Why is it possible for men to be sealed to more than one woman?

This policy raises questions about the implications of such sealings, particularly in cases where a man remarries after the death of his first wife. According to Church doctrine, if a man is sealed to a woman and she passes away, he may be sealed to another woman without needing to cancel the first sealing. This means that, in the afterlife, he could potentially have multiple wives sealed to him, while a woman who has been sealed to a man cannot be sealed to another man unless she receives a cancellation of the first sealing.

While the Church allows for men to be sealed to multiple women, it strictly prohibits cohabitation or sexual intimacy outside of a legal heterosexual monogamous marriage. Engaging in plural marriage while living is considered a violation of the law of chastity, which is defined as abstaining from sexual relations outside of a legal marriage between a man and a woman. Violating this law can lead to serious consequences, including excommunication from the Church.

The Church’s stance on cohabitation and sexual relations is clear: only a man and a woman who are legally and lawfully wedded as husband and wife should engage in sexual relations. This policy reinforces the Church’s commitment to monogamy in practice, even while allowing for the theological possibility of multiple sealings in the afterlife.

One of the most profound aspects of the Church’s teachings on sealings is the concept of agency. The Church emphasizes that individuals will not be forced into polygamous relationships in the afterlife. According to teachings from early Church leaders, women will have the choice regarding their eternal relationships, and all plural marriages in eternity will be based on mutual consent. This principle of agency is fundamental to the Church’s understanding of eternal relationships, allowing individuals to exercise their free will in matters of marriage and family.

The policy that allows men to be sealed to multiple women while restricting women to one husband has raised concerns about gender equality within the Church. Critics argue that this practice undermines the worth and agency of women. However, Church leaders have consistently emphasized that men and women are equal in the eyes of God, and that the roles they play in eternal relationships may differ but do not diminish their value.

In the context of eternal relationships, it is believed that a woman who is sealed to multiple men posthumously can choose which husband she will be eternally sealed to, further emphasizing the importance of agency in these matters. This understanding seeks to address concerns about fairness and equality in the eternal realm, suggesting that the dynamics of relationships in the afterlife may differ significantly from earthly experiences.

Despite the historical practice of polygamy, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has made it clear that it does not condone the practice in the present day. Church leaders have stated that any members found to be practicing plural marriage will face excommunication, reinforcing the Church’s commitment to monogamy in mortal life. However, the theological implications of sealings continue to spark debate and discussion among members and scholars alike.

The precise nature of eternal polygamy remains a topic of speculation and uncertainty. Church leaders, including Dallin H. Oaks, have acknowledged that the details surrounding eternal relationships and polygamy are not fully understood. This ambiguity leaves room for interpretation and discussion, as members grapple with the implications of their beliefs and the teachings of the Church.