Reform Mormonism embraces the traditional Mormon belief that marriage and family are Eternal in nature, extending beyond this life and playing significant roles in one’s Eternal Progression. Within these most personal relationships, we experience life’s greatest joys and face some of life’s greatest challenges. Through these experiences, we grow in our understanding of what it means to be fully Human, and, to a deeper degree, we learn to love as God loves.
In Marriage Sealings, individuals make sacred covenants to love, support, and grow with one another throughout time and eternity. The concept of “being sealed” – meaning to have eternal security – is derived from New Testament passages, such as 2 Corinthians 1:22 and Ephesians 1:13, 4:30.
Location & Attendance
Reform Mormon Marriage Sealings are public events to which those being married may invite any family members and friends they wish. This is in keeping with Mormonism’s original doctrine that “All marriages… should be solemnized in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose… that marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving” (Doctrine & Covenants 101:1-2, first edition, 1835)
Marriage Sealings may be performed in any desired location, indoors or outdoors—a home, yard, park, or event venue. A church, temple, or religious edifice is not required since, according to Reform Mormonism, the sincerity of those being sealed and the Holy Spirit of Promise attending the ordinance set the place apart as sacred.
Who May Be Sealed?
Any Reform Mormon may be married in a Sealing ceremony. (There are no “worthiness interviews” or institutional requirements as in some denominations.)
Reform Mormons may be sealed in marriage to partners of other faiths or of no faith. In this way, Reform Mormonism adheres to Mormonism’s earliest doctrine about interfaith marriage: “We believe it is not right to prohibit members of this church from marrying out of the church if it be their determination to do so…” (Doctrine & Covenants 101:1, first edition, 1835)
As made clear in the 2004 Reform Mormonism Family Proclamation (see Declaration 5), all committed adult relationships founded upon mutual love, honesty, and respect are honored as good and beneficial, not only to those in the relationship but also to society. Therefore, Reform Mormon Marriage Sealings are performed for any and all such relationships, regardless of their makeup or the gender of those involved.
Who Performs a Marriage Sealing?
Reform Mormons believe that every human being has a divine connection to God and, when acting upon principles of righteousness, can access the powers of heaven, which are referred to as Priesthood. (See Appendix 1)
Any Reform Mormon can serve as the Wedding Officiant since it is the combined Priesthood of the Officiant and those being married that spiritually seals the union.
For the Sealing ceremony to be considered a legal marriage, the Wedding Officiant must also be licensed by the state or jurisdiction where the ordinance is being performed.
A Reform Mormon wedding ceremony has two segments:
- A symbolic Washing and ceremonial Anointing of those being sealed – performed in a private location just before the public exchange of vows
- The Sealing – the public exchange of vows before invited guests
Those being sealed can have the Wedding Officiant administer both of the above segments or invite others to serve as the Washer and Anointer.
Following Mormon tradition, those being sealed and the Officiant may choose to dress in white, but this is not a requirement.
The wording of the following liturgy can be abridged and adapted to better serve the particular situation and needs of those being sealed.
The Washing
Those about to be sealed are seated in a quiet, private space separate from the public space where the Sealing will be performed.
Holding a small bowl of water, the Wedding Officiant or Washer addresses them directly, reading or reciting the following:
“(The names of those being sealed),
I wash you preparatory to you receiving your anointing.”
The Washer then touches the water and, as the ordinance continues, gently touches each section of the body being blessed – or motions over it – while reading or reciting the following:
“I wash you that you might be liberated from all negative worldly influences and expectations;
I wash your legs and feet, that you may run and not be weary, walk and not faint;
Your hands that they will remain open to the opportunities that await you;
Your back that you may walk upright and have the courage to explore;
Your heart, that it may be the receptacle of pure and virtuous principles;
Your shoulders that they may bear the burdens that shall be placed thereon;
Your lips that you may always speak words of honesty;
Your ears that you will hear revelation;
Your eyes, that you may see clearly and discern the truth;
Your mind, that your intellect will be clear and active, always seeking additional knowledge;
Your head, that as you progress, you may be crowned with wisdom.”
The Washer then lays hands on the heads of those about to be married and reads or recites the following:
“(The names of those being married),
I lay my hands upon your head
and seal upon you this washing,
that you might be liberated
from all negative worldly influences and expectations.
Amen.”
