Ezra Taft Benson
“a cancellation of sealing of a wife to her husband does not affect children born in the covenant or previously sealed. Such children are entitled to birthright blessings, and if they remain worthy, are assured the right and privilege of eternal parentage regardless of what happens to their natural parents or the parents to whom they were sealed” (Ensign, August 2002).
What happens to a child born in the covenant of a marriage that ends in a cancellation of sealing?
“To be born in the covenant is a birthright blessing. A child in the covenant retains that birthright so long as he is worthy, regardless of the action of his parents. This means that, if the child is worthy of celestial blessings when his days of probation are over, he is guaranteed eternal parentage” (Ensign, March 1974).
James A. Cullimore
What happens to the children in the next life [when the sealing of the parents is cancelled]?
[I]n the case of a cancellation of the sealing of the woman to the man, this does not cancel the sealing of the children to the parents, since they were born in the covenant, which is a birthright blessing. They remain in the status of the sealing to their parents and can never be sealed to anyone else. The decision as to with whom they will go will be determined by the Lord in the hereafter.
Regarding being born in the covenant the General Handbook of Instructions states, “Children born in the covenant cannot be sealed to anyone, but belong to their natural parents. This rule is not altered by adoption, consent of the natural parents, request of the child after becoming of age or death of the natural parents” (p. 101).
It should be kept in mind that to be born in the covenant is a birthright blessing, and that if a child remains worthy in this life of celestial blessings, regardless of the actions of his parents, he is assured of that birthright and is guaranteed eternal parentage. One’s worthiness in this life through living the gospel and keeping the commandments, in this as in all things, is the key to eternal life (New Era, December 1975, 14–15).
