covenanted?

[CatholicLady]

What does it mean to be "covenanted in the temple?"

Is this something that all Mormons should do?

For anyone who understands Catholicism, is this kind of like the mormon equivalence to the sacrament of confirmation?

[The Folk Prophet]

Covenanted in the temple would simply mean that you have made the temple covenants, or the covenants that are offered and made only in the temple. LDS covenants are a promise between God and us, as established by God, that we will do His will and He will bless us accordingly. The first covenant we make is entering the waters of baptism, whereupon we covenant to take His name upon us, always remember Him, and keep His commandments, and He promises us in return that we will always have His Spirit (the Holy Ghost) to be with us. Temple covenants are similar, relating to obedience and doing God's will in all things. The ultimate covenant God makes with us is the promise of eternal life with Him. (Exaltation, etc.)

[Jane_Doe]

"Covent" = 2-way promise between you and God.

"Temple" = house of the Lord.  One of it's purposes is to be a special place to make sacred promises with God.  Hence "convents made in the temple"

[Guest]

One of it's purposes is to be a special place to make scared promises with God.  

 

 

100% certain that Jane meant sacred. LOL

[Vort]

"Covenant" = 2-way promise between you and God.

"Temple" = house of the Lord.  One of it's purposes is to be a special place to make sacared promises with God.  Hence "convenants made in the temple"

 

Cleaning that up for you.

[Jane_Doe]

I've actually heard it compared to confirmation before and it sorta-fits.

 

Temple convents are what we call an "ordinance" (which is pretty equivalent to what Catholics call a "sacrament").  

 

The first ordinances a Mormon makes are baptism and confirmation.  These a person has to be of accountable age (8+), and have a testimony of the Lord.  They can be performed anywhere, but are normally done at the local church building.  The ordinance most be done by a priest of proper authority.

 

Later ordinances are taken as an adult (18+).  These are additional things one convents with the Lord to do.  They include an initiatory, endowment (when one receives garments), and sealing (marriage for time and all eternity).  These later ordinances are only performed at the temple.  Temples are built specifically for this, and not used for weekly worship services.  Theres something like 200 local church building for each temple.  All ordinances must be performed with the proper authority.

[Jane_Doe]

Cleaning that up for you.

 

Thanks.

[CatholicLady]

Thanks everyone.

 

So initiatory, endowment, and sealing, are the 3 ordinances Mormons make when they are adults. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming initiatory and endowment are both required of practicing Mormons. Is sealing also required, or is a Mormon ok to choose the single life?   

[Vort]

Thanks everyone.

 

So initiatory, endowment, and sealing, are the 3 ordinances Mormons make when they are adults. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming initiatory and endowment are both required of practicing Mormons. Is sealing also required, or is a Mormon ok to choose the single life?   

 

God forces blessings on no one. If you don't want a blessing, you are not required to take it. There are adult Mormons who are active at Church but who have never received their temple covenants. It's not a requirement, any more than baptism is a requirement. It's a blessing extended to those who wish to make themselves worthy of it.

 

As for sealing, people are sealed to parents and also to spouses. You are not required to get married, and some people who want to get married never have the opportunity to do so. But if you want the blessings of exaltation that God has in store for them that love him and follow his commandments, you will seek marriage just as you seek any other great blessing.

[CatholicLady]

God forces blessings on no one. If you don't want a blessing, you are not required to take it. There are adult Mormons who are active at Church but who have never received their temple covenants. It's not a requirement, any more than baptism is a requirement. It's a blessing extended to those who wish to make themselves worthy of it.

 

As for sealing, people are sealed to parents and also to spouses. You are not required to get married, and some people who want to get married never have the opportunity to do so. But if you want the blessings of exaltation that God has in store for them that love him and follow his commandments, you will seek marriage just as you seek any other great blessing.

 

Thanks Vorst! Baptism is a requirement for Catholics, so I didn't know if initiatory and endowment were required in the Mormon faith the same way Baptism is required in my faith. Thanks for clearing that up! 

[Vort]

Thanks Vorst! Baptism is a requirement for Catholics, so I didn't know if initiatory and endowment were required in the Mormon faith the same way Baptism is required in my faith. Thanks for clearing that up! 

 

Let me be a bit more specific. God will force no man to heaven, so such things are not "required" in that sense. But if you want to join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, then yes, you must be baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That's what it means to join the Church.

 

Similarly, if you would receive the blessings of exaltation that God promises to those who follow him, you must make further temple covenants. So in that sense, yes, they are required.

[Jane_Doe]

Thanks everyone.

 

So initiatory, endowment, and sealing, are the 3 ordinances Mormons make when they are adults. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming initiatory and endowment are both required of practicing Mormons. Is sealing also required, or is a Mormon ok to choose the single life?   

 

All things should be done when you're ready for them.  

 

Baptism and confirmation are the steps to formally join the Mormon church (and wash your sins away, etc).  Most lifelong Mormons get baptized at 8.  Initiatory and endowment more varied when they're taken.  I myself have not yet taken them because I don't feel like it's time yet (I'm an adult member of 30).  However, they are required if you're going to serve a mission or be sealed.  Sealing is obviously done later when you're getting married (or after).

 

Ultimately, all these ordinances are required in the Mormon faith.  However, God is understanding and makes allowances when circumstances prevent you from doing them yourself (they can be done by proxy).

 

As to marriage, you can be Mormon and single (something like 25% of Mormon adults are), including some in high leadership. There is a belief that if you are unable to find a spouse in this life (like premature death), that God will give you that opportunity in the next life.  It is also a Mormon belief that kids under the age of accountability are automatically saved in Christ.

[CatholicLady]

So if you want to get married in the Mormon church, you must go through baptism, confirmation, initiatory, and endowment?

[The Folk Prophet]

So if you want to get married in the Mormon church, you must go through baptism, confirmation, initiatory, and endowment?

If you want to be sealed for time and all eternity through the celestial marriage covenant them you must do that. You can be married civilly by a bishop without. But it has no more meaning than doing so at a courthouse or the like.

[Jane_Doe]

So if you want to get married in the Mormon church, you must go through baptism, confirmation, initiatory, and endowment?

 

To be have a "sealed" Mormon marriage, yes.  Similar to how Catholics must be baptized before having a sacramental marriage.

 

However, anyone can be married civilly under a-coart-of-law (not church).

[CatholicLady]

I understand now, thanks guys!