Performing Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings

The ordinance of naming and blessing a child is performed by Melchizedek Priesthood holders, in conformity with Doctrine and Covenants 20:70.

A person or family who desires that a child receive a name and a blessing coordinates the ordinance with the bishop. He holds the priesthood keys for naming and blessing children in the ward.

A bishop may allow a father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to name and bless his child even if the father is not fully temple worthy (see 18.3). Bishops encourage fathers to prepare themselves to bless their own children.

Under the direction of the bishopric, Melchizedek Priesthood holders gather in a circle to name and bless a child. They place their hands under a baby, or they place their hands lightly on an older child’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.

2. States that the blessing is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Gives the child a name.

4. Addresses the child.

5. Gives a blessing to the child as guided by the Spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Before a child is blessed, a clerk uses Leader and Clerk Resources (LCR) to prepare a Child Record Form. After the blessing, he creates the membership record in that system and prepares a Blessing Certificate. This certificate is signed by the bishop and given to the child’s parents or guardians.

The name on the membership record and certificate should match the birth certificate, civil birth registry, or current legal name.

A baptismal service should be simple, brief, and spiritually uplifting. It may include the following:

1. Prelude music

2. A brief welcome from the brother who is conducting the service

3. An opening hymn and prayer

4. One or two short messages on gospel subjects, such as baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost

5. A musical selection

6. The baptism

7. A time of reverence while those who participated in the baptism change into dry clothes (hymns or Primary songs may be played or sung during this time)

8. The confirmation of 8-year-old members of record; the confirmation of converts (see 18.8)

9. Bearing of testimonies by new converts, if desired

10. A closing hymn and prayer

11. Postlude music

When a child of record is preparing to be baptized, a member of the bishopric and Primary presidency counsel with the family to plan and schedule a baptismal service. A member of the bishopric conducts the service. If more than one child will be baptized in the same month, they could share a baptismal service.

In stakes with many children of record, children from multiple wards may share the same baptismal service. A member of the stake presidency or an assigned high councilor conducts the service.

Baptism of a family member should not be delayed until a father can receive the priesthood and perform the baptism himself.

Under the bishopric’s guidance, the ward mission leader (if one is called) or the member of the elders quorum presidency who leads missionary work in the ward plans and conducts baptismal services for converts. He also plans the confirmation of converts if they will not be confirmed in sacrament meeting. He coordinates with the full-time missionaries.

The ordinance of baptism is performed by a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder. The person who performs a baptism must be approved by the bishop (or by the mission president if a full-time missionary is performing the baptism).

A bishop may allow a father who is a priest or a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to baptize his child even if the father is not fully temple worthy (see 18.3). Bishops encourage fathers to prepare themselves to baptize their own children.

Baptisms should be performed in a baptismal font if one is available. If there is not a font, a safe body of water may be used.

For safety, a responsible adult must be present while a font is being filled and remain until it is drained, cleaned, and secured. The font should be drained immediately after each baptismal service. The doors to the font should be locked when it is not in use.

A person who performs a baptism and a person who is being baptized wear white clothing that is not transparent when wet. An endowed person wears the temple garment under this clothing while performing a baptism. Local units purchase baptismal clothing with budget funds and do not charge for its use.

Two witnesses, approved by the presiding leader, observe each baptism to make sure it is performed properly. Baptized members of the Church, including children and youth, may serve as witnesses.

A baptism must be repeated if the words are not spoken exactly as given in Doctrine and Covenants 20:73. It must also be repeated if part of the person’s body, hair, or clothing is not completely immersed.

To perform the ordinance of baptism, a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder:

1. Stands in the water with the person being baptized.

2. Holds the person’s right wrist with his left hand (for convenience and safety). The person being baptized holds the priesthood holder’s left wrist with his or her left hand.

3. Raises his right arm to the square.

4. States the person’s full name and says, “Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen” (Doctrine and Covenants 20:73).

