LDS Freedom Forum

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

Uh... I didn't even know they did them...

Sunain wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:33 pm Uh... I didn't even know they did them...

I remember this being done, but......
I was under the impression they discontinued these over a decade ago.

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

Take a few minutes and you can become a certified pastor to marry people, today!
https://www.themonastery.org/landing/ge ... YoEALw_wcB

I think it is very likely that marriages will not be done at all in the temple in short order, we no longer make couples wait a year if they marry and both hold temple recommends to be sealed. I suspect that we will simply stop performing temple marriages and couple will be married civilly and then proceed to the temple.

This neatly solves one of the most vexing issues that many couple encounter where a temple marriage excludes parts of the family that want to attend the marriage. Such drove a wedge into families that could last for decades. It did for me, and had I known the hurt and bad feelings that would have resulted I would have eloped to the temple with my first wife, kept my mouth shut and let her grandmother stage the wedding that she had always dreamed of for her grand daughter. Sure it would have been a bit of an untruth but it would have kept the family happy.

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

Gadianton Slayer wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:43 pm Take a few minutes and you can become a certified pastor to marry people, today!
https://www.themonastery.org/landing/ge ... YoEALw_wcB

I might have to look into this in order to marry my kids...
Going shopping for an Elvis costume!

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

The point is that it is a marriage performed by priesthood authority in the presence of God.
This is not the case with a civil marriage.

Robin Hood wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 5:20 pm

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

The point is that it is a marriage performed by priesthood authority in the presence of God.
This is not the case with a civil marriage.

So does this make the marriage different than a civil marriage? Are the two entitled to more blessings?

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 6:02 pm

Robin Hood wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 5:20 pm

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

The point is that it is a marriage performed by priesthood authority in the presence of God.
This is not the case with a civil marriage.

So does this make the marriage different than a civil marriage? Are the two entitled to more blessings?

I think so.
Civil marriage is the authority of man/government whereas temple marriage, even if for time only, is the authority of God.

Robin Hood wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 1:41 am

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 6:02 pm

Robin Hood wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 5:20 pm

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

The point is that it is a marriage performed by priesthood authority in the presence of God.
This is not the case with a civil marriage.

So does this make the marriage different than a civil marriage? Are the two entitled to more blessings?

I think so.
Civil marriage is the authority of man/government whereas temple marriage, even if for time only, is the authority of God.

I'm wondering though if this was some tradition in the church that didn't need to be there. Kind of like the Lord saying from the beginning that divorce was not a thing from God, but was suffered to happen because of sinfulness. I don't think there was ever meant to be a priesthood blessing or ordinance to validate a time-only marriage. It was probably first started with all those marriages of Joseph's widows to Brigham to make them feel this was after the order of God, but was probably unnecessary. I don't think you can be sealed for time-only for example. A Bishop also most likely doesn't invoke his priesthood authority when marrying a couple, but IDK, it's been a long time since I saw a Bishop marry someone.

This is actually an important question because of the long standing belief that the a man who marries an already sealed woman is "raising up seed" to the other husband might be a false notion. We just didn't have any revelation on the subject, but it was assumed to be a thing because of course, a woman should only be allowed one husband, so this must be how it works for the children. But we don't have this in the "law" so who knows.

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 1:25 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

lol.

first marriage:
- by the book:
- followed the advice "any two people who are committed to the Lord can have a happy marriage"
- dated 6 months
- engaged 6 months
- married in the temple
- divorced 10 years later


second marriage:
- decided what I wanted ahead of time
- met online
- met in person twice. second meeting - went to the courthouse and got married.
- never dated. knew each other for 3 months before getting married.
- no engagement
- sealed about 2 years later
- best marriage ever....

sister got married at the little white chapel in vegas. she's still married.

I think we probably place too much emphasis on "getting married" and not enough on "finding / being the right person" and "how to say no".

mudflap wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 12:15 pm

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 1:25 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

lol.

first marriage:
- by the book:
- followed the advice "any two people who are committed to the Lord can have a happy marriage"
- dated 6 months
- engaged 6 months
- married in the temple
- divorced 10 years later


second marriage:
- decided what I wanted ahead of time
- met online
- met in person twice. second meeting - went to the courthouse and got married.
- never dated. knew each other for 3 months before getting married.
- no engagement
- sealed about 2 years later
- best marriage ever....

sister got married at the little white chapel in vegas. she's still married.

I think we probably place too much emphasis on "getting married" and not enough on "finding / being the right person" and "how to say no".

Very true! We do put too much emphasis on marriage but without first understanding what it is.

I like the Hebrew wedding model for this reason. The man was to be engaged (a marriage without yet living together) and spend a year building a home and preparing himself. It was his father that said when he was ready to be a husband d and could go get his wife. The bride also prepared herself for that year.

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 1:25 pm Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

My experience is that time-only temple marriage is chosen in cases where a worthy priesthood holder is marrying a worthy widow who is sealed to her deceased husband.

Sarah wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 7:19 am A Bishop also most likely doesn't invoke his priesthood authority when marrying a couple, but IDK, it's been a long time since I saw a Bishop marry someone.

The Church officer then addresses the couple and says: “By virtue of the legal authority vested in me as an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I pronounce you, [bridegroom’s name] and [bride’s name], husband and wife, legally and lawfully wedded for the period of your mortal lives.”

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number65

The old Church Handbook said:

Couples may be married in a temple "for time only" if all the following requirements are met:

1. The woman is already sealed to a previous husband who is deceased or from whom she is divorced.

2. Temple marriages are legal marriages in the country where the temple is located.

3. Both the man and the woman are endowed, have current temple recommends, and have a marriage license that is valid where the temple is located.

