![]() ![]() My wife and I in front of the Laie, Hawaii LDS Temple Non-Temple Mormon Weddings Technically, the ring exchange is not part of the official ceremony, but it is typically done.īecause the couple obviously wants to celebrate with those who may not be members of the Mormon faith, Mormon weddings almost always include a big wedding reception party and luncheon where the couple invites all of their friends and family who aren’t Mormon. Then, the sealer explains that the wedding means that the couple will be married and asked to care for and love one another, and asks both the bride and the groom individually if they are willing to make that promise to one another and to God.Īt this point, the bride and groom exchange wedding rings in cultures where this is common practice. This ritual represents their humility before God. When the marriage ceremony begins, the couple kneels down at an altar. WEIRD WEST PREIST HOW TOThis usually only lasts about 5 minutes, and the sealer simply gives a nice message about how to have a happy marriage. Mormons call this priest a “sealer” because this person has authority from God to “seal” a couple for time and all eternity (meaning the marriage endures even when in heaven). The ceremony begins with a very short speech by the priest. The bride wears a typical wedding dress, but one which is modest and not revealing. Once the group of friends and family is seated, the bride and groom enter the room. Temples are like libraries–everyone speaks softly so as not to distract others. Guests wear typical church clothes (white shirt and tie for guys, dress or skirt for women). The following is an example photo of a sealing room in the Philadelphia temple. Those who attend the wedding come in to “sealing room” in the temple where weddings are performed, and sit on chairs as they watch the ceremony. All those who attend must be 18 years of age or older and be members in good standing of the church (as explained above). The couple being married invites friends and family to attend the wedding–generally 25 to 40. Frankly, I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see what happens during a Mormon marriage ceremony. That is remarkable, considering that the divorce rate among most other Christian religions mirrors the 52% divorce rate among non-Christians. The LA Times reported on a study showing that the divorce rate among Mormons who marry in a temple is only 6%. In fact, the weirdest thing about Mormon weddings is their success rate. ![]() The truth is, however, that Mormon weddings aren’t all that “weird” at all. This may seem quite “weird” to those who have never heard of such a wedding ceremony, but the purpose behind this approach to the marriage ceremony is actually quite revealing of how Mormons feel about the family. Unlike most churches, some Mormon marriage ceremonies are not open to non-Mormons. ![]()
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