5. Has the person hold his or her nose with the right hand (for convenience); then places his right hand high on the person’s back and immerses the person completely, including clothing.

6. Helps the person to come up out of the water.

Only a Melchizedek Priesthood holder who is temple worthy may act as voice for a confirmation. However, a bishop may allow a father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to stand in the circle for the confirmation of his child even if the father is not fully temple worthy (see 18.3).

At least one member of the bishopric participates in this ordinance. When missionary elders have taught a convert, the bishop invites them to participate.

Under the direction of the bishopric, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may participate in a confirmation. They place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Calls the person by his or her full name.

2. States that the ordinance is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Confirms the person a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

4. States “receive the Holy Ghost” (not “receive the gift of the Holy Ghost”).

5. Gives words of blessing as guided by the Spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Before a child who is a member of record is interviewed for baptism, a clerk uses LCR to prepare a Baptism and Confirmation Form. The bishop or an assigned counselor conducts the interview and signs the form. After the baptism and confirmation, a clerk uses this form to update the child’s membership record in LCR.

When a full-time missionary interviews a convert for baptism, he fills out the Baptism and Confirmation Record using the Area Book Planner (ABP) app. After the baptism and confirmation, the missionaries record the information in ABP and submit it to the ward clerk electronically. The ward clerk reviews the information in LCR and creates the membership record.

After the membership record is created, a clerk prepares a Baptism and Confirmation Certificate. This certificate is signed by the bishop and given to the person.

The name on the membership record and certificate should match the birth certificate, civil birth registry, or current legal name.

The bishop holds the priesthood keys for administering the sacrament in the ward. All who participate in preparing, blessing, and passing the sacrament must receive approval from him or someone under his direction.

• Teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may prepare the sacrament.

• Priests and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may bless the sacrament.

• Deacons, teachers, priests, and Melchizedek Priesthood holders may pass the sacrament.

Because of the sacred nature of the sacrament, priesthood leaders should prepare carefully so it is orderly and reverent.

Those who administer the sacrament should do so in a dignified manner, realizing that they are representing the Lord.

The passing of the sacrament should be natural and not overly formal.

Although the sacrament is for members of the Church, nothing should be done to prevent others from partaking of it.

1. Those who prepare, bless, or pass the sacrament first wash their hands with soap or other cleanser.

2. Teachers, priests, or Melchizedek Priesthood holders make sure that bread trays with unbroken bread, water trays with cups of clean water, and clean tablecloths are in place before the meeting.

3. As ward members sing a sacrament hymn, those who will bless the sacrament reverently stand, remove the cloth that covers the bread trays, and break the bread into bite-sized pieces.

4. After the hymn, the person blessing the bread kneels and says the sacrament prayer for the bread (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:77).

5. The bishop makes sure the sacrament prayers are spoken clearly, accurately, and with dignity. If someone makes an error in the wording and corrects himself, no further correction is needed. If the person does not correct his error, the bishop kindly asks him to repeat the prayer.

6. After the prayer, priesthood holders reverently pass the bread to the members. The presiding leader receives it first, after which there is no set order. Once a tray is handed to members, they may pass it to one another.

7. Members partake with their right hand when possible.

8. When the bread has been passed to all members, those passing the sacrament return the trays to the sacrament table. Those blessing the sacrament place a cloth over the bread trays and uncover the water trays.

9. The person blessing the water kneels and says the sacrament prayer for the water (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:79). He uses the word water instead of wine.

10. After the prayer, priesthood holders reverently pass the water to the members. The presiding leader receives it first, after which there is no set order.

11. When the water has been passed to all members, those passing the sacrament return the trays to the sacrament table. Those who blessed the sacrament place a cloth over the trays, and those who blessed and passed the sacrament reverently take their seats.

