I had no intention of posting today. We are at home. Exhausted. I need to mow the lawn and pack for our vacation, but all I have enough energy to do is play on my laptop.
And I did want to capture a couple of memories.
Yesterday was wedding day for my eldest son, FOML2. He and his beautiful bride were married in an LDS temple, which makes it even better. Their marriage was performed by a man who held the authority to “seal” them together so that they have the potential to remain married even after this life and into the next. The words “’til death do you part,” are not part of the equation or ceremony.
I have been to a lot of sealings. Mine still ranks as the very best, but many have been wonderful, sacred events. Yesterday was something new for me. And I was in awe.
The best way I can describe it is by saying that I am plenty “book smart” – I know the doctrines regarding eternal marriage and believe them. I’ve witnessed many, and have a pretty good understanding of temples, marriage and how great it can be when it all works together like it should.
However, I was unprepared for how much more powerful and emotional it was having MY son and HIS true love being joined together to create an entirely new family unti. It was so far beyond what I was expecting, and I had very high expectations.
The best I can do is use silly words like “cool” and “awesome”. (Surprisingly, neither of which are used in D&C 132) I mentioned this to a friend who helped me out by saying “Maybe the description you are looking for is ‘Joy and rejoicing in your posterity.“
He nailed it: Joy and rejoicing in my posterity*.
I am joyful, rejoicing and grateful
—–
The rest of the stuff was nice too: The rehearsal dinner the night before and the reception last night were both beautiful, replete with people we love, and good food and fancy decor.
Oh yeah – one other memorable event that I refuse to let overshadow the good stuff: My son’s new mother-in-law disappeared from reception line, went into the bathroom and passed out – resulting in paramedics, IVs, ambulance and a long night in the hospital: Severe dehydration and exhaustion. Really. She”s very sad, doing better and should come home today…
So, if there is a temple wedding in your child’s future, be prepared for something wonderful. And hydrate.
Congratulations! My fourth daughter got married a month ago. All four of my daughters were married in the temple so I know what you mean by the joy and rejoicing. It is one of the greatest experiences of life. Having been the mother-of-the bride four times, I understand the exhaustion that your son’s mother-in-law felt. I feel for her and hope she didn’t miss too much of the celebration.
Being one totally qualifies me to say, MIL’s! Always drama. But not taking away from the wonderful part of it all… Congratulations. Life only gets better from here. And by better I mean ‘interesting’, ‘phenomenal’ and ‘full of surprises’.
My youngest son was baptized last Friday (june 29th). He turned 8 years old on June 9th and as his birthday gift, we made a family trip to Manaus/AM for Brazil Manaus Temple dedication. For his baptism he invited a couple of classmates and teachers, and we invited our workmates and some friends from the church. We wanted to keep it short and simple so there was no doubt the ordenance was the most important part of that night and I guess we did a good job. Missionaries got a hand full of possible investigators and I spent the weekend like you, feeling “Joy and rejoicing in my posterity”. Thanks for sharing your experience. We still have a couple of years in front of us until we can see our 2 sons being sealed to their eternal companions in a LDS Temple. Hugs from Nothern Brazil.
Parabéns minha irmã!
Congratulations to you and the entire MMM family! An eternal marriage is a glorious thing. Our family just celebrated a daughter’s and SIL’s third anniversary and a son’s and and DIL’s first anniversary in June. I’m feeling rather grateful for those years in between and hope my other two children will be as gracious and not decide to wed too close together. You need a couple of years between huge events to recover.
Best wishes to the new couple!
How exciting and beautiful! Thanks for sharing, and thank you for the disclaimer at the end. I almost fell out of my chair when I read your choice of words. lol KIDDING!
Ah…you nailed that description…and added a layer of my understanding. I know how it feels to feel sadness when your child feels sadness and will now look forward to that day of joy and rejoicing with a new understanding. Congratulations and thanks! (sorry about the MIL!)
It will be here before you know it…
Congratulations! I will always remember the day my youngest was sealed to her beloved. I just have no words to descibe my feelings. Sure hope the MIL is feeling better.
