Temple Marriage and Sealing Ceremony

As with other LDS rituals, this ceremony may be performed for either the living or the dead. When performed by proxy, it is used to "seal" deceased married members of the LDS Church to each other for time and eternity, while for the living it serves as the current marriage ceremony.

This ceremony is performed in a "Sealing Room." The room has an altar in its center with kneeling cushions on each side. At the head of the altar are two seats for the "Witnesses." Their signatures will appear on the temple’s marriage certificate. Others attending the ceremony stand about the room on either side of the altar. The Officiator who performs the sealing stands at the head of the altar.

If performed for the living the Officiator welcomes the group and usually makes a few remarks on the importance of marriage as an institution of God, stating that only those who marry in the temple can become Gods themselves. He counsels the couple to be kind to and understanding of each other throughout their lives, remembering that they seek a common goal, which can only be achieved by mutual cooperation.

When sealings are performed for and in behalf of the dead only the proxies, Officator and two Witnesses are present in the room. No speech is given, and the couple remains kneeling at the altar. They briefly release the token after each sealing, rejoining it again when instructed.

Officiator: Will the Witnesses please take their seats at the head of the altar.

Witnesses: Take their seats as requested.

Officiator: Brother ______, [naming groom] and Sister ______, [naming bride] will you please take your places and kneel opposite each other at the altar.

Marriage Couple: Kneels opposites each other as requested.

Officiator: Brother ______, [naming groom] and Sister ______, [naming bride] please join hands in the Patriarchal Grip or Sure Sign of the Nail.

Marriage Couple: Joins hands in the "Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail." This token is given by clasping the right hands, interlocking the little fingers and placing the tip of the forefinger upon the center of the wrist. No clothing should interfere with the contact of the forefinger upon the wrist.

Officiator: Brother ______, [acting as proxy for ______, who is dead,] do you take Sister ______ [acting as proxy for ______, who is dead] by the right hand and receive her unto yourself to be your lawful and wedded wife for time and all eternity, with a covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites, and ordinances pertaining to this Holy Order of Matrimony in the New and Everlasting Covenant, and this you do in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?

Groom: Yes.

Officiator: Sister ______ [acting as proxy for ______, who is dead,] do you take brother ______ [acting as proxy for ______, who is dead,] by the right hand and give yourself to him to be his lawful and wedded wife, and for him to be your lawful and wedded husband, for time and all eternity, with a covenant and promise that you will observe and keep all the laws, rites and ordinances pertaining to this Holy Order of Matrimony in the New and Everlasting Covenant, and this you do in the presence of God, angels, and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?

Bride: Yes.

Officiator: By virtue of the Holy Priesthood and the authority vested in me, I pronounce you ______, and ______, legally and lawfully husband and wife for time and all eternity, and I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection clothed in glory, immortality and eternal lives, and I seal upon you the blessings of kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, dominions and exaltations, with all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob [if living, he adds: and say unto you: be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth] that you may have joy and rejoicing in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. All these blessings, together with all the blessings appertaining unto the New and Everlasting Covenant, I seal upon you by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, through your faithfulness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.

This concludes the ceremony. A kiss over the altar (for non-proxy couples) is customary, but not essential. Any exchange of rings may now also be performed, though it is not part of the ceremony.

Ceremony for Sealing Children to Parents

Married Couples who have had children before they joined the Mormon Church or who were married before being sealed in the temple must have their children sealed to them for time and eternity. Children born after a temple marriage are automatically sealed to their parents. These children are considered "Born under the Covenant."

The parents kneel at the wedding altar, dressed in the Robes of the Holy Priesthood, Melchizedek Order. They join hands in the Patriarchal Grip, or Sure Sign of the Nail, and the children kneel around the altar placing their right hands upon their parents's hands, beginning with the oldest child. The children are clothed in white.

When this ceremony is performed for dead individuals extra words are added and are represented here by the following brackets [---]

OFFICIATOR (SEALER): By the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I seal upon you ___, [acting as proxy for ____, who is dead] and you____, and ____, (etc. Children named in order of age) to your father ____, and to your mother ____, for time and all eternity, as an heir [or as heirs] [with all the children] as though you were born in the New and Everlasting Covenant, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, Amen.