I am pasting from the User's Guide for NFS. The first one is for asking permission if the individual was born in the last 95 years and the death date is known. The second rule is for doing ordinances for someone who's death date is unknown then they must be married at least 95 years ago or born at least 110 years ago. Guidelines for Reserving Ordinances As you reserve ordinances, be aware of a few guidelines. . Reserve ordinances only if you feel reasonably sure that you can get them done. It is recommended that you reserve only enough ordinances for a few trips to the temple. . Before you reserve ordinances for individuals who were born in the last 95 years, please get permission from the closest living relative. The closest living relatives are, in this order: spouse, then children, then parents, then siblings. When Can I Do Ordinances for Someone Whose Death Date Is Unknown? Persons born at least 110 years ago or married at least 95 years ago are assumed to be dead, and the ordinances can be done. I am teaching a FH SS class and 2 weeks ago we had a long discussion on this topic. I found an Ensign article by Elder Nelson that states, (note that this also states 95 years from the birth): Counsel of LDS leaders Church general authorities have asked members to concentrate on completing the work for their own ancestors. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve taught: Here, on this side of the veil, there are limitations of available time and temples. This means that choosing to identify and perform ordinances for our own kindred should receive our highest priority. The Spirit of Elijah will inspire individual members of the Church to link their generations, rather than submit lists of people or popular personalities to whom they are unrelated. Now, we are mindful of those not of our faith who are concerned about or even offended by the practice of temple ordinances for the dead. To them we say, our Heavenly Father directed the restoration of keys of priesthood authority and surely intended no offense to any of His children. Quite to the contrary. He intended to bless them. This doctrine and its ordinances are laden with love and are intended to perpetuate the sweetest of all relationships - in families forever. Nevertheless, the Church is sensitive to these concerns. The First Presidency has asked that, as far as possible, individual rights of privacy be protected. In 1972, they wrote, "Persons submitting names for other than direct ancestors [should] have obtained approval from the closest living relative of the deceased before submitting records of persons born within the last ninety-five years." In addition, reminders of rights of precedence and privacy appear each time our computer programs are used. Nancy Scott Cincinnati, Ohio