12. After the meeting, those who prepared the sacrament clean up, fold the tablecloths, and remove any unused bread.

The stake president holds the priesthood keys for conferring the Melchizedek Priesthood and ordaining to the offices of elder and high priest. However, the bishop usually provides recommendations for these ordinations.

The bishop holds the priesthood keys for conferring the Aaronic Priesthood and ordaining to the offices of deacon, teacher, and priest. Worthy brethren are typically ordained to these offices at the following ages, but not earlier:

• Deacon at the beginning of the year they turn 12

• Teacher at the beginning of the year they turn 14

• Priest at the beginning of the year they turn 16

The bishop or an assigned counselor interviews those who are to be ordained deacons or teachers to determine if they are spiritually prepared. The bishop interviews brethren who are to be ordained priests.

Before interviewing a young man for priesthood ordination, the bishop obtains verbal permission from the parents or guardians. Permission is not required from a parent or guardian who has no legal basis for opposing the action.

After a brother has been interviewed and found worthy to be ordained to a priesthood office, he is presented for sustaining (see Doctrine and Covenants 20:65, 67). Brethren to be ordained elders or high priests are presented by a stake presidency member in the general session of stake conference (see 6.3 for instructions for district presidents). Brethren to be ordained deacons, teachers, or priests are presented by a bishopric member in sacrament meeting.

The person who conducts the sustaining asks the brother to stand. He announces the proposal to confer the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood (if needed) and to ordain the brother to the priesthood office. He then invites the members to sustain the proposal. For example, to present a brother to be ordained an elder, he could use words like these:

“We propose that [name] receive the Melchizedek Priesthood and be ordained an elder. Those in favor may show it by the uplifted hand. [Pause briefly.] Those opposed, if any, may also show it. [Pause briefly.]”

If a member in good standing opposes the ordination, the presiding leader or another assigned priesthood leader meets with him or her in private after the meeting. The leader seeks to understand why the member is opposed. He learns if the member knows of conduct that could disqualify the person from being ordained to the priesthood office.

In some cases, a brother may need to be ordained an elder or high priest before he can be presented in stake conference. When this happens, he is presented in his ward sacrament meeting for sustaining. He is then presented in the next stake conference to ratify the ordination (adapting the process for sustaining, described above).

The stake president or a Melchizedek Priesthood holder under his direction may ordain a man to the office of elder. With approval from the mission president, the district president or someone under his direction may perform the ordination (see 6.3). Only Melchizedek Priesthood holders may stand in the circle.

The stake president or a high priest under his direction may ordain a man to the office of high priest. Only high priests may stand in the circle.

A person who ordains a man to a Melchizedek Priesthood office should be temple worthy. The stake president or someone he designates must be present.

A priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder may ordain a brother to the office of deacon, teacher, or priest. He must be authorized by the bishop. The bishop or someone he designates must be present.

To participate in an Aaronic Priesthood ordination, a person must be a priest or Melchizedek Priesthood holder.

A bishop may allow a father who is a priest or a Melchizedek Priesthood holder to ordain his son to the office of deacon, teacher, or priest even if the father is not fully temple worthy (see 18.3). Bishops encourage fathers to prepare themselves to ordain their own sons.

To confer the priesthood and ordain a person to a priesthood office, one or more authorized priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Calls the person by his full name.

2. States the authority he personally holds to perform the ordinance (either the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood).

3. Confers the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood, unless it has already been conferred.

4. Ordains the person to an office in the Aaronic or Melchizedek Priesthood and bestows the rights, powers, and authority of that office.

5. Gives words of blessing as guided by the Spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

To ordain a person to a priesthood office after he has already had the appropriate priesthood conferred upon him, the person who performs the ordination omits step 3.

Before a brother is interviewed to be ordained to an office in the Aaronic Priesthood, a clerk uses LCR to prepare an Aaronic Priesthood Ordination Record. The bishop or an assigned counselor conducts the interview and signs the form if all worthiness conditions are met.

