Sealing Question

[changed]

If a couple gets divorced, and decides to undo their sealing, are their children no longer sealed to their parents as well?  

[Storm Rider]

The child remains sealed to the father.  The sealing follows the the father's line.  As you contemplate this you will realize that the objective of sealing is to unite the human family together.  For example, a daughter is sealed to her father.  She marries and is sealed to her husband and enters his family line.  Both sealings remain in effect, but both families are now united.  

[Alan]

The child remains sealed to both parents.

[changed]

Do you have a quote, or link, or something else to verify this Storm Rider?  It seems pretty unfair to the mother.  Let's say the father is adulterous, the mother decides to divorce him - but then the father still gets the kids??

[Calm]

The child remains sealed to both parents.

https://www.lds.org/new-era/1975/12/qa-questions-and-answers?lang=eng

"As to the next question, “What happens to the children in the next life when there has been a cancellation of sealing of the parents?” it is understood that in the case of a cancellation of the sealing of the woman to the man, this does not cancel the sealing of the children to the parents, since they were born in the covenant, which is a birthright blessing. They remain in the status of the sealing to their parents and can never be sealed to anyone else. The decision as to with whom they will go will be determined by the Lord in the hereafter.

Regarding being born in the covenant the General Handbook of Instructions states, “Children born in the covenant cannot be sealed to anyone, but belong to their natural parents. This rule is not altered by adoption, consent of the natural parents, request of the child after becoming of age or death of the natural parents.” (P. 101.)

It should be kept in mind that to be born in the covenant is a birthright blessing, and that if a child remains worthy in this life of celestial blessings, regardless of the actions of his parents, he is assured of that birthright and is guaranteed eternal parentage. One’s worthiness in this life through living the gospel and keeping the commandments, in this as in all things, is the key to eternal life.

Assistant to the Council of the Twelve"

I read without documentation that the child can change the sealing once 18, but have not confirmed that.

Edited October 27, 2015 by Calm

[HappyJackWagon]

The child remains sealed to both parents.

I agree with Alan. The child is sealed to the parents. The divorce and cancellation of sealing only cancels for the parents.

[Tony Frank]

Most important is that salvation is individual. I believe the sealing ordinance applies only to the celestial kingdom. People who receive terrestrial or telestial glory will not be sealed to anyone, but I once heard that children born in the covenant always remain sealed to their parents. Maybe someone else can clarify if sealing only applies to celestial glory.

[Sevenbak]

Allow me to throw a wrench in here. I am born under the covenant but not to my biological father. My mother was unable to obtain the cancellation of sealing before she married my father, and it was many years until the first presidency authorized it.

I have tried several times to be sealed to my father, but I'm not allowed because I am born under the covenant. This request has gone up the line all the way to the top many times and I've been told it won't matter so I will have to figure it all out in the eternities.

[HappyJackWagon]

Allow me to throw a wrench in here. I am born under the covenant but not to my biological father. My mother was unable to obtain the cancellation of sealing before she married my father, and it was many years until the first presidency authorized it.

I have tried several times to be sealed to my father, but I'm not allowed because I am born under the covenant. This request has gone up the line all the way to the top many times and I've been told it won't matter so I will have to figure it all out in the eternities.

"It doesn't matter because it will all be worked out in the eternities" makes me wonder why do it now at all. Why not let it be worked in the eternities instead of often getting it wrong now and corrected later.

[Sevenbak]

I read without documentation that the child can change the sealing once 18, but have not confirmed that.

That is not correct. Been there tried that.

[ksfisher]

"It doesn't matter because it will all be worked out in the eternities" makes me wonder why do it now at all. Why not let it be worked in the eternities instead of often getting it wrong now and corrected later.

 

At times I'll ask one of my children to do something that they haven't done before.  I'll give them instructions on what to do and how to do it and then let them work on the project for awhile.  Sometimes they get it right, sometimes they don't.  Sometimes they'll come and ask for further instruction, at other times they won't.  The point being that it is a learning process for them.  They're given a difficult project and given instruction and the freedom to do the best they can.  When they've finished sometimes I'll help fix a couple things that need fixing, other times I'll let it be how it is.  Maybe it wasn't done perfectly but it was done to the best of their ability.  If I was to watch then the entire time and make constant corrections, instead of waiting for them to come to me and ask questions, I don't think they would learn as much.

 

Perhaps this is a very imperfect analogy, but I wonder if our Heavenly Father doesn't work in the same way at times.  He gives us difficult problems to work on, gives us instruction, and then allows us to work together to solve them.  He is always willing to listen to our questions and give us hints and nudges, but he allows us the freedom to try, work hard, and even make mistakes.  And sometimes the best learning comes when make a mistake and figure out that something needs to be done a different way.

