A wedding represents a public occasion. In the US, this union was conducted in two languages, Haitian Creole and English, a practice currently undervalued in Haiti. Ensuring that all individuals, irrespective of their linguistic background, can actively engage and comprehend the matrimonial vows during the ceremony and legal proceedings is imperative. Our advocacy for language justice is motivated by the prevalent use of French in Haitian courts and marriage ceremonies, which poses challenges for non-French speakers in Haiti.
The wedding party is invited to be seated at this time.
Friends and family members, welcome to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. My name is Stephen Sofoul, and I am the President of the Blackstone Valley Stake of the church. This is Wilson Louis, a member of the church who will provide translation. We are gathered here today to witness the wedding of Kathy and Leon. I met Kathy and Leon several years ago as they attended church services in Marlborough. Although I don't know either of you very well, it is an honor to be able to officiate at your wedding today. When I asked a mutual friend to describe the two of you, this is what she said:
"Kathy and Leon are family-focused, have strong faith in Jesus Christ, and consistently rely on Jesus Christ and his love to protect their family. They have dedicated everything for their family. They both opened up their hearts and home to many family members that arrived from Haiti and welcomed them warmly (even though it was a very full house!) They look out for each other and always check in to make sure the other is happy. They would do anything to help another family member or friend in need.
They are hard workers. Their home is a place of love and learning. Education is very important to them. Their children are disciplined and respectful, and work hard in school. Karisatu (14) helps with translating and babysitting, Adamatu (almost 11) is working hard at school and is helpful at home. Kenley (4) has a cheerful, fun loving disposition, and is learning English, French, and Haitian Creole.
Whenever Kathy reaches out to someone, she will first ask about how the person's family is doing family. She is very aware of other people, and works to strengthen her relationships. Relationships are very important to both of them and they show great love for people around them."
Now, I would like to share some words of counsel and encouragement to the two of you. A recent proclamation about the family by a modern-day prophet included the following wisdom: Happiness in family life is most likely to be achieved when founded upon the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ. Successful marriages and families are established and maintained on principles of faith, prayer, repentance, forgiveness, respect, love, compassion, work, and wholesome recreational activities. I want to encourage you to invite God into your marriage, pray together, keep the commandments, and keep wants and passions within limits. Remember that you are both on the same team and are striving to be one together.
If I could add, try not to keep score of each other or to place blame. Instead, consider small acts of kindness towards each other every day. You will be happier, your kids will be happier, and feelings of peace and joy will be present in your home.
In the church, we believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ enables a man and a woman, along with their children, to be sealed together for time and all eternity. Consider the choice of the word sealed to describe the ordinance of marriage. Given the sacred nature of this ordinance, we perform this sealing ceremony in temples of the Lord, like the one in Belmont here in MA. I encourage you two to fix it as a goal to be sealed as a family next year. Your congregational family here will help you learn and prepare for that very special day.
Now, I'd like to invite the two of you to take each other by the hand. Leon and Kathy, you have taken one another by the hand in token of the vows you will now enter into in the presence of God and these witnesses.
Leon, do you receive Kathy as your lawfully wedded wife, and do you of your own free will and choice solemnly promise as her companion and lawfully wedded husband that you will cleave unto her and none else; that you will observe all the laws, responsibilities, and obligations pertaining to the holy state of matrimony; and that you will love, honor, and cherish her as long as you both shall live?" Wait for Response
Kathy, do you receive Leon as your lawfully wedded husband, and do you of your own free will and choice solemnly promise as his companion and lawfully wedded wife that you will cleave unto him and none else; that you will observe all the laws, responsibilities, and obligations pertaining to the holy state of matrimony; and that you will love, honor, and cherish him as long as you both shall live?" Wait for Response
By virtue of the legal authority vested in me as an elder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I pronounce you, Senat Leon and Kathy Jules, husband, and wife, legally and lawfully wedded for the period of your mortal lives. Please place the ring on Kathy's finger. May God bless your union with joy in your posterity and a long life of happiness together, and may He bless you to keep sacred the vows you have made. These blessings I invoke upon you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.
You may kiss each other.
Haitian Creole
Zanmi ak manm fanmi, nou swete nou byenvini nan Legliz Jezi-Kris pou Sen Dènye Jou yo. Non mwen se Stephen Sofoul, e mwen se Prezidan Pye Blackstone Valle, nan legliz la. Se frè Wilson Thelimo Louis, yon manm legliz la, ki pral fasilite entèpretasyon pou nou. Nou reyini jodi-a pou nou asiste maryaj Kathy ak Leon. Mwen rankontre Kathy ak Leon depi plizyè ane nan branch Marlborough, nan sèvis legliz la. Malgre mwen pa konnen yo trè byen, se yon onè pou mwen se ofisye k ap selebre maryaj yo jodi-a. Lè mwen te mande yon zanmi nou gen an komen pou pale mwen de nou, men sa li te di m:
“Kathy ak Leon fokis sou fanmiy, yo gen yon lafwa inebranlab nan Jezi-Kris epi yo toujou konte sou Bondye ak lanmou li pou pwoteje fanmiy yo. Yo dedye tout bagay pou fanmi yo. Yo ouvri kè yo ak pòt kay yo bay anpil manm fanmiy ki soti Ayiti, e yo akeyi tout moun byen, malgre kay yo te chaje moun. Youn siveye sou lòt, epi yo toujou tcheke pou asire kè youn lòt kontan. Y ap fè nenpòt bagay pou ede manm fanmiy ak zanmi ki nan bezwen.
