promise to each other and to God. The couple promises to be sealed, to honour and love each other, and to commit themselves to the teachings of the church.
The endowment ceremony involves making covenants, promises, and oaths to the church. This includes a promise to consecrate your time, means, and talents to the church, or in other words, your life. The couple receives secret handshakes and passphrases, or "tokens", to get through the veil into the presence of God.
The couple receives a wedding blessing to be together for time and all eternity. The officiant includes the words "For time and all eternity" instead of the traditional "Till death do you part".
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The marriage is for 'time and all eternity'
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, marriage between a man and a woman is considered to be a sacred covenant, or a solemn pledge, made in the presence of God. The marriage is not only intended to endure throughout mortal life but also for eternity in the afterlife. This concept, often referred to as "eternal marriage," is a fundamental doctrine in Mormon theology and is based on the belief that families can be together forever.
During the wedding ceremony, the man and woman exchange vows that seal their union for "time and all eternity." This phrase, "for time and all eternity," is a distinctive feature of Mormon wedding vows and sets them apart from traditional marriage vows in other Christian denominations. It signifies that the marriage transcends temporal boundaries and is intended to last beyond death.
The belief in eternal marriage is rooted in Mormon scriptures, such as the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine and Covenants. These scriptures teach that marriage can be eternal and that families can be sealed together forever through priesthood authority. This doctrine was revealed to Joseph Smith, the founder of the Latter-day Saint movement, and has been a central teaching of the church ever since.
In practical terms, the vow "for time and all eternity" means that the couple pledges to remain faithful and committed to each other throughout their mortal lives and into the afterlife. They promise to love, honor, and support each other, striving to create a harmonious and God-centred home. This vow also implies that the couple will strive for eternal progression, believing that their relationship will continue to grow and develop even after death.
The "for time and all eternity" vow has significant implications for family life and religious practices within the Mormon community. It encourages a strong emphasis on family unity, stability, and the active participation of both parents in raising children. Mormon couples often view their marriage as a sacred responsibility and strive to create a home environment that reflects their religious values and teachings. Regular attendance at religious services, family prayers, and scripture study are common practices in Mormon families, all rooted in the belief in eternal marriage.
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Frequently asked questions
Mormon weddings are similar to traditional weddings, with some distinct differences. The couple invites friends and family to the wedding—generally 25 to 40 people. All attendees must be 18 years old or older and members in good standing with the church. The wedding takes place in a sealing room in a temple, and the couple kneels at an altar to represent their humility before God.
A Mormon man promises to honour and love his wife and commit himself to the teachings of the church. He also vows to "take" his wife and consecrate his life to the church.
The ceremony includes blessings and promises made to the couple and their family. The couple promises to be sealed, to honour and love each other, and commit themselves to the teachings of the church. They receive a wedding blessing to be together for "time and all eternity".
Mormon wedding receptions are large parties or intimate gatherings that reflect the couple's style. They include dancing, a bouquet toss and a celebratory send-off.
The LA Times reported on a study showing that the divorce rate among Mormons who marry in a temple is only 6%. This is remarkable compared to the 52% divorce rate among non-Christians and other Christian religions.
