Born in the Covenant

See this page in the original 1992 publication.

Author: Cottrell, Ralph L., Jr.

Latter-day Saints make several formal covenants with God such as baptism, confirmation, ordination to the priesthood, and eternal marriage, commonly called temple marriage. A temple marriage or sealing refers to the ceremony in which a man and a woman are married (sealed) to each other for time and eternity in a temple by the authority of the holy priesthood. Children born to the couple after this marriage are automatically sealed to their parents eternally and are spoken of as having been born in the covenant.

Children born to parents not members of the Church or to members who have not been married (sealed) in a temple by priesthood authority are not born in the covenant. However, if these parents subsequently are sealed in temple covenants they can have their children sealed to them, and can secure the same eternal family ties as if all were born in the covenant.

For the eternal blessings of being sealed as a family member to be valid, each must remain faithful to his or her covenants. [See also Salvation of the Dead.] RALPH L. COTTRELL, JR.

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