What happens to sealing to parents if adult child leaves the Church?

Question

Gramps,

What happens to a temple sealing if a child, born under the covenant, chooses to leave the Church as an adult?

Kristi

Answer

Kristi,

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a temple sealing is not merely a significant ordinance but a sacred covenant that binds families together for eternity. It establishes an eternal relationship between a husband and wife and includes their children, particularly those born under the covenant. According to President Gordon B. Hinckley, “The eternal sealings of faithful parents and the divine promises made to them for valiant service in the Cause of Truth would save not only themselves but likewise their posterity.” This statement underscores the belief that the blessings of these sealings extend beyond mortality, creating a divine connection that persists through time.

For children born to parents who are sealed in the temple, this covenant embodies a birthright blessing. They are assured an eternal connection to their parents, regardless of the individual choices they may later make. The Church teaches that temple sealings are not conditional on the faithfulness of the parents; rather, the sealing remains intact even if one parent becomes unfaithful. Children born under the covenant are assured an eternal connection to their parents, irrespective of their individual choices later in life.

When a child born under the covenant chooses to leave the Church, one of the most pressing concerns for parents is the status of their sealing. Fortunately, Church doctrine reassures members that their sealing remains valid. President Joseph Fielding Smith affirmed that children who drift away from the faith are still the children of their parents, emphasizing that parents maintain a claim upon them.

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