It might behoove us to remember that depending on the time period and area of the country the family was living in, they may have been married according to the social rules of the community, but no license issued because there was no courthouse, or perhaps the license was destroyed in a courthouse fire, or any number of things. We can't automatically assume because we can't find proof of the ceremony that there wasn't one. Sometimes there was, and sometimes there wasn't. Karen In a message dated 4/5/2009 6:41:53 P.M. Central Daylight Time, mscscott28@yahoo.com writes: Yes, the father may be sealed to his biological parents -- even though they were never married. Before the father is sealed to his parents, their individual ordinances need to be completed (which has been done already) and then the couple need to be sealed together as husband and wife. We have discussed this issue on the list before but it is so important that it comes up regularly. The Church has given unmarried couples the opportunity to be sealed together -- especially if they have had children. We have been advised that the sealing ordinance is critical even though we do not always understand why and how it works for the protection of the children. We need to remember that we are not to judge but just perform the ordinances. So if a couple is unmarried and has children together, then they may be sealed together. This is dependent on rights of precedence and privacy for all the parties involved. Questions should probably be directed to a temple president, his counselors, or the temple recorder. They will always know the latest information and policies. Mary Scott Northville Ward Westland Michigan Stake Detroit Michigan Temple ________________________________ From: "susanne@katskraft.com" <susanne@katskraft.com> To: lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 7:04:00 PM Subject: [LDS-WC] Sealing question... Hello, I have a sister whose deceased father has been baptized and endowed...His parents had never married but did live together so can he be sealed to them as their son? His parent likewise have been baptized and endowed.. contact susanne@katskraft.com Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-L-REQUEST@ROOTSWEB.COM ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to LDS-WARD-CONSULTANT-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000003)

Karen's points are well taken and valuable. There are many times that there was a marriage but it just is hard to document. (My great-grandparents eloped from Chicago to Kenosha, Wisconsin. I could spend a long time looking for the marriage record in Chicago but would never find it there. It is in the county records for Kenosha County, Wisconsin.) In the question that was asked the child's parents were definitely not married. (See Suzanne's email below.) Mary Scott Northville Ward Westland Michigan Stake Detroit Michigan Temple ________________________________ From: "Sahara346@aol.com" <Sahara346@aol.com> To: lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 7:54:52 PM Subject: Re: [LDS-WC] Sealing question... It might behoove us to remember that depending on the time period and area  of the country the family was living in, they may have been married according to  the social rules of the community, but no license issued because there was no  courthouse, or perhaps the license was destroyed in a courthouse fire, or any  number of things.  We can't automatically assume because we can't find  proof of the ceremony that there wasn't one.  Sometimes there was, and  sometimes there wasn't. Karen In a message dated 4/5/2009 6:41:53 P.M. Central Daylight Time,  mscscott28@yahoo.com writes: Yes, the  father may be sealed to his biological parents -- even though they were never  married. Before the father is sealed to his parents, their individual  ordinances need to be completed (which has been done already) and then the  couple need to be sealed together as husband and wife. We have  discussed this issue on the list before but it is so important that it comes  up regularly. The Church has given unmarried couples the opportunity to  be sealed together -- especially if they have had children. We have been  advised that the sealing ordinance is critical even though we do not always  understand why and how it works for the protection of the children. We  need to remember that we are not to judge but just perform the ordinances. So  if a couple is unmarried and has children together, then they may be sealed  together. This is dependent on rights of precedence and privacy for all the  parties involved. Questions should probably be directed to a temple  president, his counselors, or the temple recorder. They will always know the  latest information and policies. Mary Scott Northville  Ward Westland Michigan Stake Detroit Michigan  Temple ________________________________ From:  "susanne@katskraft.com" <susanne@katskraft.com> To:  lds-ward-consultant@rootsweb.com Sent: Sunday, April 5, 2009 7:04:00  PM Subject: [LDS-WC] Sealing question... Hello, I have a sister  whose deceased father has been baptized and endowed...His parents had never  married but did live together so can he be sealed to them as their son? His  parent likewise have been baptized and endowed.. contact  susanne@katskraft.com