The Anointing
Holding a bottle or horn of oil, the Anointer addresses those being married, reading or reciting the following:
“(The names of those being sealed),
I anoint you with this holy oil
in preparation for your entering into
the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage.”
The Anointer pours a tiny bit of oil on their fingers and, as the ordinance continues, gently touches each section of the body being blessed – or motions over it – while reading or reciting the following:
“I anoint your feet and legs that they might remain strong during the journey upon which you are about to embark;
Your hands that you might keep them ever open and extended toward one another;
Your arms that they might be strong; that you might protect and comfort one another;
Your heart that love that for one another might burn there eternally;
Your back that you might stand straight and upright as equals;
Your shoulders that they may bear the burdens that will be placed upon you, that you might each support the other should their strength fail.
Your neck that you may hold your head high, that you might always show pride in the love which you will consecrate by covenant this day;
Your lips that you may always speak words of honesty and comfort to one another; that you might be slow to criticize or blame; that you might be ever ready to encourage and to praise;
Your eyes that you may see clearly, that you may never be blind to one another’s virtues and strengths;
Your ears that you may hear revelation to meet the challenges of the journey before you;
Your head, that as you progress, you may be crowned with wisdom, virtue, and Godly love; that so crowned, you might together enter Celestial Glory, and there with the Gods, partake of exaltation, joy, and eternal life.”
The Anointer lays hands on the heads of those about to be married, and the Anointer reads or recites the following:
“(The names of those being sealed),
I lay my hands upon your head,
and confirm upon you this anointing,
wherewith you have been anointed in the Presence of God,
preparatory to entering into the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage.
Amen.”
The Sealing at the Altar
An altar, at which those being sealed can kneel, should be set up in the place where the Sealing will occur. (A table or piece of furniture covered in white can serve as the altar.) Seats for guests can be set up around the altar in any configuration chosen by those being married.
Once the Washing and Anointing have been completed, the Wedding Officiant enters and stands behind the altar. Those being sealed then enter and stand at the altar.
The Officiant may welcome the guests and share any thoughts, messages, or readings previously agreed to by those being sealed. Likewise, a song or musical selection they have previously chosen may be performed.
Those being sealed then kneel at the altar.
(The exact wording that follows can be abridged
to meet the specific needs of those being sealed.)
If rings are being exchanged, the Officiant will address the guests, reading or reciting the following:
“The ring is a symbol of eternity, having no beginning or end. The ring now becomes a symbol of the eternal nature of (names’ of those being sealed) love and the eternal nature of their union and the covenants they are about to make.
(To those being sealed)
You may now exchange rings.“
The Officiant will now ask those being sealed to join hands over the altar. One at a time, the Officiant addresses each person individually, reading or reciting the following question and subsequent covenant:
“Do you, (person’s name), take (others’ names) by the hand and receive (her/him/them) unto yourself to be your lawful and wedded (wife/husband/companions) for time and all eternity, with a covenant and promise to observe all the principles pertaining to this Holy Order of Matrimony in the New and Everlasting Covenant, and do you do this in the presence of God, angels and these witnesses of your own free will and choice?”
The response to this question is: “I do.”
Upon receiving this response, the Officiant reads or recites the following:
“Then repeat after me the words of the New and Everlasting Covenant, which will bind you eternally to one another:
‘I, (say name ), With a determination that is fixed, Immovable and unchanging, Give myself unto you, (name/s) To be your (husband/wife/companion) In the bonds of love and thanksgiving forever; With my strength, I will uplift you; With all that is within me, I will love you, And hold your life, Your love, And your joy As sacred, Through all generations of time And throughout all eternity – Worlds without end, Amen.‘”
Once the above covenant has been administered to each person, the Officiant raises their right arm to the square and reads or recites the following blessing:
“By the power of the Priesthood, and by virtue of the Holy Spirit of Promise, I pronounce (names of those sealed), sealed in marriage for Time and all eternity.
I charge you to always honor and hold sacred the Eternal Covenant you have made with one another this day before God and these witnesses.
I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection, with power to enter eternity clothed with glory, immortality, and eternal lives.
I seal upon you the blessings of Eternal Progression and exaltation among the Gods.
Go forth, and during your season upon the Earth, embrace the fullness of life that together you might bring to pass much good, that you might have joy and have it abundantly!
These blessings, together with all other blessings pertaining to the New and Everlasting Covenant, I seal upon you, by virtue of the Holy Spirit of Promise, for Time and all eternity – Worlds Without End, Amen.