Bishops encourage such worthy couples to marry in a temple. In some circumstances, these couples may later be sealed in a temple.

MMbelieve wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 1:00 pm

mudflap wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 12:15 pm

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 1:25 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

lol.

first marriage:
- by the book:
- followed the advice "any two people who are committed to the Lord can have a happy marriage"
- dated 6 months
- engaged 6 months
- married in the temple
- divorced 10 years later


second marriage:
- decided what I wanted ahead of time
- met online
- met in person twice. second meeting - went to the courthouse and got married.
- never dated. knew each other for 3 months before getting married.
- no engagement
- sealed about 2 years later
- best marriage ever....

sister got married at the little white chapel in vegas. she's still married.

I think we probably place too much emphasis on "getting married" and not enough on "finding / being the right person" and "how to say no".

Very true! We do put too much emphasis on marriage but without first understanding what it is.

I like the Hebrew wedding model for this reason. The man was to be engaged (a marriage without yet living together) and spend a year building a home and preparing himself. It was his father that said when he was ready to be a husband d and could go get his wife. The bride also prepared herself for that year.

This is really important to understand symbolically the bridegroom that soon comes for His bride.

inho wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 1:04 pm

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

Reluctant Watchman wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 1:25 pm Why encourage them to go to a church leader? I mean, if your gonna go all out, why not hit the vegas strip w/ an Elvis impersonator?

My experience is that time-only temple marriage is chosen in cases where a worthy priesthood holder is marrying a worthy widow who is sealed to her deceased husband.

Sarah wrote: ↑May 25th, 2021, 7:19 am A Bishop also most likely doesn't invoke his priesthood authority when marrying a couple, but IDK, it's been a long time since I saw a Bishop marry someone.

The Church officer then addresses the couple and says: “By virtue of the legal authority vested in me as an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I pronounce you, [bridegroom’s name] and [bride’s name], husband and wife, legally and lawfully wedded for the period of your mortal lives.”

https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number65

The old Church Handbook said:

Couples may be married in a temple "for time only" if all the following requirements are met:

1. The woman is already sealed to a previous husband who is deceased or from whom she is divorced.

2. Temple marriages are legal marriages in the country where the temple is located.

3. Both the man and the woman are endowed, have current temple recommends, and have a marriage license that is valid where the temple is located.

Bishops encourage such worthy couples to marry in a temple. In some circumstances, these couples may later be sealed in a temple.

Thank you for finding that. Confirms that a Bishop invokes his legal authority recognized by the state. Also interesting that the previous requirements said a woman had to be already sealed, but that in some circumstances she could be sealed to this second husband. I wonder what those circumstances are. Does she need to decide later to cancel the first? Someone on here posted that the children of a couple had to approve, or something like that, which seems a little weird. My guess is that the policy is there to encourage men not to marry widows, but women who've never been sealed.

Gadianton Slayer wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:43 pm Take a few minutes and you can become a certified pastor to marry people, today!
https://www.themonastery.org/landing/ge ... YoEALw_wcB

I'm an ordained minister for the ULC Church (your link). Later, I became one for the Dudeist Church, but I don't take that one seriously. In fact, I only did the first one because I thought it would be fun to call myself a minister. At the same time, I was terrified that somehow the local leadership would find out and kick me out. (No longer afraid of that as I kicked myself out when they decided to withhold salvation from children under age 18 for the sins of their parents.)

That was a few years ago. A few months ago, I got some things I can put in and on my car to say I'm a minister and/or am on official ministerial business, but am too timid to actually put them in/on my car, in case someone expects me to perform an ordinance. I won't baptize. I don't have that authority from God. I think it would be fun to marry a couple. I don't think it takes a minister to comfort someone.

Sarah wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:40 pm

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

I thought this was already discontinued. But it does make sense. What is the point of a time-only marriage in the temple?

Virtue signaling with the added benefit of excluding your apostate relatives.

There is no longer a 1 year waiting period for members to be sealed after a civil wedding. That changed a couple of years ago. Thus, non-member family can attend the Government-sanctioned civil ceremony... and if they have the required recommends, the newly married couple can be sealed with those members in attendance who can do so without waiting a year, but immediately.

Alexander wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:31 pm The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed.

The discontinuance was addressed in a Monday, May 24, letter to General Authorities; General Officers; Area Seventies; stake, mission, district and temple presidents; and bishops and branch presidents.
...
“Because of the eternal nature of the temple and the work that takes place there, it has been decided that time-only marriages in the temple will no longer be performed. In the case where a couple desires to be married civilly and where a sealing is not contemplated or possible, the couple is encouraged to invite their bishop or stake president — where it is legal — to officiate at the marriage ceremony.”
https://www.thechurchnews.com/temples/2 ... churchnews

It was only a matter of time before this happened.

Sunain wrote: ↑May 24th, 2021, 12:33 pm Uh... I didn't even know they did them...

They did give out the marriage license certificate and marry you civilly, such as in the Washington, D.C. Temple where I was married and sealed in 2013. But let’s be honest. This was going to end. The liabilities are there.

This raises a question for me:
Does God recognise civil marriage? The church does, but I'm not so sure about God. Section 132 seems to suggest a man and a woman can covenant with each other for their mortal life. It says nothing about a third party.
I suspect the "civil" part of a civil marriage is of no interest to God.

Benjamin_LK wrote: ↑May 30th, 2021, 10:36 am They did give out the marriage license certificate and marry you civilly, such as in the Washington, D.C. Temple where I was married and sealed in 2013. But let’s be honest. This was going to end. The liabilities are there.

If you were married and sealed, then it wasn't a time-only marriage.