Church Providing Option to Print Temple Ordinance Cards at Home
A new option for members to print their own family ordinance cards has been rolled out to temple districts in the United States and will be available worldwide in the next few months.
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Taking names to the temple for ordinance work just got a little easier.
The Church has announced the ability to print your own family ordinance cards from the temple page on FamilySearch.org using any printer (at home, in a meetinghouse, at a family history center) and then bring those cards with you to the temple. This option will be available to temple districts worldwide in the coming months.
The ability to print family ordinance cards from home will be activated stake by stake, based on which temple district you live in. This process started in November 2015 and will continue through the first few months of 2016. The order and timing will be determined by the Temple Department. There is no option to request early access.
This change means you no longer need to print out a separate Family Ordinance Request (FOR) or have family ordinance cards printed for you at the temple. However, cards that have previously been printed at the temple on colored paper will still be accepted at the temple.
How to print
To print your own family ordinance cards, from the Temple page, select the check box next to the name of the person for which cards will be printed, and then at the top of the page, click the blue Print button.
From the drop-down menu, select Print Family Ordinance Cards, and follow the on-screen prompts.
When you print your own cards, use standard white office paper, since gender will no longer be designated by color. Once printed, cut out the cards before you take them to the temple.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to print my cards on thicker card stock paper?
No. The temple will accept cards printed on standard white printer paper.
Do I have to use any colored paper or colored ink to print my cards?
No. Please use normal white paper with black ink. Color is not needed to show the individual's sex or the ordinances needed.
Can I print the family ordinance cards on both sides of the paper?
No. Printing on both sides of the paper will result in misaligned cards and incomplete card batches.
When can I start printing cards from home?
The Temple Department started activating the ability to print family ordinance cards from home in November of 2015 and will continue stake by stake, based on which temple district you live in, through the first few months of 2016.
What languages will this option be available in?
English is available now, but eventually the option will be in 42 languages.
Can I take the family ordinance cards I print to any temple?
Yes. Your cards will be accepted at any temple, but you are encouraged to wait until the new process is fully rolled out.
What if I do not have a printer?
The family ordinance cards are generated as a PDF file, which you can save to your computer or a USB drive and then email or print in another location.
Can I give the family ordinance cards I print to someone else?
Yes. Share the printout, or you can save the file and email it to someone. The ordinances will remain on your temple list until they are completed.
Do I have to print all the ordinances at the same time?
No. You can select only some ordinances for printing. Just use the correct order (baptism and confirmation before endowment).
Can I still use the family ordinance cards I have?
Yes, there is no need to print new cards.
From the drop-down menu, select Print Family Ordinance Cards, and follow the onscreen prompts.
Set your printer to “Portrait Layout” and “Actual Size.” Cut the cards and verify that they are 3½ inches by 5 inches.
