Question: I was born baptized and raised in the Catholic faith. I am now 19 years old and have been considering conversion to LDS for a few years now. After doing much research on your faith, I have been able to sit down with my parents and convince them that this would not be a wrong or sinful decision for me to make. My mother is still concerned, though. She strongly dislikes the fact that if I were to convert and eventually marry in the temple, she would not be allowed to be present. What does your faith state about more than one wedding ceremony? Would it be possible if, when the time comes, to have a civil ceremony with my family and non-LDS friends present and to have a temple marriage at some point as well?
Response: The best thing to do, would be for you to be married at the right place at the right time by proper priesthood authority which is what happens when one is married in the temple for time and all eternity. You've raised a very serious and important consideration for those who wish to be married in the temple but their extended family are not members of the Church. I have a couple suggestions because I've seen the following examples done, but I strongly advise that you converse with your bishop and not just take my opinion alone.
Right after the temple ceremony, there might be what is called a "ring ceremony." This can take place at either a restaurant, a hotel meeting room or some other appropriate place. The Bishop usually conducts this ceremony. He, or a knowledgeable family friend who is a member of the Church, would give some brief and general remarks about temple marriages and the great eternal blessings that come from it without divulging any of the exact wording of the sealing ceremony itself because of the sacredness of it. Although, there is much that can be talked about regarding the temple otherwise. Usually this presentation doesn't last too long. Following this, some appropriate and soft inspiring music can be played and even a statement from the bride and groom expressing their eternal love and affection for each other, followed by the exchanging of wedding rings. The program usually concludes with appropriate music and a prayer. Following that, to maintain the sacredness of their vows, the entire wedding party moves to another location or at least another room for the wedding reception where everyone can greet the bride and groom.
This next suggestion I don't recommend because of my statement above about being married in the right place at the right time; however, if you and your fiancé were to be married civilly so that all of your extended family could be witnesses of the marriage ceremony itself, you would then be required to wait one year before you both could be sealed together in the temple for time and all eternity. There is nothing grossly wrong about that, but the preference would be the temple sealing first because there are so many wonderful blessings that come to you and your children right from the start that you DO NOT want to miss.
