New rumors re: Temple Marriage

[Anonymous]

I would be SO happy if these changes really happen. About half of my brothers and sisters were at my sealing while the other half waited outside. I didn’t really think much of it at the time, but looking back on it now I feel horrible. I had one sister fly over 4 hours to come to my wedding, just to sit outside. Ugh 😥

My parents were married in another country and the country didn’t recognize temple sealings as a lawful wedding. So they had to be married civilly and then sealed in the temple later. They didn’t have to wait a year, because it wasn’t that they chose a civil wedding OVER a temple wedding–that’s just how it had to be done to be considered legal.

So my question is, why does the church have rules like waiting a year to get sealed in the temple (if you marry civilly first) if it doesn’t apply everywhere?

I definitely understand the principal of putting the temple and sealing ordinance as the priority and focus of your marriage and wedding day, but I don’t think having a civil wedding has to take away from that. Most people want to have a civil marriage because they want their family to be there, which seems like a righteous desire to me. Family is central to the gospel, and I think alienating family members on wedding days is just sad. It breaks my heart.

I have a friend who converted a few years before getting married. Her parents and extended family are not interested in the church at all. She is the only daughter and is very close to her dad. When I heard she was getting sealed in the temple, my heart broke for her whole family but especially for her dad. When she came out of the temple, she went right for her dad and gave him a huge hug while they both sobbed. I just think Heavenly Father, who is our loving father, would understand why my friend wanted her own dad to be at her wedding and would’ve understood if she chose to be married civilly.

I hear a lot of people say, “well what if the couple who chose to be married civilly DIES before the year is up and now they aren’t sealed?!” but isn’t that the whole reason we serve in the temple? Of course someone would do their work and they would have the opportunity to be sealed. That’s just a silly argument IMO 🙂

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