Sealing Cancellation

[Laurzie]

I was married to my first husband for 10 1/2 years. We were married in the temple, but he felt it was creepy and wrong and had no desire to go back. He eventually dropped out of the church, but his name is still on the records. He has gender identity disorder, severe mental issues and could not hold a job, which ultimately led to our divorce. He no longer has anything to do with the church as far as I know.

I remarried about a year and eight months ago to a nonmember. Last fall he started getting missionary lessons and will be baptized in about two weeks. We would like to be sealed in the temple in a year.

I know women can only be sealed to one man. What is the process I must follow? I hear the rules have been changed. I met with my bishop on Sunday and he wasn't sure yet what this would entail, but says they no longer do temple divorces but that I could still be sealed to my current husband once he has been a member for at least a year.

[slamjet]

That sounds like quite the situation that your Bishop should take to the Stake President. Although, someone here may have an answer.

[NobodysFool]

The Bishop needs to pull out Handbook 1. I'm sure it's all right there.

While I don't think it's called a "temple divorce", I'd think a cancellation of sealing is still in order. And there's a specific procedure for doing that. It's all in the handbook. But it's not something that happens overnight, so it is something you want to get started on at least a few months before your husband becomes eligible to go to the temple.

[Gargantuan]

My mother went through this with my father, and it's not as complicated as it may seem.

Generally, if the husband you are sealed to now has asked to have his name removed from the Church rolls, then it is a "no brainer". You can be sealed to whom you want to be sealed. If you are both still sealed together, I think it is a matter for the stake president to handle. My mother requested to have a sealing cancellation to my father and then she was told by the SP that if she wanted to have it changed back later during a time that God would determine, she could have that reversed.

The main idea is not to put a lot of pressure on you or your future husband, but to let you know that God is aware of your circumstances and that it will all work out the best way that you will happiest. A comment was made earlier to this, and I believe it was correct in that these instructions are found in the Bishop's Handbook and is clearly written out. Gar

Edited February 22, 2011 by Gargantuan
misspelled word

[rameumptom]

You request a sealing cancellation through your bishop. He will send the request to the First Presidency. A letter will be sent to your ex, asking him what his thoughts are regarding the divorce, etc. It normally does not delay the cancellation, unless the ex is aware of some serious secret sins on your part and he divulges them.

If you start the paperwork within the next few months, then it should easily be canceled way before the 1 year mark, so the two of you can be sealed at that time.

[Backroads]

As far as I'm aware there shouldn't be much to end the sealing with your ex. It's frowned upon, but usually only up until a woman has an opportunity to be sealed to another worthy man. Since your ex is no longer a member of the church, your current husband should definitely be preferrable.

A friend's wife had a sealing cancellation with her first husband. She didn't start it until she was seriously dating my friend. She says it took about three months from starting the process until she received it.

[mnn727]

Tell your Bishop to open the new Church Handbook of Instructions Book 1 - its there.

Its never been called a "Temple Divorce" its a "Cancellation of Sealing" and will need to be done.