Family Sealing Question

[Guest mirancs8]

You were born into the church and later become inactive. You married a non-member and had several children together. Years later your marriage ends in divorce. Soon after your ex-spouse passed away.

Here's the scenario I'm curious about. You come back to the church and eventually your children get baptized. Is it possible for you to have the work of your ex-spouse done and get sealed together along with your children? (the ex-spouse never remarried)

Mind twister isn't it

[Vort]

I'm not an authority, but I don't see why it would not be possible. Seems the obvious thing to do, especially if the ex-spouse never remarried.

[Blocky]

Why not? I'm pretty sure a living person can be sealed to a dead person. You need to wait one year. When my husband dies (hopefully not for an other 50+) years I'd do that. Here is the mind twister for me.

I went inactive, and got married outside of the temple. We both agreed to work towards the temple, then my husband went inactive. I have since repented and and gone to the temple, though not to be sealed. Most suppose that I do not qualify for exaltation, that I will be an administering angel in the Celestial Kingdom. But, if my husband dies and I get sealed to him then, or if I got divorced then remarried in the temple, then I'd be good to go.

[Jennarator]

I would also think its possible, yet I don't know for sure.

He still has the choice to accept or reject on the other side.

[Guest mirancs8]

Why not? I'm pretty sure a living person can be sealed to a dead person. You need to wait one year. When my husband dies (hopefully not for an other 50+) years I'd do that. Here is the mind twister for me.

I went inactive, and got married outside of the temple. We both agreed to work towards the temple, then my husband went inactive. I have since repented and and gone to the temple, though not to be sealed. Most suppose that I do not qualify for exaltation, that I will be an administering angel in the Celestial Kingdom. But, if my husband dies and I get sealed to him then, or if I got divorced then remarried in the temple, then I'd be good to go.

Well gee wiz anything can happen in 50+ years. Have some faith you have time on your side. Just because he's inactive now doesn't mean it's set in stone

[JudoMinja]

I was always under the impression that in a situation like this one, the sealing work could only be done once both were dead, so your children would end up having to do the work for you, but I admit I never thought to seek out any actual clarification on my assumption. Thinking about it now, I cannot think of any reason logically why you should not be allowed to do the work. Just, maybe, that if you do the work and then sometime down the line find someone else you want to be sealed to.. Not sure how they would work that out.

[Guest mirancs8]

Just, maybe, that if you do the work and then sometime down the line find someone else you want to be sealed to.. Not sure how they would work that out.

This person is a man so he can be sealed to more then one.

[Blocky]

Well gee wiz anything can happen in 50+ years. Have some faith you have time on your side. Just because he's inactive now doesn't mean it's set in stone

Oh don't worry. I have faith and am doing everything I can for our family to be sealed. It's what I want the most. I was just putting it in perspective of the original post, where one spouse passes away.

If we'd been sealed and then he'd fallen away, I think it would have been harder for me than how it is now. The situation now makes it easier for me to make sure I teach my kids, that we have family prayer, that I keep on the path I'm supposed to go, because I see how easy it is to loose all that.

As far as the original post, weren't there woman who got sealed to Joseph Smith Jr. after his death because they were unmarried in this life?

[Just_A_Guy]

A friend of mine was in this situation (except he was in the role of one of the kids) a couple of years ago - parents divorced, Mom now active, dad deceased. He was told that the sealing of the parents (and thus, his sealing to his father) can be done after Mom is dead, but not while she's alive.

[Guest mirancs8]

A friend of mine was in this situation (except he was in the role of one of the kids) a couple of years ago - parents divorced, Mom now active, dad deceased. He was told that the sealing of the parents (and thus, his sealing to his father) can be done after Mom is dead, but not while she's alive.

Interesting. So your friends mother wouldn't be able to get sealed to her late husband if she wanted to until she passed away as well?

[Just_A_Guy]

Because of the divorce, yes.

This was a couple of years ago, though; and for all I know they may have changed the policy. Best thing to do, if you attend the temple periodically, is to just go over to the Recorder's Office after a session and ask them.

[szorgalmasan]

Deceased Women - A deceased woman may be sealed to all men to whom she was legally married during her life. However, if she was sealed to a husband during her life, all her husbands must be deceased before she may be sealed to a husband to whom she was not sealed during life. This includes former husbands from whom she was divorced.

Deceased Men - A deceased man may have sealed to him all women to whom he was legally married during his life if they are deceased or if they are living and are not sealed to another man.

Deceased Couples Who Were Divorced - Deceased couples who were divorced may be sealed by proxy. These sealings often provide the only way for children of such couples to be sealed to parents. There are restrictions if either husband or wife were excommunicated of had his or her name removed from Church membership records at the time of death. First Presidency approval is required for the sealing of a deceased couple who obtained a cancellation of their sealing in life.

[Guest mirancs8]

@szorgalmasan

Where does this information you provided originate from?

[szorgalmasan]

@szorgalmasan

Where does this information you provided originate from?

Handbook 1 - 2010 pg. 20-21