Sealing Lds Temple OrdinanceEdit
Sealing is a distinctive temple ordinance within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) that concerns the binding of families for eternity. In this ceremony, a husband and wife are joined together under the authority of the priesthood, with the language of being “sealed for time and all eternity.” The practice rests on a theological conviction that families can continue beyond mortal life, and that temple sealings help secure familial relationships within the eternal plan. Sealings are performed in Latter-day Saint temple by authorized priesthood holders, and they are generally not open to the public or conducted outside a temple setting.
The sealing ordinance is closely connected to the broader temple program of the church, which also includes other rites such as Endowment (Latter-day Saints) and other temple ordinances. The use of temple spaces, the requirement of a Temple recommend to enter, and the solemn, scriptural language of the rites reflect the church’s view of the temple as a house of divine truth and covenantal life. Central to this view is the idea of an eternal family unit, often linked to the doctrine of eternal marriage and the belief that family ties can endure beyond earthly death.
Historically, the practice of sealings developed alongside the church’s evolving understanding of priesthood authority and eternal covenants. Early practice in the 19th century framed marriage in sacramental terms that extended beyond mortal life, and the temple program gradually formalized sealings as part of a broader set of eternal covenants. In later decades, the church faced contentious periods related to polygamy and racial policies, which intersected with discussions about sealing, family structure, and priesthood authority. The 20th century saw reaffirmations of core doctrines in the face of social change, culminating in doctrinal and procedural adjustments that emphasized monogamous marriages and the sealing of families within the orthodox temple framework. The church’s leadership argues that these seals serve to strengthen families, preserve religious liberty for adherents, and provide a hopeful vision for relationships across generations.
Practice and procedure
Scope and participants: The primary sealing is between a husband and wife, sealing them to each other for eternity. Children may be sealed to their parents, establishing an eternal family unit. In some cases, other family members may be involved in related patterns of sealing, within the guidance of priesthood authority and church policy. The procedure is conducted in a temple under the direction of a sealer, who holds the appropriate priesthood responsibility.
Prerequisites and access: Entry to the sealing ceremony requires a valid temple recommend and adherence to the church’s commandments and standards. The process emphasizes personal repentance, faith, and obedience as prerequisites for temple involvement. This framework reflects the church’s belief in personal agency and accountability within a covenant community.
Language and meaning: The language of the sealing involves the priesthood authority being exercised to bind marriages or family relationships “for time and all eternity.” The ceremony is typically conducted in a formal, reverent setting and is distinct from civil weddings or non-temple marriage rites. The emphasis is on eternal perspective rather than merely earthly recognition.
Relationship to other ordinances: Sealings are part of a larger temple economy of covenants and promises. They are commonly connected with the temple endowment and with genealogical and family-history activities, which some adherents undertake to identify and preserve ancestral lines. The church’s genealogical programs, such as FamilySearch, support members in tracing lineages and understanding family connections that may be spiritually significant in the sealing context.
Controversies and debates
Historical complexities: Critics point to historical episodes such as the church’s past practice of polygamy and the racial restrictions tied to priesthood and temple access as factors that complicate the interpretation of sealings. Supporters argue that the church has moved beyond those chapters, emphasizing doctrinal continuity, repentance, and the ability of religious communities to adapt while preserving core beliefs.
Doctrinal openness vs. cultural critique: Some observers contend that the emphasis on eternal families can be seen as privileging particular family structures and gender roles. Proponents counter that sealings are about spiritual companionship, mutual responsibility, and the preservation of family ties across mortality and beyond, while also acknowledging that culture and tradition influence religious practice. The debate often centers on how religious communities balance faith traditions with evolving social norms.
Religious liberty and pluralism: From a contemporary policy perspective, advocates highlight religious liberty as a safeguard for the church to maintain its distinctive rites in a pluralist society. Critics may argue about the implications of exclusive rites for outsiders or for members who later dissent from church teachings. Proponents insist that the right to maintain and practice sacred ordinances within a religious community is a fundamental aspect of constitutional and civil liberties.
How controversy is addressed: Within the church, controversies are usually addressed through doctrinal clarification, historical context, and a emphasis on voluntary adherence and internal governance. Supporters stress that the sealing ordinance remains a central expression of eternal family beliefs, while acknowledging that historical episodes are part of the church’s broader history.
Impact on family and society
Family stability and identity: For many adherents, sealings reinforce a sense of permanent family identity and a transcendent dimension to marital and parental commitments. The belief in eternal families can influence how members approach marriage, home life, and intergenerational relationships, including genealogical research and family history work.
Cultural and religious continuity: Sealings contribute to the church’s vision of continuity across generations, linking contemporary families with ancestors and descendants through shared covenants. This sense of continuity shapes community life, education, and religious formation within congregations and temples.
Relations with public life: The sealing doctrine is typically presented as a religious truth within a private, voluntary faith. Advocates emphasize the protection of religious freedom and the peaceful coexistence of diverse belief systems in a pluralistic society. Critics may urge ongoing reflection on how such beliefs intersect with secular norms and laws, especially in matters touching on marriage, family policy, and civil rights.
See also