I’m happy for your family, Mormon Guy. Our McKay was married yesterday. I identify with your post on both the joy of the occasion and the passing out-level of exhaustion. Congratulations!
Back at ya! It’s a great place to be.
I am looking forward to that day (but not for another 15-ish years). My youngest sister recently got married and earlier that week we (my other 2 sisters and I plus our parents) were able to go with her for her endowment. My dad said that his best Father’s Day gift was watching all four of us walk into the celestial room.
That reminded me that I received my endowment on my dads birthday the week before my wedding. I never thought that it was probably a pretty great birthday present for him!
That reminded me that I received my endowment on my dads birthday the well before my wedding. I never thought that it was probably the greatest gift I could give him!
Congrats to them! And to their parents for teaching them the importance of starting off right by making sacred covenants in the holy temple. May they be blessed beyond measure!
You thought that was great? (It was) BUT….just wait until that moment when you watch your child meet his first child. That amazing miracle of birth, it is overwhelming and tender and absolutely the most marvelous event I have ever witnessed. This sealing is the beginning of so many, many spectacular events in all your lives,
Congratulations to all!
Thankfully, I’m not that old yet – because that is reeeeeaaally old. 😉
Thanks for your kindness.
Totally agree. Absolutely amazing feelings when that baby enters the world. Grandchildren, and watching your babies become parents, is a WHOLE new phase for which we’re never prepared and constantly amazed.
If having 4 grand kids means I am really old (my first came to me on my birthday a few years younger than you are now) Then I totally enjoy old age. My Grand kids are the greatest joy in my life.
I have had similar feelings at the marriage of my children. I remember particularly with my younger daughter that when she and her husband to be walked in the sealing room it was as if they were the jewels of the wedding… honestly they glowed with their worthiness. It made me realize that no matter how lavish a wedding of the world you could never match this holy sight. It was breath taking.
How wonderful! MAZEL TOV!!!
I sure hope she is OK! I’m glad it all worked out so well for you. I’m still waiting (a bit impatiently) for my older ones to head off for the temple. My oldest son is pretty much in that “menace to society” group.
Sandy
Oh no. His poor MIL. I was always fearing I would do something like that at one of my boys’ receptions. It is such a wonderful, but also VERY stressful time for a Mom.
I really appreciate your wording: “so that they have the potential to remain married even after this life…” Too many see a temple marriage as something to check off a To Do list, then consider it enough to get them into the top level of the Celestial Kingdom. It is not a guarantee, we must continually work to remain true to the covenants and promises we make when we are sealed, and to the persons we make them with (ourselves, our spouse, and our Father in Heaven). Just obtaining a driver’s license does not guarantee that we will arrive at a destination, we must drive the highways, overcome any obsticles along the way, and observe the rules of the road with our travelling companion and navigator.
I just noticed your Breaking Dawn countdown. You crack me up! But I’m glad that you’re excited to see the last film in that series. It reveals to us more about you than any of your posts…
Yes, I’m glad it’s almost over. Like waiting for a final chemotherapy treatment. The plague is almost gone.
Congratulations to your son and your whole family for making the family bigger. Happy day it is!
Congratulations again. Hopefully I will not be to my own progeny’s wedding for at least a decade! But I know what you mean about sealings. There’s nothing like ’em!
And I hope your son’s MIL recovers quickly. That is not cool! Is this her first daughter to get married? If so, I’m guessing rookie mistake.
Not a rookie mistake. It was her final child. We are blaming it on the heatwave and stomach flu.
🙁
Congrats that is AWESOME!! Hope the MIL is doing better.
How wonderful! I look forward to that experience when my girls are old enough. Thank you for sharing!
I just had the same experience a week ago with my daughter being married. I had the exact same thoughts as you. I have been to many temple sealings, but this one was totally different for me, calm, peaceful, happy feelings and very nice. I also can relate to the new mother-in-law. The next day I finally fell into bed at 11:00 pm and didn’t wake up until noon the next day.
Congratulations to you and your family!