Holiness to the Lord, the House of the Lord.  These words are inscribed on every one of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ approximately 150 temples.  From Tokyo, Japan to Papeete, Tahiti, temples are sacred structures separate and apart from the over 30,000 Mormon congregations worldwide.  Unlike a normal chapel, Mormons consider temples to be literal houses of God, where the Holy Ghost can always dwell and visitors can receive, and perform on behalf of their deceased family members, the highest ordinances (sacraments).  Considered one of the most, if not the most, sacred of these ordinances is the “sealing” of a man and woman as husband and wife.  A couple sealed in the temple becomes married not just, “…until death do [they] part” but sealed for, “for time and all eternity”.  That is, the marriage continues beyond death allowing the husband and wife to continue progressing together after this life comes to an end.  Any children born to a sealed couple will be considered “born in the covenant” of their parents’ sealing, allowing them to be part of an eternal family (children can also be sealed to parents in the temple if they were born prior to their parents’ sealing or if they are adopted).

As temples are considered so sacred, one must prepare before entering The House of the Lord.  Before a temple is dedicated, every room is open to anyone and everyone during an open house, which generally lasts for about one to two months.  After a temple is dedicated, access is only permitted for baptized and confirmed Latter-day Saints with a current temple recommend.  Even among those with temple recommends, only Latter-day Saints who entered into temple covenants (no younger than 18 years old) may participate in or view a temple marriage.

One of the most common misconceptions about Mormons temples is that they are a great cathedral.  The temple is a series of rooms, grand staircases, and ornate hallways housing the tools to perform the Lord’s work.  The temple is a house of selfless volunteerism as opposed to a house of worship in the usual sense.  Members of the church will, usually, only enter the temple on their own behalf twice, once to enter temple covenants and another to be sealed to her/his spouse.  All other visits to the temple are done either to witness an ordinance or perform these same ordinances on behalf of deceased persons.

What happens During a Temple Sealing?

The couple will dress in all white and put on priesthood robes that are worn to perform higher-order ordinances in the temple.  Witnesses to a temple sealing do not need to wear white, but they are asked to dress in Sunday best and, upon entering the temple, are given white slippers or slip-socks to change into.

The couple is led to a sealing room.  Sealing rooms are often on the highest or second-highest floor in the temple.  In the Manhattan NY temple, the sealing rooms are on the 6th floor, the top floor.  The room has an altar in the center, flanked by two mirrors on opposing sides of the room, creating an “eternal reflection”.  The witnesses, generally only very close family and friends, are seated surrounding the altar.  The sealer, or a temple high-priest set apart with the authority to bind relationships on Earth and in Heaven, enters the room.  After counsel, the ordinance is performed as the couple kneels on opposite sides of the altar.  As is custom during temple marriages and other marriages, the couple must agree to be married in the presence of at least two additional witnesses, who are generally the fathers of the bride and groom.  The couple is promised to have the ability to live eternally together, the opportunity to together receive eternal exaltation, and is bestowed the blessing of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob.  After the sealing, it is customary that a receiving line forms outside the room as the couple proceeds back to the changing rooms to change out of their priesthood vestments and dress for the reception and pictures.  The couple may also exchange rings in the sealing room, however most choose to do so at the reception or a public ring exchange so family members and friends who could not attend the temple ceremony can be witness to the couple’s commitment to each other.

What can I do if I can’t enter the temple?

Many temples are adjacent to a visitors’ center or have a waiting room set aside for those who are unable to enter the temple proper.  If you are invited to the temple sealing and unable to enter the temple, we have arranged for the chapel on the third floor of the building to be used as a tranquil, comfortable waiting area.  The Manhattan, NY Temple is one of only two temples in the entire world housed inside of another building.  The entire 4th, 5th, and 6th floors, and half of the 1st floor, comprise the temple.  The 2nd floor is a public affairs office space and the 3rd floor is a congregation space used by four Manhattan congregations each Sunday, including the Lincoln Square YSA Ward where Robert and Brontë met.  A special video presentation will be shown that will further explain the sacred nature of the temple.