It is purely a free choice decision known well in advance.
It is true that others who do not belong to the church, or who do not live by those tennants cannot be a part of that ceremony.
My brother, for example, who is a wonderful Christian man and an Evangelical associate Pastor down in the Denton, TX area was unable to attend my wedding vows in the temple, or that of my son and daughter who were married there.
It did not bother him. He came to the receptions and dinners and offered his congratulations and indicated that he was thankful they were taking their vows so seriously.
People who get married there know all this going in, as do their families if they talk about their weddings with them at all...and then it is their decision to make.
I know members who elected to have civil ceremonies for just this reason, so they could include everyone in them...who were otherwise worthy to attend. Then, afterwards they have a "sealing" ceremony in the temple.
In such cicumstances, where they are considered fully worthy, they do not have to wait a full year to then be sealed in the temple. Perhaps that is what the Romney's did...I do not know, I just know that in such circumstances, where the couple is worthy and able to attend the temple, that the one year wait usually does not apply. The one year wait is usually only for new members of the church, for those who have long been away from and inactive in the church, or for couples who have lived together before being wed, or something of that nature. Anyhow, I just felt this woman's article was even handed and fair and I appreciated it.
who were otherwise worthy to attend.
____________________________________________
AH Jeffie
Do explain this “worthy” stuff
For the lurkers ...
"as it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
- Romans 3:10
It is a made up, pagan custom of "temples", which is not commanded or instructed in the New Testament.
It is a made up fiction that anyone can be worthy.
The whole point of Christ's death was because no one is worthy, nor can anyone ever become worthy through human works - even mormonic works. Salvation doesn't come through personal worthiness, but via the amazing Gospel of Grace - and apart from human worthiness.
Thanks Jeff, for the opportunity to use a mormonic thread to teach readers what he Bible teaches.
I hope she visits a mosque and a JW Kingdom Hall and reports of her experiences there, too.
Maybe she can get into a Scientology session or hang with some Wiccans, too.
I'll sure an even handed story or two or four would be forthcoming as well.
My second marriage took place in a Catholic Chapel of a hospital. Again we are Baptist. Our preacher officiated with several Nuns and a Priest Chaplain as guest. Yes even though it was a second marriage for both of us and our preacher knew us he still did pre marriage counseling LOL.
In all seriousness though Biblical marriage in a church or otherwise is a man and a woman standing before GOD giving their vows to each other before Him and commitment before Him united through Him.