After the ordination, the bishop or an assigned counselor completes the form and gives it to a clerk. He records the ordination in LCR and prepares an ordination certificate.

A person’s current legal name should be used on the ordination record and certificate.

A setting apart is performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. He must receive approval from the leader who holds the appropriate priesthood keys. Those who are authorized to perform a setting apart are indicated in 30.8. An elder should not act as voice or stand in the circle when a man is set apart to a calling that requires the man to be a high priest.

Under the direction of the presiding leader, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may participate in a setting apart. Presidents are set apart before their counselors.

A presiding leader may allow a husband or father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood to stand in the circle for the setting apart of his wife or children even if he is not fully temple worthy (see 18.3).

One or more authorized Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Calls the person by his or her full name.

2. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Sets the person apart to the calling in the stake, ward, quorum, or class.

4. Confers keys if the person should receive them.

5. Gives words of blessing as guided by the Spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders may consecrate oil. They do not need to seek approval from a priesthood leader.

To consecrate the oil, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder:

1. Holds an open container of olive oil.

2. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.

3. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

4. Consecrates the oil (not the container) and sets it apart for anointing and blessing the sick and afflicted.

5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Only worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders may administer to the sick or afflicted. They do not need to seek approval from a priesthood leader. If possible, a father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood administers to sick members of his family.

Normally, two or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders administer to the sick. However, one may perform both the anointing and sealing.

Anointing with oil is done by one Melchizedek Priesthood holder. He:

1. Puts a drop of consecrated oil on the person’s head.

2. Places his hands lightly on the person’s head and calls the person by his or her full name.

3. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

4. States that he is anointing with oil that has been consecrated for anointing and blessing the sick and afflicted.

5. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

To seal the anointing, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one who seals the anointing:

1. Calls the person by his or her full name.

2. States that he is sealing the anointing by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Gives words of blessing as guided by the Spirit.

4. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

Melchizedek Priesthood holders may give blessings of comfort and counsel to family members and to others who request them.

A father who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may give father’s blessings to his children. Parents encourage their children to seek father’s blessings in times of need. Father’s blessings may be recorded for personal use.

A Melchizedek Priesthood holder does not need to seek approval from a priesthood leader to give a blessing of comfort and counsel or a father’s blessing.

To give a blessing of comfort and counsel or a father’s blessing, one or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders place their hands lightly on the person’s head. Then the one acting as voice:

1. Calls the person by his or her full name.

2. States that the blessing is being performed by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Gives words of blessing, comfort, and counsel as guided by the Spirit.

4. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

To dedicate a home, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder:

1. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.

2. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Dedicates the home as a sacred place where the Holy Spirit can reside and gives other words as guided by the Spirit.

4. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

A person who dedicates a grave should hold the Melchizedek Priesthood and be authorized by the priesthood leader who conducts the service.

To dedicate a grave, a Melchizedek Priesthood holder:

1. Addresses Heavenly Father as in prayer.

2. States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.

3. Dedicates and consecrates the burial plot as the resting place for the body of the deceased.

4. Prays that the place will be hallowed and protected until the Resurrection (where appropriate).

5. Asks Heavenly Father to comfort the family and expresses thoughts as guided by the Spirit.

6. Closes in the name of Jesus Christ.

If a Church member’s body is cremated, the presiding leader uses his judgment to decide whether to dedicate the place where the ashes are kept.

After receiving a recommend, the member contacts the patriarch to set up an appointment to receive a patriarchal blessing. On the day of the appointment, the member should go to the patriarch with a prayerful attitude and in Sunday attire.

Each patriarchal blessing is sacred, confidential, and personal. Therefore, it is given in private except for a limited number of family members who may be present.

A person who receives a patriarchal blessing should treasure its words, ponder them, and live to be worthy to receive the promised blessings in this life and in eternity.

Church members should not compare blessings and should not share them except with close family members. Patriarchal blessings should not be read in Church meetings or other public gatherings.