Temple Marriage

Washington D.C. Temple

Recently, a friend of mine got married. I have known her for 24 years, since she was 12 years old.  I was one of her Young Women's leaders and I was her piano teacher.  She babysat for me.  I have watched her make many wonderful decisions in her life.  She served an LDS mission in South America and is now a midwife. She and Tom met about six months ago at an LDS singles conference in the DC area.

They chose to be married in the Washington D.C. temple and then held a ring ceremony at the chapel and invited about 250 people to attend. I was the pianist/organist. 

A friend conducted and gave a short sermon at the ring ceremony. He talked about why Tom and Sierra chose to be married in the temple, why we have temples, and about the authority we have to marry for eternity.  He incorporated the family proclamation and then gave a detailed description of what one sees and does in the temple when they go to be sealed. I will share some highlights of what I remember.  Bottom line though was this:  there is no more meaningful place to be married and the covenants and long-term view of marriage are a very strong basis and foundation for a stable marriage.  When we marry in the temple, we take the long view--it is not just until death do you part, but it is for time and all eternity. With that view, one approaches challenges and difficulties a little differently, I think.

When they walked into the temple, they had to show a recommendation card at the front desk. They received this card after an interview with their church leaders where they answered some questions about their worthiness. They then went down a hallway walking toward a large mural of Christ.  They changed from their street clothing into simple white robes and proceeded to the top floor of the temple, symbolizing the highest ordinance of the temple: marriage.  A group of about 50 family members joined them in an elegant room.  At the center of the room is an altar with a beautiful chandelier over it.  Chairs are around the perimeter.  On each of the side walls, there are large mirrors where the bride and groom can look at each other into forever.  They kneel at the altar and make covenants to each other and God.  The ceremony is simple but with great promises for their faithfulness to these covenants. 

I was so happy they chose to share their reasons for marrying in the temple with their friends and family members. 

Eternal Marriage
Why do we have temples?
Chat with a missionary about temples (live)