Rationale for the Civil Marriage Waiting Period

[Anonymous]

That film just came to mind where the father of the bride missed his own daughter’s temple wedding to sit outside with the groom’s non-member parents.

Don’t remember what it’s called, but I really appreciated that portrayal.

[Anonymous]

If you ever come across the title, I would be interested in knowing about it….

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen or heard about that film, but I also can’t recall anything else about it. I’ll try to find more info and provide it.

[Anonymous]

SilentDawning wrote:

I think I have learned that to some, the whole getting sealed first carries a significance I can only appreciate as a spectator. I never felt it or saw it as others do. The fact that one is sealed in the temple with all the eternal blessings was all that really mattered, and whether there a reception, a civil wedding, or anything else on the same day doesn’t invalidate the binding of my marriage in heaven or make it less sacred or important.

I did call my father and told him I signed the petition, as I said earlier. He and I spoke about religion in general, and it was such a relief to feel we were on the same page with this one, even though he disagrees with the LDS faith in general. He cited how he feels what matters is the individual’s relationship with God, and that all the rules and cultural hype of any religion (in his case, a certain faction within the Evangelical school of thought he was using as a case in point) are not necessary, and in many cases interfere with personal spirituality. He sounded like Martin Luther placing the individual and God as the two centerpieces of spirituality, with churches only as facilitators which need to step aside when they start demanding too much or getting too involved in our daily life decisions.

I felt myself in full agreement. It was quite liberating for me to apologize and let him release his feelings. And I don’t think I cheapened my sealing one bit. I stayed faithful in my marriage because of my commitment to that eternal covenant under very trying physical and emotional circumstances for a VERY long time as a result of the covenant I made. That is what makes has made it sacred and meaningful to me now, not the fact that I shoved family and all other things aside on that day — in exchange for symbolism that matters to others more than myself. My Dad told me I was VERY unusual to do what I did in staying with my marriage, and I explained that it was my eternal covenant that kept me on that path of faithfulness, even though it was, and still is difficult at times.

However, I now realize that others attach a different kind of significance to marriage in the temple than I do. I will do my best to purge stigmatism and egocentricity about temple marriage from my own children,

while teaching them to respect how others feel about it. I will support them in how they decide to view the temple sealing.

I just wanted to say that I thought the prceeding quote was AWESOME in its understanding and inclusiveness. :clap:

SilentDawning wrote:

the fact that you are allowed to go through the temple as individuals during that waiting period also shows how indefensible the policy is.

This point was a new one for me. If choosing to get a civil-marriage first were a quazi-sin under the classification of not following the prophet, fearing man before God, etc. (As I had so recently postulated), then being allowed to do proxy temple sealings for others during your one year period of eating husks doesn’t seem to fit. Interesting….

[Author]

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