Posted on 07/02/2008 8:18:28 AM PDT by delacoert
Mormon
In the five-plus years that Sam Rogers has served as bishop of the Newburgh ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he's officiated at only a few local weddings.
That's in large part because of the church's beliefs about marriage.
The church teaches that the marriage bond can endure into the afterlife, but only if the couple have their marriage sealed in a Mormon temple. The church's ideal is for couples to marry and be sealed in a temple, and Rogers estimated that the vast majority of active Mormons opt to marry inside a temple. (Indiana has no Mormon temples, but Louisville, Ky., and St. Louis do.)
Rogers said the church does not reveal details of the sealing ceremony because of its sacred nature, and even among Mormons not everyone can enter the temple.
and at #132: Sure, anybody can go to the Temple if they do what they are supposed to do. It will take a bit over a year.
I found it interesting that even family member find themselves unable to attend some marriage ceremonies. I’ll bet that is painful.
After a year of obeying all the rules and regulations required to be a “worthy” mormon, you must have an interview with the bishop and satisfactorily answer the following questions in order to receive a temple “recommend” which will allow you entrance. There you may take part in the “marriage ordinances” that are believed to be necessary to enter the mormon equivalent of the Christian heaven, the ability to reside with God and His Son.
TEMPLE RECOMMEND QUESTIONS
1 Do you have faith in and a testimony of God the Eternal Father, His Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost?
2 Do you have a testimony of the Atonement of Christ and of His role as Savior and Redeemer?
3 Do you have a testimony of the restoration of the gospel in these the latter days?
4 Do you sustain the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the Prophet, Seer, and Revelator and as the only person on the earth who possesses and is authorized to exercise all priesthood keys? Do you sustain members of the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators? Do you sustain the other General Authorities and local authorities of the Church?
5 Do you live the law of chastity?
6 Is there anything in your conduct relating to members of your family that is not in harmony with the teachings of the Church?
7 Do you support, affiliate with, or agree with any group or individual whose teachings or practices are contrary to or oppose those accepted by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints?
8 Do you strive to keep the covenants you have made, to attend your sacrament and other meetings, and to keep your life in harmony with the laws and commandments of the gospel?
9 Are you honest in your dealings with your fellowmen?
10 Are you a full-tithe payer?
11 Do your keep the Word of Wisdom?
12 Do you have financial or other oblgations to a former spouse or children? If yes, are you current in meeting those obligations?
13 If you have previously received your temple endowment:
Do you keep the covenants that you made in the temple?
Do you wear the garment both night and day as instructed in the endowment and in accordance with the covenant you made in the temple?
14 Have there been any sins or misdeeds in your life that should have been resolved with priesthood authorities but have not been?
15 Do you consider yourself worthy to enter the Lord’s house and participate in temple ordinances?
Traditionally there is a huge difference between Catholic marriages and others in that you pledge yourself to your spouse for life, for better or worse. We have believed that only by tying yourself to another’s unforseen needs are you likely to be wrenched out of your innate selfishness so that you’re other-centered and can appreciate God when you meet him face-to-face.
Sadly, recent American Catholic divorce statistics are as bad as non-Catholics.
I think the Mormon approach to marriage has been very effective in preventing the wildly expensive, ostentatious displays that have become the norm for weddings in this country (as well as in many other countries, including Hindus, Muslims, etc). “Getting married” has become largely about the huge fairy-tale party day and associated financial irresponsibility. If only a handful of close relatives can be present, and not even all of those, rationality is more likely to reign. From what I understand, although Mormon temple sealings are usually followed by some sort of reception, the receptions are generally pretty restrained by mainstream standards. And since there’s a stigma attached to Mormon chapel weddings, I imagine the associated receptions would be even more restrained, especially since many couples would still be looking forward to their “real” wedding in the temple at some later date.
If a mormon does NOT obtain a temple recommend, as in the above post, he/she will NOT be allowed to attend a temple wedding....even if the bride or groom happens to be a child or parent of the "unworthy" mormon.
The "unworthy ones" are made to stay out, but they ARE allowed to gather on the temple steps for the family portrait following the wedding.
And, of course the "unworthies" are allowed to attend and bring gifts to the reception which is not held on "sacred" property.
Then I suppose you haven't attended the likes of my nephew's wedding last month. A family dinner was held on Friday, followed by a Temple ceremony on Saturday Morning (many of the family, including the grandmother was barred from attending), and a lavish and costly reception at Salt Lake's famed McCune mansion where there was a light buffet and dancing. Mighty big bucks were spent in order to "WOW" the crowd.
Of course, the couple had engaged in premarital sex and some light drug use, and so the family knows they lied to the Bishop in order to receive the required "Temple Recommend." But what the heck - appearances were kept! Who cares if a lie was perpetuated?
Painful? Yes, I find it painful that there are many parents who are not worthy to attend the Temple.
That’s why we do NOT have receptions in our Temples.
Are you truly worthy OMM? It seems you think you are, but that is between you and your Bishop, unless of course you happen to miss your childs wedding ceremony, and then we will all know you have a problem with answering the questions in the recommend interview - - we could recognize that you are not worthy.
This process sets people up for derision and shame within their congregations - - or it causes them to lie in order to keep up appearances of righteousness.
I feel bad for those who find worthiness in their own actions and works and forget that it is Jesus Christ that cleases us from all sin. I guess Jesus did warrant at least one mention in the Temple Recommend Questions.
Wow, how forward thinking of them.
Of course you could hold a wedding that is open to everyone in family, church, neighborhood. Have the gown made by bride and friends, and bridesmaids in simple (unmatched dresses). Have the groom and best man wear suits they already owned. Hold a covered dish reception open to everyone afterward with 500 people in attendance where the minister hands check back to groom and the couple still be married (to each other) after 26 years.
I'm not say that our wedding prevented the rest of the country from having "wildly expensive, ostentatious displays" like yours did though.
I guess Mormons really only go to weddings to attend the reception.
I suppose you are not worthy?
Everything else is man-made.
It boggles the mind. The recommend was so important that it was OK to bar family members from the ceremony. And lieing, which violates one of the ten commandments, against bearing false witness. And a lavish reception, which probably had no alcohol served. That is a high price to pay to be married in a temple.
I'm sorry, but that is why I am an atheistic agnostic. Or maybe an agnostic atheist? Churches, like all other institutions, are social constructs, and rarely do they offer anything other than a form of social control. In many ways, gangs are like churches. They provide an us to belong to, and a them to be against. And rigid requirements for membership.
You are correct. I am not worthy to attend a Mormon Temple. I cannot answer questions #3, #4, #8 or #11 truthfully and still find approval within your organization.
The only question I must answer in the affirmative is question #2 and that gives me access to all the blessings that are His to offer. - it is all I need and it has given me the zeal to live for Him, in Him and through Him as a new creation.
I’m counting myself as lucky. I’m having a Catholic wedding in October and a Hindu wedding in December. This way, each mother has her own list of details over which she can fret endlessly, and at the end, both families will feel good and married.
Any institution that fosters lies is not of God.
Then you should not spend your life in pursuit of the destruction of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. You will not succeed. You should find something positive to do with your life.
Another chance to post the picts of my son’s wedding on June 21!
http://nickellphotography.blogspot.com/2008/06/victoria-and-joe.html
The ceremony was simple, inexpensive, joyful and significant. And best of all - - everyone was included!
My life is very significant in Him. He leads me down paths of righteousness for His sake. I strive only to do His will.
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