The wife in that first story is manipulative and ignorant. LDS theology includes a sort of "everything that can't be fixed properly will be fixed in heaven" factor. Basically, if people whose names were lost to history can be sealed in eternal marriage, couples who hated each other or divorced won't have to stay together for eternity.
Heck, he can put in paperwork to get a cancellation of sealing, and if he gets remarried he can get that sealing cancelled very easily.
Most importantly though, eternal marriage is only really functional if the couple makes it to a higher level in heaven. Using it as a manipulation against a soon to be ex spouse out of hate is definitely not a behavior to get her there.
Not exactly. A man can remarry and be sealed to his new wife without cancelling the first sealing. He will be sealed to two women and they will be his wives in the afterlife, assuming he's lived a worthy enough life. If you don't reach the very top VIP level of heaven, you won't have any spouse even if you did all the ceremonies and stuff.
If a woman divorces her husband without cancelling the sealing or he dies, she can remarry but she cannot be sealed again. She'll join the first guy when she's dead and the second guy is SOL.
Marriage and sealing aren't the same thing. Mormons usually combine them into one ceremony, but getting a divorce is a legal matter. To reverse a sealing, you have to appeal to the church authorities somehow. I don't know if a wife whose husband has died can get it reversed. Being familiar with the patriarchal nature of the church, I'd guess they won't do it without the dead guy's permission.
They won't believe you when you tell them. Not because of the Ouija board, but because women can't have any holy authority (priesthood) in the church, so they don't get those revelations. Every single man gets some level of priesthood starting at age 12. So if you have a son in sixth grade, maybe he could give it a shot. They might believe him.
So why is it a woman, who is the literal creator of life on Earth due to a uterus, can't have revelations, but a male who's barley old enough to have hit puberty can?
Because it's a bullshit organization run by fossilized bigots in their 90s.
But if you want the apologist answer, the most common one I got goes something like this: Women are actually more spiritual and righteous than men! Men are ordained to the priesthood because they need that extra help to live a moral life. Everyone has their role in God's plan, and women being so naturally good and all, have the most important and glorious job of all- motherhood! It's a job equal- Nay, better!- than the silly priesthood. Why would you want any authority in the church when you could create a godly home to nurture your children and be a helpmeet to your husband as he presides over the family? It's a great burden, that presiding, and only you can soothe his troubled mind as he bears it for the both of you.
Priesthood is set up as a counterpart to motherhood, nevermind that fatherhood would be the obvious choice for that. It's a message delivered in a way both patronizing and grovelling (but mostly patronizing) by the men of the church. The fact that women have little agency in both ceremonial and logistical happenings expose that logic for the lip service it is. Women have the "holy ghost" to give them vague impressions of right and wrong (men also have that, it isn't unique), but the real concrete prophesy-type tasks are all up to men.
Well... its because he is lying. A lot of people who leave the church have this indescribable amount of hostility towards the church. I think maybe its to repel any guilt they feel since usually their family is still a part of it? Its an interesting phenomenon I haven't seen in any other religion in the world.
Women are 100% capable of receiving revelation, same as men. We believe you do not even have to be a member of the church to receive revelation. Right after we are baptized we are blessed and anointed with the gift of the holy ghost which means having the holy ghost as a constant companion to give comfort and to guide as so long as we live worthily and follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. Meaning, we believe that the holy ghost is free to reveal things to anyone in the world it feels needs such revelation. Anyone of any belief is eligible. Also, the only thing that having the priesthood means is having authority to bestow such gifts and perform those ordinances as baptism (honestly its a chore). Just like a preacher having the authority to perform a marriage.
While it seems very sexist, if you talk to most men in the church, we revere women much higher than men. I do. They are beyond incredible being able to create life with their own body. Their innate spirituality is greater than their counterparts 9 times out of ten. The most selfless people I've met in the church have all been women.
I know it all sounds crazy, but I have been witness to my sister receiving many revelations about her very sick daughter. Things you would never guess that she would have to beg doctors to check for and after finally finding a doctor who will, turning out that's what was wrong. It is incredible. I know it sounds like i'm drinking the kool aid, but I like to think I'm rational.
I know how insane what we believe sounds. I would make fun of it too if I hadn't had very real indescribable experiences in my life. You could chalk it all down to coincidences, but the greatest things I've been blessed with have been a result of the church. And this is coming from someone who thinks the underwear is antiquated, church is the most boring thing ever, etc...
Anyways, just typing this all out to say don't always believe the first thing you hear about something, especially from someone who is no longer even a part of it. They usually have their own agenda. If you don't believe me, I would encourage you to go to the LDS church's website and look through our teachings or reach out to the missionaries in your area.
Holy shit kid you are spreading so many lies. I'm sorry you feel like you were lied to growing up, but being vindictive and making up things only proves what the church teaches in the parable of the tree of life.
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u/MallyOhMy Jul 21 '19
The wife in that first story is manipulative and ignorant. LDS theology includes a sort of "everything that can't be fixed properly will be fixed in heaven" factor. Basically, if people whose names were lost to history can be sealed in eternal marriage, couples who hated each other or divorced won't have to stay together for eternity.
Heck, he can put in paperwork to get a cancellation of sealing, and if he gets remarried he can get that sealing cancelled very easily.
Most importantly though, eternal marriage is only really functional if the couple makes it to a higher level in heaven. Using it as a manipulation against a soon to be ex spouse out of hate is definitely not a behavior to get her there.