Branch Guidebook

Priesthood ordinances are sacred acts given by the Lord and performed by the authority of the priesthood. Ordinances that require priesthood leader authorization are naming and blessing children, performing baptisms and confirmations, conferring the priesthood and ordaining to a priesthood office, blessing and passing the sacrament, and dedicating graves.See the Family Guidebook for instruction on specific ordinances and blessings.

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Priesthood and Auxiliary Leaders’ Guidebook

In addition to having the authority and responsibilities of Aaronic Priesthood offices, elders may bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost, administer to the sick, and perform other ordinances (see “Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings” in the Family Guidebook). Some ordinances may be performed by brethren who hold the Aaronic Priesthood, but most ordinances are performed by men who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood (see “Aaronic Priesthood” in this guidebook and the Family Guidebook).

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True to the Faith

Ordinances for the Living The principal purpose of temples is to provide the ordinances necessary for our exaltation in the celestial kingdom. Ordinances for the Dead People who have died without essential gospel ordinances may receive those ordinances through the work done in temples.

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True to the Faith

Ordinances and covenants help us remember who we are. You may receive many opportunities to participate in priesthood ordinances.

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A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

To continue on this path after baptism, we must also receive the sacred ordinances of the temple—the endowment and the sealing ordinances. These ordinances are essential to our exaltation.Ordinances for the DeadWhat of those people who died without hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ or receiving the saving ordinances?

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A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

There you may receive sacred ordinances and enter into covenants that are essential for exaltation in the celestial kingdom. The sealing ordinances include—• Sealing of husband and wife (temple marriage).

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Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B

Ordinances Necessary for Exaltation President Wilford Woodruff said: “No [one] will receive of the celestial glory except it be through the ordinances of the House of God” (in Journal of Discourses, 19:361; see also D&C 84:20–22). Ordinances for Comfort and Guidance The Lord has given many priesthood ordinances that we may receive or perform for guidance and comfort.

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Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B

Ordinances Are Necessary for Salvation In order to return to the presence of our Heavenly Father, each of us must receive the ordinances necessary for salvation. To continue on this path after baptism, we must also receive the sacred ordinances of the temple—the endowment and the sealing ordinances.

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The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part A

Priesthood Ordinances Priesthood ordinances are special acts that priesthood holders may perform to bless the Lord’s children. Blessings from Priesthood Ordinances Priesthood ordinances bless our lives in many ways.

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The Latter-day Saint Woman: Basic Manual for Women, Part B

To continue on this path after baptism, we must also receive the sacred ordinances of the temple—the endowment and the sealing ordinances. It is also helpful to record the dates when ordinances were performed so that you know which ordinances still need to be done.

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A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

Some pedigree charts include boxes you can mark to show which temple ordinances have been performed.Family group records are used to list all members of an ancestor’s family along with information such as dates and places of births, marriages, and ordinances. This could result in duplicate ordinances being performed for this person.Event DatesFor ordinances to be performed for a person, you need the date and place of an event that identifies the person.

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A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

See Mosiah 4:27.)As you provide ordinances for your ancestors, do not try to determine their worthiness, whether they will accept the ordinances, or the feelings of other deceased persons affected by the ordinances. If you have not yet identified ancestors in need of ordinances, perhaps members of your ward need help in providing ordinances for their ancestors.

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Family Guidebook

Priesthood ordinances are sacred acts given by the Lord and performed by the authority of the priesthood. Brethren who perform ordinances and blessings should prepare themselves by living according to gospel principles and striving to be guided by the Holy Spirit.

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A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

If ordinances have already been completed for an ancestor, they do not need to be repeated.The TempleReady program checks to see if the information you typed is complete enough for ordinances to be performed. Since your ancestors cannot receive the ordinances for themselves, someone on earth—a proxy—receives the ordinances for them.If you will be providing the proxies, you should plan to provide them for all the ordinances.

Gospel Library > Support Materials > Family

A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work: Ordinances and Covenants

This will help you keep an accurate record of completed ordinances so that you can avoid resubmitting names.If you submitted the names to the Temple File, you can be assured that the ordinances will be completed. The dates the ordinances were performed will be included in an upcoming edition of the International Genealogical Index.

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Gospel Principles

These were the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. Ordinances such as baptism and confirmation must be done on earth.

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Gospel Principles

Endowment: A gift of power given through ordinances in the temple to worthy members of the Church. Ordinances: Sacred rites and ceremonies that are necessary for eternal progression.

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Duties and Blessings of the Priesthood: Basic Manual for Priesthood Holders, Part B

How to Perform Ordinances Brethren who perform priesthood ordinances should prepare themselves to be guided by the Holy Spirit. All ordinances must be performed with their necessary procedures such as using specified words or laying on hands. “Priesthood leaders teach brethren how to perform ordinances and blessings.

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Gospel Fundamentals

The Living Do the Ordinances for the DeadThere are some things we can do so that ordinances can be done for our relatives who have died. We should go to the temple often to do ordinances for the dead.Discussion• What has to be done before we can do ordinances in the temple for our ancestors who have died?

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Gospel Principles

Temple Ordinances Seal Families Together Forever All temple ordinances are performed by the power of the priesthood. Make Certain the Ordinances Are Performed Many of our ancestors in the spirit world may be anxious to receive their temple ordinances.

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