Temple Marriages Now have No Wait Time

09 May

‘Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers…’ 2 Corinthians 6:14

Earlier this week the Church announced a major change to temple marriage policies. On May 6, 2019 their newsroom declared the elimination of a one year waiting period to be sealed eternally in a temple ceremony. See Couples Married Civilly Now Authorized for Immediate Temple Marriage for more info.

Today we’re looking at what they said, and comparing it with the Bible.

In part, the announcement started off by stating —

‘The new policy sets a single global standard for Latter-day Saints around the world. The Church has observed this practice for many years in more than half of the countries where the worldwide faith resides. In those countries, couples are required by law to marry civilly first.’

‘Those countries’ have laws that everyone should be able to see the ceremony. ‘Those countries’ believe that you’re hiding something when you exclude others. They don’t permit secret ceremonies as a protection for the young couple getting married. This way others can intervene if they see a problem. Their next statement was quite incredulous –

Where a licensed marriage is not permitted in the temple, or when a temple marriage would cause parents or immediate family members to feel excluded, a civil ceremony followed by a temple sealing is authorized.

They’re only doing this because of the roadblocks they’re facing in different cultures as they keep plopping down temples outside the U.S.

Meanwhile here Stateside, we personally know of two families deeply impacted by their exclusionary rules. One family was devastated by not being invited to their son’s wedding several years ago. He had converted to the Church a few years beforehand. The e-mails related how hurtful it was for everyone. They were of course allowed to host a reception for the couple after the secret ceremony, but the damage had been done.

The other example was a mirror image of the one above, but this time much more personal. A close family friend was shocked when they got the news they weren’t allowed to attend their grandson’s wedding.

They’re the type of family where everyone in the family is involved in raising the kids. When ‘John’ met a Mormon gal and married her, their days of having his presence in their lives was instantly gone. He didn’t show for family events, and then came the news they weren’t allowed to see him get married.

We’ve mentioned this scenario because those grandparents were childhood friends with my husband’s parents. The grandmother told me it was like a death in the family.

1 John 2:9-11 “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now. He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.11 But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.”

Before the Church’s worldly presence they never cared if family members felt excluded. And this coming from an organization who bases their theology on feelings, and families. The key message of their agenda is found in the following statement –

…The sealing of a husband and wife in the temple is of eternal significance and a crowning experience on the covenant path.

A crowning experience in the life of a Christian is worshiping Christ Jesus and Him crucified. Matthew 22:36-40. It’s not about the building they’re married in because those things are temporary, and have no impact on spending eternity with Him.

Through their continuing loss of control you can see how they’re still trying to control the behavior of its members…

The Church asks that these civil marriage ceremonies be simple and dignified. Couples may use chapels owned by the Church for these ceremonies. Regardless of location, the temple sealing should be the central focus of the marriage and provide the spiritual basis on which the couple begins life together.

Our hearts break over the outlook of these people. They’re grasping at straws to stay afloat and relevant in a world they’ve built on lies.

There wasn’t a single mention of Jesus, or what He did for us at Calvary. There was no mention of how a married couple’s relationship is strengthened by their mutual love of the Savior. He should be the central focus, not a multi-million dollar building assembled by human hands.

Pray for those who are entertaining the idea to go through with the ungodly practices this church puts forth!

With Love in Christ;

Michelle

1 Cor 1:18

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