Friday, March 02, 2012

First Presidency letter on Baptisms for the dead

Feb 29, 2012: Letter to be read in Sacrament Meetings


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Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We would like to reiterate the policies first stated in 1995 concerning the submission of names for proxy temple ordinances:

Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors. Those whose names are submitted for proxy temple ordinances should be related to the submitter.

Without exception, Church members must not submit for proxy temple ordinances any names from unauthorized groups, such as celebrities and Jewish Holocaust victims. If members do so, they may forfeit their New FamilySearch privileges. Other corrective action may also be taken.

Members are encouraged to participate in FamilySearch indexing which is vital to family history and temple work.

Bishops are asked to post this letter on their meetinghouse bulletin boards. Church members may seek the assistance of the family history consultants in their area for additional information, if needed. Name submission policies are also clearly stated onNew.FamilySearch.org.

We appreciate the faithful adherence to these policies by all members of the Church.

Sincerely yours,

The First Presidency

President Thomas S. Monson

President Henry B. Eyring

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

1 comment:

Daytona Ward said...

Not so long ago, when we the members of the church misunderstood proper procedures or felt that we were somehow exempt, it might have taken months or years to correct. But now our misdeeds or sins can be shouted from the rooftops in mere seconds. Thankfully, we are prepared to quickly provide clarity in changing world by referencing our unchanging principled standards.