Guest Exmormon answers the question: Why do Mormons who are getting married exclude family and friends from attending weddings in Mormon Temples?

A big thanks to Suspicious Minds for this next essay addressing the exclusion of family from LDS Temple Weddings. 


"Many LDS Members are ashamed that North American Saints who choose to have a civil ceremony are penalized when it comes to the temple. Any man and woman who chooses to have a civil ceremony first, must wait a full year before solemnizing their marriage vows in the temple -- no matter what. Even if they are living the Church standards and are obedient members that are free from any sin that would bar them from the temple, they are still considered unworthy of a temple sealing for a minimum one year.

Many Mormon’s living outside of North America are NOT penalized the same way in those countries where the law requires a civil ceremony to be recognized as a legal  marriage prior to any religious ritual.

So rather than face the harsh penalty of waiting a full year and the stigma of choosing a civil wedding ceremony first, most North American LDS couples choose to have only a temple marriage and sealing, and their family members and friends who are not active LDS adults cannot attend their ceremony.

For a church that through media advertising promotes itself as family values oriented, it’s simply incomprehensible that the Church denies family members be present at a wedding, a time considered by all to be a joyous celebration that brings and unites an entire family.  By it’s very actions through it’s policies, the Church fosters marital disharmony, shame and guilt that is harsh for the couple and their loved ones who do not fit the "acceptable mormon standards" required for entrance into the temple wedding.

The temple wedding presents a cruel dilemma to first generation converts and those from mixed-faith families.  On the one hand members of the LDS Church have the promise of the temple sealing, to be with the people they love as a family after death.  The Church warns that a civil wedding only binds the couple till death do they part.  The temple sealing however is for time and all eternity.  The irony is for active worthy Mormons to secure for themselves those sealing blessings of an eternal family, some have to leave the very people they want that promise to apply to at the temple doors.

Don't let your loved ones be hurt.  Tell the leadership of the Mormon Church that it’s about time for family and to give people the choice without penalizing and isolating family.

For more information and how to get involved, check out the petition for change. http://www.templeweddingpetition.org

Family, isn’t it about time?"

On a personal note--Molly speaking now--my sibling was excluded from my wedding for being underage by 6 months. 

If you have a question about mormons or mormonism maybe you should ask an ex-mormon! 

askanexmormon@gmail.com