Member is divorced, spouse excomunicated yet record still states sealed to spouse

The member is divorced, the ex-spouse is excommunicated yet active member record still states sealed to spouse. The active member was recently civilly married after updating her record with her new husband (member also) her record says sealed to spouse, but she is not sealed to this spouse. Thus this will create confusion down the road making clerks and leaders think these two people are sealed when they are not.

Is there a way to remove the sealed = Yes from the record?

You might want to contact local unit support.

Since her sealing hasn't been cancelled, she is still sealed. However, I'd think it would be a "Y" next to "sealed to prior spouse" rather than "sealed to spouse". (Unless they've changed the format of the record.)

It only says, "Sealed to Spouse Yes." To make it more confusing her new husband's record states the same thing. Thus both records state sealed to spouse, but the spouses are different people. I don't know if his ex-spouse is excommunicated as well. I would think with the wife in this situation, whose ex-spouse is excommunicated, it would not say sealed to spouse, since how can you be sealed to someone not on church records.

As long as the wife is faithful to her covenants, she still has rights to all the blessings of the sealing ordinance. That's why she's still considered sealed – because she still has all the blessings of being sealed and she's still in the covenant. If she and her new husband decide that they want to be sealed to each other, there's a process for a previous sealing to be nullified, with approval from the First Presidency. This is usually only done if there are plans to be sealed again soon after.

Everyone needs to be sealed, since it's a saving ordinance. In cases where one spouse abandons his covenants, and the other spouse never gets sealed to anyone else, the details of who the other spouse is sealed to in the eternities is figured out on the other side.

OK. I will leave the records as they are and not pursue further action. Thanks.

sbradshaw wrote:As long as the wife is faithful to her covenants, she still has rights to all the blessings of the sealing ordinance. That's why she's still considered sealed – because she still has all the blessings of being sealed and she's still in the covenant. If she and her new husband decide that they want to be sealed to each other, there's a process for a previous sealing to be nullified, with approval from the First Presidency. This is usually only done if there are plans to be sealed again soon after.

Details can be found in Handbook 1: 3.6

Yes. I still don't see the purpose, or blessing, of being labeled as sealed to an excommunicated member. I guess that's a doctrine question. For the membership purposes, the ambiguity will remain in the records.

I'm in the same boat , what's the process? My ex wife is excommunicated and we are supposedly still sealed, I met someone new and we plan to marry in a few months, is the process more simpler now or do I still have to go through the long process? I'm confused

nelsonleqa1 wrote:I met someone new and we plan to marry in a few months, is the process more simpler now or do I still have to go through the long process?

Your bishop should be able to answer any of your questions with the help of Handbook 1 and your stake president. Your bishop will help you make an Application to the First Presidency for a sealing clearance if you wish to be sealed to your new spouse.

I am divorced. Former husband is out of the church. The sealing "to"him is gone spiritually.
I understand there needs to be a spouse's name attached to a sealing....is that for records sake or doctrine?
it is through the sealing power I have access to the blessings.. not because I am sealed to him...he doesnt exist in the church for me to be sealed "to"

Could the form be changed?
It would be a very easy thing for the record to have choices. "Sealed to spouse" or "Sealed by way of former spouse" All confusion and uncomfortable feelings would be gone. A few words make a big difference.

janetleewilliams, I understand how sensitive this topic is for you (and for many of us forum members with loved ones in similar situations). However, this Forum is really a user-to-user experience, almost everyone here are regular members and not official Church employees. So while some here have a lot of good insight into how things work, and we may each have our own feelings about what and how certain changes should be made, we don't have access to any decision-making.

So I'm not certain there's a satisfactory answer to your question that this Forum could provide, since all anyone can really do is either submit Feedback through the links available at the bottom of any Church webpage, and/or express this to their Priesthood leader. And then trust that the Lord's love and wisdom accounts for all things perfectly, even when we do experience the confusion and uncomfortable feelings you describe.

To drcook:

Your post does not appear because is contains sensitive personal information and this is a public forum.

Your bishop will be able to obtain an answer to your questions if you will visit with him.

Prophets have said many times that those who are worthy when they leave this life will have all of the opportunities of exaltation. One of the purposes of the Millennium is to take care of all of these ordinances so that everything is in order after we leave this earthly existence.

Please visit with your bishop and let him help you understand these doctrinal principles.

My husband and I were both previously married. He was sealed to his ex who left the church, I was not. We had a civil marriage initially. My husband went to the bishop about becoming unsealed to his ex so we could be sealed together
We both thought it would be a long process but it was not. I don't think it was more than a few months.

KellyH wrote: Sun May 19, 2024 2:26 am My husband and I were both previously married. He was sealed to his ex who left the church, I was not. We had a civil marriage initially. My husband went to the bishop about becoming unsealed to his ex so we could be sealed together
We both thought it would be a long process but it was not. I don't think it was more than a few months.

For anyone finding this post, just an additional remark. While some have had their sealing cancelation processed relatively quickly (like your case), other faithful members have waited very long times for their requests to be approved by the First Presidency. From everything we are told, there is no way for a local member or leader to obtain details about the reasoning behind why some applications are approved quickly, and others seem to drag on for years. And there also is absolutely no indication that it pertains to worthiness or similar aspects. The Handbook guidance, as well as other comments in this thread and others on the Forum, are a good starting point, but personal counseling with your Bishop is the ideal way to approach these matters.