Early LDS Marriage Ceremonies
The earliest record we have of an LDS marriage
ritual being actually performed was recorded by Joseph Smith's scribe
Warren A. Cowdery:
24 November 1835 . Tuesday
"...This evening he [Joseph Smith] had an invitation to attend a
wedding at his brother Hyram Smith's to solemnize the rights of
matrimony between Newel Knight & Lydia Goldthwaite: His wife & some
others accompanied him when they arrived, they found a respectable
company assembled, the interview was opened by singing & prayer,
Pres. Smith then requested the bridegroom, & bride, to arise and
join hands, and then proceeded to make some remarks, upon the subject
of marriage as follows; that it was an institution of heaven first
solemnized in the garden of Eden by God himself, by the authority
of everlasting Priesthood. The following is the substance of the
ceremony delivered on that occasion-calling them by name you covenant
to be each others companions during your lives, and discharge the
duties of husband & wife in all respects, to which they gave their
assent. He then pronounced them husband & wife in the name of God
with many blessings, after which he dismissed the audience & returned
home...."
Source: Dean C. Jessee, ed., The Papers of
Joseph Smith Volume 1 Autobiographical and Historical Writings [Salt
Lake City: Deseret Book Company, 1989], pp. 145-146
On 24 September 1834 the leaders of the Mormon
Church resolved to publish a volume containing the doctrines and
revelations of the Church. On 17 August 1835 the assembled work
was voted on and accepted by the Church. Among these was "an article
on Marriage, which was accepted and adopted, and ordered to be printed,
in said book, by a unanimous vote." The ceremony follows:
"1. According to the custom of all civilized nations, marriage is
regulated by laws and ceremonies: therefore we believe, that all
marriages in this church of Christ of Latter Day Saints, should
be solemnised in a public meeting, or feast, prepared for that purpose:
and that the solemnization should be performed by a presiding high
priest, high priest, bishop, or elder or priest, not even prohibiting
those persons who are desirous to get married, of being married
by other authority. We believe that it is not right to prohibit
members of this church from marrying out of the church, if it be
their determination so to do, but such persons will be considered
weak in the faith of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Marriage should be celebrated with prayer and thanksgiving; and
at the solemnization, the persons to be married, standing together,
the man on the right, and the woman on the left, shall be addressed,
by the person officiating, as he shall be directed by the holy Spirit;
and if there be no legal objections, he shall say, calling each
by their names: "You both mutually agree to be each other's companion,
husband and wife, observing the legal rights belonging to this condition;
that is, keeping yourselves wholly for each other, and from all
others during your lives." And when they have answered "Yes," he
shall pronounce them "husband and wife" in the name of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and by virtue of the laws of the country, and authority
vested in him: "may God add his blessings and keep you to fulfill
your covenants from henceforth and forever. Amen."
Source: "Section CI. Marriage," Doctrine and
Covenants [Kirtland, Ohio: F.G. Williams &Co. 1835], p.251
The Current LDS Marriage Ritual
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.
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