Edited October 27, 2015 by ksfisher

[ksfisher]

I also wonder if when we one day find ourselves in the eternities and we ask God to solve all of these problems that we've been expecting him to solve, if he might not reply, "what do you think we should do."

[Storm Rider]

Do you have a quote, or link, or something else to verify this Storm Rider?  It seems pretty unfair to the mother.  Let's say the father is adulterous, the mother decides to divorce him - but then the father still gets the kids??

 

Sorry changed, I may be wrong in what I said.  I was working from memory from many decades ago when this topic came up in some detail.  Based upon what others have said, It appears I either misunderstood or there has been additional clarification.  

 

No one, but God, "get things".  It is not a contest about who will "own" children.  It has a more expansive meaning where the sealing is the entire family of God.  

Edited October 27, 2015 by Storm Rider

[changed]

Thank you for the comments everyone - very interesting.  

 

It will be interesting to see how everything works out in the eternities - will we all be brothers and sisters to one another?  Will all the children completely leave their parents and cleave to their spouse?  what types of bonds will actually exist between parents and children?  ... perhaps our children are not our own, just ours for a season...

[Calm]

That is not correct. Been there tried that.

Ihad been wondering if it was a policy change given the 1975 answer I quoted specified it was not allowed. I wonder if an exception had been made that this individual heard of and assumed it was general or it was a faulty assumption that it would just be allowed.

When was the last time you tried?

[Calm]

Sorry changed, I may be wrong in what I said.  I was working from memory from many decades ago when this topic came up in some detail.  Based upon what others have said, It appears I either misunderstood or there has been additional clarification.  

 

No one, but God, "get things".  It is not a contest about who will "own" children.  It has a more expansive meaning where the sealing is the entire family of God.

Given we will all be adults and we are all spiritual siblings, I wonder at times if the eternal tie between mortal parents and mortal children will be the same as we are sealed to our mortal siblings or if there will be something unique in the relationship beyond the mortal experience that was shared.

Btw, the article I linked to was from 1975 and it appears from others to still be the policy, so I am thinking there has not been further clarification.

[Jeanne]

The child remains sealed to both parents.

I am so relieved...doesn't seem right that the Mother would be left out of sealing covenant with her children.  Just didn't sound right.

[halconero]

Or the father either!

[Storm Rider]

Given we will all be adults and we are all spiritual siblings, I wonder at times if the eternal tie between mortal parents and mortal children will be the same as we are sealed to our mortal siblings or if there will be something unique in the relationship beyond the mortal experience that was shared.

Btw, the article I linked to was from 1975 and it appears from others to still be the policy, so I am thinking there has not been further clarification.

 

I don't think that there will be a parent child relationship with our earthly parents in the eternities.  I continue to think it is far more expansive.  More importantly, our mutual focus will be on our Father and God.  That relationship will eclipse all others as we all unite in unity with him.  

 

I don't think we can comprehend the depth and scope of that unity with our mortal minds.

[Bomgeography]

I don't know

[Duncan]

I don't know

 

shouldn't you worry more about this than where the BOM may have taken place? worry more about the banquet more so than the invite to get you in

[Tacenda]

I don't think that there will be a parent child relationship with our earthly parents in the eternities. I continue to think it is far more expansive. More importantly, our mutual focus will be on our Father and God. That relationship will eclipse all others as we all unite in unity with him.

I don't think we can comprehend the depth and scope of that unity with our mortal minds.

What about Mother in heaven? She's alqays being left out...and don't tell me she's too sacred to talk about either.

[Tacenda]

I don't think that there will be a parent child relationship with our earthly parents in the eternities. I continue to think it is far more expansive. More importantly, our mutual focus will be on our Father and God. That relationship will eclipse all others as we all unite in unity with him.

I don't think we can comprehend the depth and scope of that unity with our mortal minds.

What about Mother in heaven? She's always being left out...and don't tell me she's too sacred to talk about either.

[Jeanne]

What about Mother in heaven? She's alqays being left out...and don't tell me she's too sacred to talk about either.

Not to mentaion that she is also supposed to be an equal with God the Father..and we can't pray to her?  So many thibngs I want to say and ask her..like are you there?

[MiserereNobis]

Not to mentaion that she is also supposed to be an equal with God the Father..and we can't pray to her?  So many thibngs I want to say and ask her..like are you there?

 

I'd say go ahead and give a shot -- pray to her.  If the instruction not to pray to her is just man-made and not the will of God, then I imagine you'll be able to have some sort of communion with her like you would with God.  But if she doesn't want to talk, then maybe you won't.

 

Maybe you'll find out who she really is -- Our Lady