Bishop training on sealing after divorce?

[randoman]

This thread is not intended to figure out sealing cancellation vs. clearance. I truly understand them. My wife and I have been in three different wards over the past 2 1/2 years. We both were sealed in the temple to our exes for ten years. Children involved. Neither of or exes are active and were the guilty party in adultery. Nonetheless. We have attempted over the past few years to get three bishops in three wards to fil out the paperwork to give to the stake president. They have my wife's ex husband permission. My ex write her letter a year and a half ago. When we move to a new ward, we meet the bishop, he does an interview, says he will write a letter and necessary paperwork to the stake president in favor of our sealing. I just asked our current bishop after 2 months since our interview and he said he just hadn't got around to it. This is the 3rd bishop who had done this exact same thing.

All this to ask...do bishops get adequate training on how to deal with the sealing process for remarried couples? Both a new, midterm and bishop for five years voiced to me that they we unclear as what to do and would talk to the stake president. I feel that none of the bishops truly grasp the desire and the gravity of importance of the need for a couple to be sealed. Its frustrating sitting with my wife in the celestial room but can't be sealed to her. Feels more like a training and bureauocracy issue. Two and a half years and three bishops is a lot of time and patience. Does any one know why this is such a struggle? Its definitely a systemic misunderstanding and lack of education on the process by bishops in general.

Any insight would help.

Thanks

Edited April 10, 2011 by randoman
spelling error

[NeuroTypical]

I don't know if it's 3 years of delaying or bureaucracy or what, but feel free to bug them until you get an answer. Get on the bishop's calendar every other week for five minutes, to follow up on anything you should be doing, and what he said he would do. Once it's to the SP, ask the SP's exec sec for a date when action will be taken. Follow up on the date. Some things need to go up to the first presidency. You can't really bug them, but you can sure track progress until it heads up to them.

It's possible that you might hear an answer you don't want to hear along the way. Are you humble enough to hear it?

[Suzie]

Randoman, have you tried to contact the Stake President directly and tell him about it? Since you tried the correct way by contacting your Bishop (s) already and few years have passed, maybe you should contact your Stake President and see if he can help you out resolve this issue.

[Palerider]

You need to be polite and bug the daylights out of him....bug his secretary and councilors....I only say this because Bishops have alot of stuff on their plate. If you knew everything you would be surprised with what they can remember. They are not trying to be rude. Perhaps his exec secretary could type the letter and get the Bishop to sign it. Those are my thoughts and suggestions. I have some expertise in this area.....:D

[Jennarator]

Well this sounds familiar. Going thru something similar. Good luck! I hope your current bishop gets a move on it! I know ours never made much of an effort, and we have been waiting for a very long time!

[rameumptom]

Ask the ward clerk to prepare the paperwork for the bishop. Give it one more month, then ask to visit with the stake president and explain your situation.

[AGStacker]

It's possible that you might hear an answer you don't want to hear along the way. Are you humble enough to hear it?

I equate loudmouth Mormons to judgmental ones. Just FYI.

[ryanh]

I equate loudmouth Mormons to judgmental ones. Just FYI.

What on earth was that for? And how does it in any way relate to this thread?

[AGStacker]

I'm am not sure why he/she would ask them if they were humble enough. Clearly, if the poster is being honest, they deserve to have a temple sealing. I typically find the loudmouth Mormons to gossip, backbite and offend others.

Myself, there is not a single individual on this earth that could offend me enough so that I would stop attending church but I have close people to me who don't go because they have problems with members. I of course tell them this is dumb but members need to learn how they talk to other members. Belonging to the same, true, church doesn't give people the right to meddle and judge.

[ryanh]

I . . . tell them this is dumb . . .

doesn't give people the right to. . . judge.

Wow.

And, so, you are going to judge LM, without knowing him, as someone in your "don't like" list, simply based on a screen name? Wow.

[Backroads]

When my husband was getting his sealing clearance, he was definitely a polite pesterer. The information is out there for the bishop and stake president... sometimes they just need to be prodded.

[ryanh]

Does any one know why this is such a struggle? Its definitely a systemic misunderstanding and lack of education on the process by bishops in general.

I could only speculate as to why there is a struggle, but I would bet it has roots in lay ministry that are often overburdened with many pressing matters. It is interesting to me that my Bishop of less than a year in the position, was able to explain to me the process, show me the forms, and had a full understanding of it. Didn't seem to be a problem in my most recent ex-ward.

[jayanna]

I agree, bug the bananas out of him.