a question for the Mormons

[TalenaGor]

So the background to this is my mother passed away from covid in December just before Christmas.... She was somewhat Mormon although not really practicing and throughout her life she's been several different religions... I guess she never got done exploring her beliefs maybe who knows... In any case she did not give me any sort of instructions beyond cremation as to her wishes....

Her brother however and his family have been Mormon their entire lives very devout.... Her brother passed away a few months before she did

her brother's wife, My aunt, just texted me and asked me if she can seal my mother to her parents (my grandparents...)

I have no idea what this means other than she said it means they can spend the afterlife together.... I am an atheist so the whole thing is rather awkward for me to even think about

As far as I know my grandmother and my grandfather were not Mormon .... But they have apparently been sealed in the Mormon church after they passed, by my aunt and uncle....
My great-aunt is also going to be sealed.... She is also not Mormon.... She's also already passed....

Is it normal to perform this ritual upon people who have already passed regardless of their religious affiliation? Regardless of whether or not they asked for it?

She's asking for my permission.... I'm not sure how I feel about it on one hand I think what could it hurt but I also don't know if there's any actual real world ramifications to this ritual.... Is there any legal implications?

And then I wonder would they be sealing me after I pass? Knowing I'm atheist? Assuming they would not.... Then are they in their mind separating me from my mom and my grandmother and my family?

I just feel really strange about all this... I would appreciate some wisdom from du...

Edit to add: My mother and her brother were Not very close.... She didn't speak to her father for most of her life.... I'm not sure she'd want to spend eternity with them lol

[elleng]

1. Dunno.

Sealing is an ordinance (ritual) performed in Latter Day Saint temples by a person holding the sealing authority.[1] The purpose of this ordinance is to seal familial relationships, making possible the existence of family relationships throughout eternity.[2] Sealings are typically performed as marriages or as sealing of children to parents. They were performed prior to the death of Joseph Smith (the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement), and are currently performed in the largest of the faiths that came from the movement, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). LDS Church teachings place great importance on the specific authority required to perform these sealings. Church doctrine teaches that this authority, called the priesthood, corresponds to that given to Saint Peter in Matthew 16:19.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sealing_(Mormonism)

[TalenaGor]

2. yeah I read that wiki page too but I'm still confused lol

Feels weird to do something after people died when they haven't asked for it.... I can't confirm my mom would want this done..

Me and my mom and my grandmother were very close we all lived in the same area My mother and grandmother lived together and I was over there with them every chance I got until they passed..

The Mormon side of the family has always lived far away and have been sort of the call during the holidays family... That's another reason this feels so weird to me.... I barely know these people....

[TreasonousBastard]

3. Then don't. Aside from living family rifts, which seem to already exist...

it is another meanigless ritual that will have no effect on the departed.

[multigraincracker]

4. Your last sentence would make a great reply, just add no to the beginning of it.

NO,I'm not sure she'd want to spend eternity with them. You may also include, it violates my firmly held religious believes.

[czarjak]

5. Religions founded in 1830 are a little quirky.

[2naSalit]

6. I am not mormon...

But have lived among them for decades and from what I understand, the sealing thing is about their belief that they will be reunited after death somehow in mormon heaven or they get their own planet or some shit.

They do this all the time to dead people and basically they are claiming that these people have converted to mormonism after death, it's a big thing with them. They have huge centers where people can line up and "convert" dead people they never even knew. In fact there has been, and probably still is, a big push to convert dead Jewish people because the morons think they are the "lost tribe" of Jews. Seriously, that's what they do. The Jewish community is none too pleased about it and have said son publicly.

I'd tell them to go practice their insanity on someone else and decline the "offer". But if you have to live with them in your life, do whatever gets them off your back.

[Taraman]

7. I've also lived among Mormons most of my life

There are some unique oddities that are annoying, however...

If one is a Buddhist (or atheist, or non-theist):

I really, really don't think they have the power to influence where the dead go after life, especially to their imaginary celestial kingdoms. So why pick a fight over something so inconsequential?

If she (whatever that may be) died 8-9 months ago, she has necessarily moved on. Kind of a moot point.

Remember her with a peaceful and loving heart.

[wyn borkins]

8. I Have No Wisdom For You

Mormon or legal, except to say I sense your consternation as to what to do at this juncture.

Seems most odd (to me, at least) that anyone (Mormon or other) would take it upon themselves to perform some (religious) ritual after a person has passed, unless that (passed-on) person requested same in a will or in some other legal instrument.

Also, what possible 'permission' could you give or offer (to give) that would be meaningful to anyone...other than to those (meaning, your aunt) whom this ritual is even necessary?

Further, what happens if she (your aunt) proceeds as she sees fit, even if you never respond...what jeopardy would she incur and how would anyone (especially in their church) even know what transpired between her (your aunt) and anyone else...unless she (your aunt) requests some form of legal instrument (from you) that might be presented to the church (elders)?

Sadly, like I said, I have no real wisdom for you (or for myself either).

[Major Nikon]

9. Seems like if this were important to your mother she would have left wishes for it

...or at least mentioned it to someone.

Absent that you'll have to ask yourself if this is something that could have possibly offended her had it been suggested before she died. If the answer is yes, then it seems the proper thing to do is decline their offer. If you think she would have been for it or at least indifferent to it, then I don't see the harm. No sense in creating or contributing to a family rift when it doesn't really mean anything anyway.