Celestial marriage
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Celestial marriage is a doctrine peculiar to the Mormon religious movement, particularly The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). It is an ordinance associated with a covenant that takes place only inside LDS temples by those authorized to hold the sealing power. As such it is only available to members deemed "worthy" to enter the temple. In the sacred marriage ceremony a man and a woman make covenants to God and to each other and are sealed as husband and wife for time and all eternity. The LDS Church's doctrine that families can be together forever is empowered by celestial marriage. As with other covenants, the celestial marriage covenant requires the continued righteousness of the couple, although if only one remains righteous that person is promised a righteous eternal companion in eternity.
[edit] Sealing
Celestial marriage is an instance of the LDS doctrine of sealing. Following celestial marriage, not only are the couple sealed as husband and wife, but children born into the marriage are also sealed to that family. In cases where the husband and wife have been previously married civilly and there are already children from their union, the children accompany their parents to the temple and are sealed to their parents following the marriage ceremony.
[edit] Relationship to Plural Marriage
Whether celestial marriage is plural or monogamous is not clearly agreed upon. However, historically speaking celestial marriage and plural marriage are synonymous. (Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132.) Mormon fundamentalists cleave to the traditional interpretation that connects the two (i.e. plural and celestial marriage) while the LDS Church makes a distinction. In their view, plural marriages in the early church, when properly authorized and conducted, were, in fact, celestial marriages; but celestial marriages need not be plural marriages. In addition, since celestial marriages must be performed by someone with proper priesthood authority, and since plural marriage is no longer authorized by the LDS Church, no authorized celestial, plural marriages can be performed today. Mormon fundamentalists argue, in return, that they hold the priesthood authority to perform these marriages. However, while plural marriage is eschewed by the LDS Church today, it continued to be practiced, even after The Manifesto (the 1890 Official Declaration by then LDS President Wilford Woodruff, by which he counseled the Saints to discontinue plural marriage). The practice continued to be officially sanctioned until 1904 and the issuance of the Second Manifesto under Joseph F. Smith. Culturally, many Mormons believe that celestial marriage as plural marriage, will be reinstated or recommence after the Second Coming. This belief has not been taught by church leaders, and "when any Elder of the Church has publicly used language which appeared to convey any such teaching, he has been promptly reproved."[citation needed]
[edit] External links
- The Family: A Proclamation To The World - a formal statement on marriage from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Eternal marriage at Mormon.org
