Civil Marriage

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davids946
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Posts: 1
Joined: Wed May 23, 2018 9:19 am

Civil Marriage

#1

Post by davids946 »

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?
scgallafent
Church Employee
Church Employee
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Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2009 4:55 pm
Location: Riverton, Utah

Re: Civil Marriage

#2

Post by scgallafent »

According to Handbook 1, you do need First Presidency approval. Your stake president can assist you with this.
lajackson
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Location: US

Re: Civil Marriage

#3

Post by lajackson »

Another possibility to consider would be for the groom's bishop to perform the ceremony.
jacobfolkman
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Joined: Thu Nov 02, 2017 8:47 pm

Re: Civil Marriage

#4

Post by jacobfolkman »

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
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Re: Civil Marriage

#5

Post by lajackson »

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.
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.

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.
davesudweeks
Senior Member
Posts: 2637
Joined: Sun May 09, 2010 9:16 pm
Location: Washington, USA

Re: Civil Marriage

#6

Post by davesudweeks »

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.
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.
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.
Abbotemokpae
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Joined: Sun Aug 23, 2020 11:15 pm

Re: Civil Marriage

#7

Post by Abbotemokpae »

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
russellhltn
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Location: U.S.

Re: Civil Marriage

#8

Post by russellhltn »

Abbotemokpae wrote:I don't know where to find civil marriage in the New general handbook
Section 38.3.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
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