An important part of creating an Eternal Family is getting married in a temple. Id say the greatest things that I prioritize in my life is looking for opportunities to serve God and thats something I can do with Sergio and thats also something he wants. He was a very steady friend and wed both been in and out of lots of relationships that always ended. Sergio would always make comments like, When are you going to realize that we should just date? And I would just laugh because I was like, Oh, were friends.
Finally last summer, he asked me, So when do we just get married? And for the first time my response was, "Wait, what if that actually worked? After the age of 16, dating in the Mormon religion is encouraged but theres no sex until marriage. 66% Of Mormon adults are married compared with only 52% of U.S. Adults overall. Mormons are also considered more fertile.
They have 3.4 Children compared to the national average of 2.1. Melissa and Sergio believe that they will be united with their family in Heaven. In order to participate in Temple ordinances, including for a wedding, each member has to be recommended meeting with a local ecclesiastical leader, your Bishop, counseling with them and meeting the various requirements that establish worthiness and maturity to understand what youre taking upon yourself when you enter a temple. To marry or attend a ceremony in the Temple, you have to follow a bunch of rules including: being a member of the church, abstaining from premarital sex, being free from drugs and alcohol, paying 10% of your income to the Church, and wearing temple garments.
Temple garments are worn by all adults, including Sergio and Melissa, as personal reminders of the promises theyve made to God. Theyre worn at all times except for exercising and bathing. Immediately after Sergio and I got engaged, we realized our family and our close friends would not be able to be at our marriage ceremony. I talked to my Dad and he expressed that he was sad that he wouldnt be able to be there.
You got two intelligent people coming together and forging their way through life. A few weeks later he said he was going to try to be there. I was like, Uh, Dad, you know what that means? Thats a lot of sacrifices. He hasand relativeswhen we get together sometimes will have a glass of wine and thats part of the health code is that we dont drink alcohol.
Theres an undergarment that we wear to remind us of the promises that we make when we go to the Temple. So he started to wear those. He said he was sure he wanted to do it. Im really grateful that hes going to be able to be there.
Oh my gosh! Ahh! I needed to come and see you before your actual wedding. So Im like, Ahh! I dont feel stressed. I feel Ive waited a long time for this and I also know that shes the best person for me. Yay, lets go! The wedding ceremony is the most sacred ritual in Mormonism and isnt allowed to be filmed or spoken of in detail outside the Temple.
This can make the wedding, or Sealing Ceremony, seem mysterious or shrouded in secrecy. But to Mormons, its just sacred, not secret. After the 30 minute ceremony, Sergio and Melissa emerge from the Temple, their souls sealed together forever. Seeing you come out of the Temple, I didnt realize how emotional I would be.
Congratulations. (Guests cheering) Through prayer, lots of communication, and by following the rules of the church, Melissa and Sergio are on their way to creating their Eternal Family..
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