In
Mormonism, the sealing power is the means whereby all "covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations" attain "efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead."
[Doctrine and Covenants ]
New Testament references
Christ refers to this power in when he says to
Peter: "And I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This is later repeated in : "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
Restoration
This power is believed to have been held in
Old Testament
The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
times by the prophet
Elijah, and that he restored this power to
Joseph Smith in the
Kirtland Temple of the
Church of the Latter Day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, informally known as the LDS Church or Mormon Church, is a nontrinitarian Christian church that considers itself to be the restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The chu ...
on April 3, 1836 in fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy in : "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD: and he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."
Marriage
An ordinance where the sealing power is clearly displayed is in marriage. A typical marriage ceremony includes the caveat "until death do you part", whereas marriages performed with the sealing power in a
temple can exist beyond death and into heaven. These marriages are referred to as
celestial marriage
Celestial marriage (also called the New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage, Eternal Marriage, Temple Marriage) is a doctrine that marriage can last forever in heaven. This is a unique teaching of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints ...
s, and are for eternity, not just until death. In this instance, husbands and wives are referred to as being
sealed
Seal may refer to any of the following:
Common uses
* Pinniped, a diverse group of semi-aquatic marine mammals, many of which are commonly called seals, particularly:
** Earless seal, or "true seal"
** Fur seal
* Seal (emblem), a device to impr ...
to one another, and the children are sealed to their parents, making an "eternal family."
Detailed explanation
The sealing power is explained in greater detail i
D&C 132:7-19:
Boyd K. Packer
Boyd Kenneth Packer (September 10, 1924 – July 3, 2015) was an American religious leader and educator who served as President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church), president of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jes ...
has also elaborated on the meaning of the term "seal" in conjunction with the phrase "sealing power":
See also
*
Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)
*
Second anointing
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sealing Power
Latter Day Saint ordinances, rituals, and symbolism
Latter Day Saint terms
1836 establishments in the United States
1836 in Christianity
Latter Day Saint belief and doctrine