Sealing (Mormonism)

The purpose of sealing

Members believe that standard civil marriages end when physical life concludes. Sealing offers a path to maintain these relationships indefinitely. The ritual requires specific priesthood authority, which followers trace back to biblical figures. This power enables the union to persist through resurrection. Families sealed together expect to share an eternal existence. The doctrine emphasizes that these bonds only last if participants remain faithful to their religious commitments.

Ceremony details

Participants wear special ceremonial robes inside dedicated temple rooms. Couples kneel on opposite sides of an altar, holding hands while facing mirrors that create endless reflections. A sealer guides the couple through specific vows. They promise to keep all laws of matrimony for time and eternity. The ceremony replaces traditional farewell phrases with promises of lasting unity. Only worthy members with valid temple recommends may witness the event.

Family connections

Sealings extend beyond spouses to include children. Those born to sealed parents join the covenant automatically. Children born before the sealing can be added later. Adopted children may also be sealed once legal adoption is finalized. The church performs sealings for deceased relatives by proxy. These acts allow ancestors to accept or reject the ordinance in the afterlife. No one is forced into a sealing they do not desire.

Legal recognition

Government laws vary regarding religious marriages. In some nations, temple ceremonies hold no civil weight. Couples must complete a separate legal registration first. The United States grants civil authority to temple sealers. Other countries require public ceremonies conducted by local registrars. Brazil mandates state residency for legal marriages. Germany and Mexico use municipal officials. Recent policy changes removed waiting periods between civil and temple unions.

How Sealing (Mormonism) is kept

Couples enter a temple wearing white ceremonial garments. They kneel at an altar facing infinite mirror reflections. A sealer recites vows promising eternal fidelity. The couple responds affirmatively to bind themselves. Parents may bring children to be sealed to them. Proxy ordinances are performed for deceased ancestors. Witnesses who hold valid credentials observe the proceedings. The ritual concludes with blessings for the new family unit.

When and where

Performed during temple sessions throughout the year. Dates depend on member availability and temple scheduling. Civil requirements must be met before the religious rite in many regions.

Primarily conducted in Latter Day Saint temples. Major centers exist in the United States. Temples also operate in Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

What Sealing (Mormonism) means

The mirrors represent the infinite nature of the covenant. White garments symbolize purity and equality before God. The kneeling posture shows humility and reverence. Holding hands signifies mutual support and unity. The altar serves as a sacred focal point for divine connection.

Who takes part

• The couple: Kneel at the altar and exchange eternal vows
• The sealer: Recites the binding words and pronounces the union
• Children: Are sealed to parents to join the eternal family
• Witnesses: Observe the ceremony to validate the ordinance
• Proxy recipients: Accept or reject the ordinance in the afterlife

If you are a guest

Worthy members with current temple recommends may attend. Non-members typically wait in designated areas outside the sealing room. Guests observe the solemnity of the occasion without participating in the vows.

Then and now

Policies have evolved to remove waiting periods between civil and temple marriages. Changes now allow women to be sealed to multiple men under specific conditions. Same-sex unions are not recognized or performed in temples. Cancellations of sealings remain rare and require high-level approval.

On the wedding table

Symbols: The ring Mirrors

Questions people ask about Sealing (Mormonism)

See also

Blessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchA large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.Blessing ceremonyThe large-scale marriage rite of the Unification Church where couples are matched and blessed by their leaders.Slave marriages in the United StatesThe unions formed by enslaved African Americans before and after the abolition of slavery in the US.Jewish weddingThe ceremony and laws that bind a couple in Jewish marriage, from the canopy to the glass.

Good reading and sources

• Encyclopaedia BritannicaArticle

• Sealing (Mormonism) on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos and video
• Wikidata recordOpen data

It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-05.