When talking about LDS (Latter-day Saints) wedding wishes among your friends and relatives, it's crucial to ensure the conversation remains peaceful. Discuss the significance of temple ceremonies and sealings clearly. It's also vital to steer clear of any wedding or civil ceremony that might be considered sexually suggestive prior to the temple marriage. Furthermore, you should definitely avoid entering into a marriage that would be considered improper with a Mormon ancestor. These tips are just a handful of considerations to remember as you organize your special day. Additionally, be sure to adhere strictly to these wedding wishes!
Avoid contention when discussing mormon wedding wishes
If you're planning a Mormon wedding, you'll want to avoid contention with your partner. You'll want to ensure that you're not going to offend either one of you, and you'll want to keep sensitive conversations to the ceremony itself. Here are some tips for avoiding contention when discussing Mormon wedding wishes:
Explain doctrine regarding temples and sealings
In 1844, Joseph Smith explained the word turn in Malachi 4, describing it as a "bind" or "seal" that he used to seal families together as eternal units. The purpose of sealing a family was to save the members for eternity. The ceremony took place at temples where high priesthood elders sealed a couple or family with a seal of eternal life.
While a Mormon wedding ceremony requires an explanation of the church's temples and sealings, many couples choose civil ceremonies instead. These ceremonies provide ample room for family members and friends to attend the ceremony, but they are not without risk. Civil ceremonies are subject to dissent, so you must be prepared to defend your faith and avoid criticism. To avoid this, consider a civil ceremony as an alternative to a Mormon temple wedding.
In the early days of the church, Joseph Smith introduced the sealing ceremony. This special ceremony, which binds two people in heaven and on earth, makes a marriage covenant that will last through death. Mormons believe that sealing is essential for salvation, so they perform them for themselves and for their dead ancestors. Those who do not attend temples will not be able to enter heaven.
If you want your family members to accept your decision to get married in a Mormon temple, it's important to explain the importance of the temple to your family. The temple is an integral part of Mormon worship, and the sealing ceremony can help them accept your decision. If you're not sure whether or not your family is ready for this type of religious ceremony, you can always consult a book written by Boyd K. Packer.
Avoid sexually suggestive weddings
If you're going to have a Mormon wedding, you may want to consider avoiding any sexually suggestive activities. LDS members often feel uncomfortable having these events at their wedding. Fortunately, there are several ways to avoid these events, and they are all perfectly legal and acceptable. However, you can do a few things to avoid them, so that the entire event remains respectful of your beliefs. Here are some ideas.
Consider your attire. LDS weddings are often spontaneous, free-formal, and largely unstructured. In order to avoid being perceived as unorthodox, wear modest clothing that covers your knees and neck. You may want to opt for business clothing. Alcohol is also out of the question, so you can't expect a full bar or other sexy entertainment. You should also avoid alcoholic beverages, which may be offensive to the couple.
Avoid having a civil ceremony before a temple marriage
While it is not against the law to have a civil ceremony before a temple wedding, it is strongly advised not to do so. A civil ceremony can take many days, and it may also be considered unclean if the sealing is done in the temple. Having a civil ceremony first may make it impossible to keep the temple ordinances and rules in full force. However, you may be able to have a temple sealing in a short period of time after you complete your civil ceremony.
While civil ceremonies do not involve a guest list, they may require witnesses. Some states require two witnesses who are at least 18 years old. Others may not require witnesses, but the requirement is still very high. If you are considering a civil ceremony, be sure to check with your city hall for any additional requirements. By avoiding this practice, you will have the chance to marry your loved one and bring your family members with you on your honeymoon.
When considering a temple marriage, you should determine the temple's opening hours. Not all temples are open on Monday evenings. In addition, you should find out which temples have sessions in languages other than English. In addition to California, New Zealand, Idaho Falls, and St. George have sessions in English, French, and German, among others. Lastly, check the hours and locations of the temple before choosing one. It may be best to choose a temple that is open on Sundays.
Those who have civil weddings are still permitted to get a temple marriage if they meet the requirements for a worthy couple. A worthy civil ceremony couple may receive endowments and seal their marriage after a year of their marriage. It is also possible to have a civil ceremony before a temple wedding if the local authorities approve your request. However, there are certain exceptions to the one-year rule. You must consult the Church president or First Presidency to make sure you're eligible for a temple wedding.
Prepare for the temple sealing
Before you decide to have your Mormon wedding at a temple, it's important to know a little bit about the process. In general, you'll need to arrive at least thirty minutes before the sealing time. During this time, the bride and groom will change into temple-appropriate clothing, and the guests will need to take off their shoes. Once inside the temple, the sealing itself will last 20 to 40 minutes. Afterward, your guests will leave.
When it comes to flowers, the temples do not allow live flowers inside the temple. That means no corsages or boutonnieres! Instead, Mormon brides leave their bouquets with family members outside the temple. If you plan on having a traditional wedding, you should tell your relatives to store your bouquets in a cool place, and keep them away from heat and water. You will also want to leave your bouquets and boutonnieres with family members.
Another requirement for temple sealings is that every guest have a recommend. This recommend enables you to enter the temple as a married couple. However, if you plan on inviting non-Mormon guests, be sure to inform them beforehand, as they won't be able to view the sealing, so prepare accordingly. Make sure that the recommend holder has no conflicting religious beliefs, as this will prevent any confusion between the two of you.
While it's important to bring your marriage license and other documents to the temple, it's also important to remember that there are several other requirements. You must meet with the temple Sealers before your sealing ceremony, and they'll likely give you some advice on what you should bring. The temple sealing ceremony can be a lovely, neutral, or strange experience. It can be as beautiful or as weird as the Fast & Testimony meeting, depending on the couple's goals and personalities.