Yo travay di. Kay yo se yon lye lanmou ak aprantisaj. Edikasyon enpòtan anpil pou yo. Pitit yo gen disiplin, yo respektye, epi yo travay di lekòl. Karisatu gen 14 an, li ede ak tradiksyon epi bebisit; Adamatu prèske gen 11 an, li travay di lekòl epi li ede nan kay la tou. Kenley gen 4 an, li toujou kontan, li mete animasyon nan kay la, epi l ap aprann anglè, fransè ak kreyòl.
Depi Kathy ap pale ak yon moun, premye bagay li mande se: kijan fanmiy moun lan ye. Li trè sousye de lòt moun, epi li solidè ak tout moun. Solidarite se yon bagay yo kiltive byen, e yo moutre anpil lanmou pou moun ki bò kote yo."
Kounye-a, mwen ta renmen pataje kèk bon konsèy ak mo ankourajman avèk nou. Yon nouvo pwoklamasyon sou fanmiy youn nan pwofèt modèn yo te gen pawòl sajès sa: « Kè kontan nan fanmiy gen plis posiblite pou li acheve lè li chita sou ansèyman Senyè nou, Jezi-Kris. Yon maryaj ak yon fanmiy ki gen siksè chita sou prensip lafwa, lapriyè, repantans, padon, respè, lanmou, konpasyon, travay, ak aktivite lwazi ki ka kenbe nou an sante. » Mwen vle ankouraje nou envite Bondye nan maryaj nou; priye ansanm, kenbe kòmandman yo, kenbe dezi ak pasyon selon limit yo. Sonje nou toulede nan menm ekip, epi n ap fè efò pou nou toujou rete ansanm antanke yon sèl ekip. Si mwen te ka ajoute yon bagay, mwen t ap di nou eseye pa kenbe move nòt sou youn lòt oswa plede blame youn lòt. Olye sa, konsidere ti jès bonte youn anvè lòt chak jou. Nou ap pi kontan, timoun yo ap pi kontan, epi santiman lapè ak lajwa ap prezan nan kay la.
Nan legliz la, nou kwè levanjil Jezi-Kris la pèmèt yon gason ak yon fanm, ansanm ak pitit yo sele ansanm pou tout tan ak tout letènite. Konsidere chwa mo sele-a pou dekri òdonans maryaj la. Pou nati sakre òdonans sa, nou fè seremoni sele-a nan tanp Senyè a, tankou sa ki nan Belmont isit la, nan Masachusèt. Mwen ankouraje nou fikse sa kòm yon objektif, pou nou sele kòm yon fanmi ane pwochèn. Dirijan ki responsab kongregasyon fanmiy nan legliz la ap ede nou aprann epi prepare nou pou jou espesyal sa.
Kounye a, mwen envite nou youn kenbe men lòt. Leon ak Kathy: nou youn pran lòt kòm yon siy ve ke n ap fè nan prezans Bondye ak temwen sa yo ki la.
Leon, èske ou resevwa Kathy kòm madanm marye ou legalman, epi èske se volonte ou pou w fè chwa solanèl sa, epi pwomèt tèt ou kòm konpayon li, mari li devan lalwa, epi ou ap rete fidèl ak li san pèsòn lòt moun; ou pwomèt w ap respekte tout lwa, responsablite, ak obligasyon ki gen rapò ak eta sen maryaj la; epi w ap renmen li, w ap onore li epi w ap pran swen li toutotan w ap viv?” Tann repons
Kathy, èske ou resevwa Leon kòm mesye marye ou legalman, epi èske se volonte ou pou w fè chwa solanèl sa, epi pwomèt tèt ou kòm konpayon li, madanm li devan lalwa, epi ou ap rete fidèl ak li san pèsòn lòt moun; ou pwomèt w ap respekte tout lwa, responsablite, ak obligasyon ki gen rapò ak eta sen maryaj la; epi w ap renmen li, w ap onore li epi w ap pran swen li toutotan w ap viv?” Tann repons
Pa otorite legal mwen genyen antanke ansyen nan Legliz Jezi-Kris pou Sen Dènye Jou yo, mwen pwononse nou, Leon Senat ak Kathy Jules, mari ak madanm, legalman epi piblikman pou peryòd nou gen pou nou viv sou tè-a. Kounye-a, nou ka mete bag la nan dwèt youn lòt. Se pou Bondye beni inyon nou ak lajwa, nan posterite nou, epi pote yon long vi ak bonè nan lavi nou; e se pou li beni nou pou nou kenbe ve sakre nou fè yo. Mwen envoke benediksyon sa yo sou nou nan non Senyè Jezi-Kris, amèn.
Nou ka bo youn lòt.