Eternal Marriage - Definition and Overview

Eternal Marriage is a sacred covenant between a man, a woman and God performed by a priesthood-bearer in the temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Eternal Marriage is legally recognized, but unlike other civil marriages, Eternal Marriage is not intended to be for time only or until "death do you part"; it is intended to continue into the next life after the resurrection if the man and woman keep their covenants.

Eternally married couples are often referred to as being "sealed" to each other. Sealed couples who keep their covenants are also promised to have their posterity sealed to them in the after life, thus the Mormon slogan "Families are Forever." The Church encourages its members to be in good standing with the Church so that they may marry in the temple.

"Cancellation of a sealing," sometimes incorrectly called a "temple divorce," is uncommon and is granted only by the highest authority in the Church. Civil divorce and marriage outside the temple is somewhat of a stigma in the Mormon culture although currently the Church itself directs its local leaders not to advise members about divorce one way or another. Local Church leaders, such as bishops, may sometimes act as marriage counselors just as clergy do in other religions.

See also

• Plural marriage
• Homosexuality and Mormonism
• Temple Sealing Ceremony
• Melchizedek Priesthood