The Genealogy Corner… LDS Rules For Submission

Issue 23.09

Recently it was discovered that someone had submitted Obama’s mother for temple work last summer.  Unless they received permission from her closest living relative,this should not have been done and the submitter will be facing discipline from the LDS Church.  The rule applies because his mother was born within the last 95 years.  Here is a reminder of the rules of LDS Temple work:

Quote from “A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work,”PDF version,©2009 by Intellectual Reserve,Inc.,Overviews and Guides,New FamilySearch,p.30.

“Policies for Preparing Names for Temple Work.  Generally,you may perform temple ordinances for deceased persons one year or more after the date of death without regard to the person’s worthiness or cause of death.  If you have questions,please contact your bishop or branch president.  Before you perform ordinances for a deceased person born within the last 95 years,please get permission from the closest living relative.  Relatives may not want the ordinances performed or may want to perform the ordinances themselves.”  The closest living relatives are,in this order:a spouse,then children,then parents,then siblings.

“Determining Which Names to Submit

You are responsible to submit names of the following individuals for temple work (the individuals must have been deceased for at least one year):

·  Immediate family members.

·  Direct-line ancestors (parents,grandparents,great-grandparents,and so on,and their families).

“You may also submit the names of the following individuals who have been deceased for at least one year:

·  Biological,adoptive,and foster family lines connected to your family.

·  Collateral family lines (uncles,aunts,cousins,and their families).

·  Your own descendants.

·  Possible ancestors,meaning individuals who have a probable family relationship that cannot be verified because the records are inadequate,such as those who have the same last name and resided in the same area as your known ancestors.

“Do not submit the names of persons who are not related to you,including names of famous people or names gathered from unapproved extraction projects,such as victims of the Jewish Holocaust.

“You may submit the names of individuals with whom you shared a friendship.  This is an exception to the general rule that members should not submit the names of individuals to whom they are not related.  Before performing ordinances for a deceased individual who was a friend,you should obtain permission from the individual’s closest living relative.”

Shanna Sullivan Jones is a professional genealogist now accepting new clients.  For additional information,Shanna can be reached at (435) 628-4900 or shannasjones@msn.com.