When reading this [*Wikipedia* article on Sealing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealing_(Mormonism)) there is this paragraph: > The union of a sealed couple is regarded as valid only if both individuals have kept their religious covenants and followed Christ's teachings. **Just as deceased individuals may refuse any temple ordinance (such as a sealing) done by proxy on their behalf**, couples, parents, and children who were sealed to each other in life may refuse to accept a sealing of which they were a part. **No one will be sealed to any one with whom they do not want to be sealed.** I also read this about [Baptism (by proxy) for the dead](https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-topics/baptisms-for-the-dead) : > Some people have misunderstood that when baptisms for the dead are performed, deceased persons are baptized into the Church against their will. This is not the case. **Each individual has agency, or the right to choose**. The validity of a proxy baptism depends on the deceased person accepting it and choosing to accept and follow the Savior while residing in the spirit world. The names of deceased persons are not added to the membership records of the Church. With the LDS church having practices where my descendants *may* in the future convert into the LDS church, and who then potentially want to baptize me by proxy (after my death) in a temple ordinance, how should I express my desire so that my future descendants will respect my wish *not* to be baptized into the LDS church (or sealed to them) by proxy? Hence the question: **How do individuals who refuse, notify the church so that living members do not attempt to perform temple ordinance on their behalf, after they pass away?** Will noting the wish in their Last Will and Testament be sufficient, or do they need to do something more, such as filling out a form?

I apologize if this question is not appropriate because I understand and I respect that the ordinances performed within the walls of LDS temples are sacred and holy and are not talked about. However, I know they are not secret (as there are open houses), so I'm not sure if asking about incense burning qualifies as an ordinance or not. If it is, please feel free to remain mum about it, but if it's permissible to talk about -- can an LDS member tell me if incense burning occurs in modern LDS temples akin to the Jerusalem Temple? Why or why not?

Reading Psalms 119, we see the following words: 1. Commandments 2. Law 3. Way 4. Testimonies 5. Precepts 6. Judgments 7. Statutes 8. Ordinances 9. Word Deut 26: 16 - 19 reads > 16 “This day the Lord your God commands you to observe these statutes > and judgments; therefore you shall be careful to observe them with all > your heart and with all your soul. 17 Today you have proclaimed the > Lord to be your God, and that you will walk in His ways and keep His > statutes, His commandments, and His judgments, and that you will obey > His voice. 18 Also today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special > people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His > commandments, 19 and that He will set you high above all nations which > He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a > holy people to the Lord your God, just as He has spoken.” Deut 6 : 1 reads > “Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments > which the Lord your God has commanded to teach you, that you may > observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess, There are many other places in the Old Testament where these words appear, but I couldn't quite grasp distinctly what they mean.

I have observed that Catholics and some other denominations call certain things they do "sacraments", and Protestants call certain things they do "ordinances". I am not a Christian, but as an outsider, it seems that these things (like the symbolic drinking of wine in church) appear very similar. What is the difference between "sacraments" and "ordinances"?

I'm pretty sure that people legally need to have fire alarms in every building. But what about Amish? Are they exempt from that law or do they follow it?

It is my understanding that the LDS faith places great emphasis on the family unit because they believe that through the sealing powers performed in the Temple by the holy Melchizedek priesthood, these families can live "together forever." The sealing aspect is not only important for uniting the family for all eternity, but for reaching the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom. And for those who have passed on who hadn't had the opportunity to do their own work (which is why the Church invests so much time in doing genealogy), the LDS members can vicariously do these sacred ordinances for these individuals. Since we know that Mary and Joseph are undoubtedly one of the most righteous couples/parents, and are deserving of the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom, has the LDS Church performed their ordinances by proxy for them? If so, would they seal Christ to Joseph? Am I right in assuming that in Christ's time, sealings were not performed in the Jerusalem Temple?I suppose the same could be said for all the righteous Biblical figures? These answers may not be answerable, but I wasn't sure if the LDS Church has any statement on it or not. We can assume, well, "I'm sure they are taken care of... don't worry about it." But we know that Christ was an example, and while He was sinless, He still entered the waters of Baptism to show us the way. So I'm just curious if the LDS Church has mentioned the other sacred saving ordinances (according to LDS beliefs) pertaining to Christ and His family?

Why are the covenants and ordinances of the LDS church 'too sacred' to be discussed in detail outside of the temples? I'm not aware of other Christian groups with such a secretive perspective on their beliefs and practices. > You can talk about what the interior of the temple looks like, and you can freely share the feelings you have in the temple. However, temple covenants and ordinances, including the words used, are too sacred to be discussed in detail outside the temple. By avoiding discussion of these sacred things outside the temple, we protect them from mocking, ridicule, or disrespect. Do not be casual when talking about your experiences in the temple. ([lds.org](https://www.lds.org/church/temples/frequently-asked-questions?lang=eng))