And behold, if any with children desire to be sealed too one to another, that the hearts of the fathers be turned to the children and the hearts of the children be turned to their fathers… these shall ye gather around the altar with their parents.” –Doctrine of the Saints 17e:52, 54

In cases where a family with children are being sealed, first seal the spouses as one. Then, with the spouses across from one another at the altar, have the child or children circle around them (see Doctrines of the Saints 17e:52-54). The sealer stands at the head of the altar, to the south, facing north. Two witnesses should be seated or standing one at the right and one at the left of the one that holds the sealing keys to stand at the altar (see Doctrines of the Saints 17e:40).

The following is then stated by the one performing the sealing at the altar:

By the authority of the holy priesthood, I seal you, (State the full names of each child individually), to your father/mother (State the person’s full name) and to your mother/father (State the person’s full name) for time and all eternity, as heirs as though you were born in the Renewed (or New) and Everlasting Covenant, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; So mote it be, Amen.”

Note: This should only be used for those naturally born into the same family. For adoption, please see the next part of this lesson.

Sealing of Adoption for Time & All Eternity

And at the end of the final resurrection, they that shall rise in righteousness shall all be sealed as one, to restore that which was taken in the flesh to its purest form.” –Doctrine of the Saints 17d:12

Through the Law of Adoption, people may be sealed to others as parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, or other family ties and relationships (see Book of the Law of the Lord 19). What is not acceptable to the Lord is to adopt people as servants or in servitude. If children are adopted and their parents are still living, they must let the sealer know, in writing, that they approve of the adoption. The minister performing the sealing then has a duty to ensure everything is legitimate, that there is no coercion by anyone and that all parties fully understand what this sealing means.

A sealing of adoption may be a spiritual bond, giving no one any legal authority or rights to anyone’s offspring. It may also be done after a family has legally adopted children as their own. Adults may wish to be sealed as children or other family members to other adults. We may be sealed to multiple families, parents, etc (see Doctrines of the Saints 17d:10-12).

When performing a Sealing of Adoption, the parents should across from one another at the altar, have the child or children circle around them (see Doctrines of the Saints 17e:52-54). If this is a sealing of other family relations, the one type should be one side with the other type on the other. If one set is already sealed, these should be on the East side facing west. The sealer stands at the head of the altar, to the south, facing north. Two witnesses should be seated or standing one at the right and one at the left of the one that holds the sealing keys to stand at the altar (see Doctrines of the Saints 17e:40).

The following is then stated by the one performing the sealing at the altar:

Do each of you, (State the full names of those being adopted) give yourself/yourselves to (State the person’s full name of those being adopted) and receive them as your (relation type: mother, father, etc.) by the Law of Adoption for time and all eternity, and so become legal heirs to the promises pertaining to our fathers Abraham, Issac, and Jacob; and our mothers Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah, in the priesthood?”

Adoptees should then each individually acknowledge in the affirmative.

Do you (State the person’s full name of those adopting) accept (State the full names of those being adopted), to be your (relation type: son, daughter, etc.) as now they being given to you in the New (or Renewed or Restored) and Everlasting Covenant?”

Adopters should then each individually acknowledge in the affirmative.

Then I seal you as one, that together you may be joint heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ in the New (or Renewed or Restored) and Everlasting Covenant for time and all eternity; and I seal upon you the blessings of the holy resurrection, with power to come forth in the morning of the first resurrection, clothed in glory, immortality, and eternal lives.

I seal upon you the blessings of kingdoms, thrones, principalities, powers, dominions, and exaltations, with all the blessings of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and Sarah, Rebecca, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah; and I say unto you: In all diligence, and in faithfulness and love, may you aid and teach one anther by persuasion, by longsuffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; by kindness, and pure knowledge in all the principles of righteousness and truth and rejoicing in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

“All these blessings, together with all the blessings appertaining unto the New (or Renewed or Restored) and Everlasting Covenant, I seal upon you by virtue of the Holy Priesthood, through your faithfulness, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. So mote it be: Amen.”

It should be noted that much of this sample blessing is extraneous, but these promises are still given by the sealing power (see Doctrines of the Saints 17e:47-51). The most important part the sealer should state is the following:

By the authority of the Holy Priesthood, I seal you, (State full names of the adopters) and (State full names of the adoptees), that as one you may be joint heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ for time and all eternity in the New (or Renewed or Restored) and Everlasting Covenant, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Amen.”