LDS Temple Marriage: "Unlike the majority of Christian religions, which teach that marriage is only an earthly institution, Mormonism maintains that marriage bonds were intended to survive the grave. The survival of the marriage relationship in the afterlife is a necessary condition for exaltation, considered 'the greatest of all the gifts of God.' Exaltation is a state in which faithful, resurrected LDS become joint-heirs with Jesus Christ, thereby receiving the fullness of the glory of God the Father and becoming Gods themselves, who will one day create and populate worlds of their own. This somewhat unorthodox view of marriage was revealed through the Prophet Joseph Smith and is recorded in the current edition of the Doctrine and Covenants, section 135."

• • • The Current LDS Marriage Ritual• • •

As with other LDS rituals, this ceremony may be performed for either the living or the dead. When performed by proxy, it is used to "seal" deceased married members of the LDS Church to each other for time and eternity, while for the living it serves as the current marriage ceremony.

This ceremony is performed in a "Sealing Room." The room has an altar in its center with kneeling cushions on each side. At the head of the altar are two seats for the "Witnesses." Their signatures will appear on the temple’s marriage certificate. Others attending the ceremony stand about the room on either side of the altar. The Officiator who performs the sealing stands at the head of the alt

LDS Temple Endowment Homepage

After reading the Mormon scriptures, I put Mormonism to the test. I prayed several times to learn whether the Church was "true," and received no answer at all. The only "answer" that made any sense to me was that Mormonism--however appealing--was not what it represented itself to be.

this is the naive use of prayer as a tool not as a spiritual exercise
I did that myself as a child

the temple endowment answers the "terrible questions," i.e.,
Where did I come from?
Why am I here?
And Where will I go when this life is over?

LOL found in all societies but not terrible if faced.

Good-bye to God by Steve Benson

I think the good LDS do is far outwieghs the mistakes made by individual members
and their contribution to world culture should not be underestimated

The come and join us syndrome is common to all new churches
and is saddens me to see atheists who have progressed to another philosophical position
still carrying that baggage with them

Liberty and Democracy embaces the rights of individuals to their own private views on religion
freedom means freedom to be different - or even to be a "cult" member.