As the Bishop I have been asked to do the civil marriage for a non-member who lives in our community. She is marrying a member from another unit. The handbook states:
[Quotes from Handbook 1 removed, but they basically say that First Presidency approval is required in this situation]
Do I need approval of the First Presidency for this situation? If so how do I get approval of the First Presidency?
Civil Marriage
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Re: Civil Marriage
According to Handbook 1, you do need First Presidency approval. Your stake president can assist you with this.
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Re: Civil Marriage
Another possibility to consider would be for the groom's bishop to perform the ceremony.
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Re: Civil Marriage
Is the wedding taking place inside the church? If not, then of course you don't need permission from anyone. You're legally permitted to conduct weddings and you're a grown adult. The first presidency doesn't enter into it.
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Re: Civil Marriage
This is not true for a bishop when one of the people getting married is a member of the Church. Location is not the issue.jacobfolkman wrote:Is the wedding taking place inside the church? If not, then of course you don't need permission from anyone. You're legally permitted to conduct weddings and you're a grown adult. The first presidency doesn't enter into it.
If neither was a member of the Church, a bishop could do the ceremony without permission. But if one or both of them are members, the bishop needs to follow the instructions in the Handbook.
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Re: Civil Marriage
You may be correct in the US a bishop is legally authorized by the government to perform a valid civil marriage. This may not be true in all countries.jacobfolkman wrote:Is the wedding taking place inside the church? If not, then of course you don't need permission from anyone. You're legally permitted to conduct weddings and you're a grown adult. The first presidency doesn't enter into it.
lajackson is referring to a bishop's responsibility to follow the handbook which does not allow them to perform such a marriage without proper authorization.
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Re: Civil Marriage
I don't know where to find civil marriage in the New general handbook, my beloved member they are getting married on the 12 September 2020 so I can not find civil marriage
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Re: Civil Marriage
Section 38.3.Abbotemokpae wrote:I don't know where to find civil marriage in the New general handbook
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