How to Get Married in a Mormon Temple

The Mormon "wedding" is actually a "sealing" ceremony, which can be performed after a typical wedding, or in conjunction with a wedding done under the auspices of the Mormon Church. Of course, to be part of a sealing ceremony, you must be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in good standing.

Instructions

1. Have a "worthiness interview" with the presiding Bishop of the branch or ward where you go to church. Both you and your partner will have such an interview, to determine if you are adequately following a lifestyle consistent with Mormon belief. This includes no drinking of coffee or tea, no smoking, and no use of illegal drugs. Found worthy, you will be issued a "temple recommend" that will be your "I.D. card" for entrance.

2. Attend "temple preparation classes," usually offered by your home ward or by the area stake center at regular intervals. This is a chance for you to gain further understanding as to what you're going to go through in the temple.

3. Choose the temple where you want to be married and sealed. Mormon temples now dot the earth, and you are free to choose any one of them in which to have your ceremony. Remember that only members of the Church in good standing are allowed into the temple.

4. Educate yourselves on the meaning and purpose of the temple ordinances. You will be getting your "endowments" before the marriage ceremony. This is a special set of instructions--classes, if you will--where you are expected to gain further understanding of the importance of temple marriage.

5. Schedule a time to get your endowments. You can each go the same day, or different days. You can receive your endowments just before the actual wedding and sealing ceremony, or you can do it some time before that date.

6. Keep yourselves worthy by observing the principles of chastity and right behavior, according to what the Church teaches. The ceremony will have less of an impact on you if you go into the temple in an unworthy state.

7. Make arrangements for any paperwork beforehand, and have such things ready to be signed by the officiating temple worker. The more you have prepared beforehand, the more pleasant the actual ceremony will be.

Tips & Warnings

• Stay true to the principles of the Church, if you want your sealing ceremony to be especially meaningful and far-reaching. Remember that this isn't a typical "wedding;" this is a sealing "for time and all eternity," so it carries more emotional and spiritual weight.

• Inform your non-Mormon friends and family early on in the process that they will not be able to see the actual ceremony. Explain to them why the temple ceremony is closed to the general public, and let them know that they can be outside the temple when you come out, to then help you celebrate your new union.

• Schedule your event far ahead of time, as sometimes you can run into a period of time where many couples are being sealed on the same date. Prepare things months ahead of time, if possible, so as to avoid last-minute delays.