ENSIGN ARTICLE: “Marriages in temples in the United States and Canada are recognized by the law of the land as approved marriages, but laws in London, Switzerland, and New Zealand require persons desiring to be sealed in these temples to be married civilly first. In New Zealand, for example, the law requires that all marriages be performed in a place that is open to the public. Consequently, couples are generally married civilly first in the visitors center chapel or one of the ward chapels, following which they go immediately to the temple for their sealing. … [In countries where marriages are civilly recognized, however,] if a couple are civilly married and then decide later that they wish to be sealed in the temple (in contrast to special conditions, such as those in New Zealand, as noted above), the general rule of the Church is that they may not apply for a temple recommend until one year from the date of their civil marriage. Any exception must be in writing from the First Presidency granting permission for the sealing.” -Information For Brides and Grooms Planning a Temple Marriage, Ensign, June 1971. [source]
NEW ERA ARTICLE: “A temple marriage is worth any sacrifice. Many couples wait for a long time until they can afford to travel to the temple closest to them. If you marry outside the temple, you will need to wait at least a year before you can be sealed in the temple, unless civil law in your area requires you to be married outside the temple first.” -Planning Your Temple Wedding, New Era, October 2004. [source]
COMMENTARY: If sealing the husband and wife together for eternity and creating an eternal family really were the most important thing, there would be no waiting period between being married and getting sealed. Something else must be going on. But what do I know? I’m just another apostate.
