I have been in touch with the leadership of FamilySearch today, and we discussed the current confusion and various interpretations that are being placed on the First Presidency's statement that we must be "related" to the people we submit for temple ordinance work. They stated that the Brethren will not be giving any further clarification on this terminology, because it is up to the members of the Church to seek personal inspiration as to how that statement applies to them. The desire is to preserve the members' agency and personal accountability. As consultants and those who teach the guidelines, we need to be careful not to put our personal interpretation "in force" on others. Having said that, here are some statements to consider: 1. First, we need to obey all of the permission rules for the past 110 years. 2. We can perform ordinances for ourselves and all of our direct line ancestors on our pedigree (including adoptive, sealing, and step pedigrees). 3. We can perform ordinances for the children on all of the family group sheets of the ancestors on those pedigrees, including their spouses so that marriage sealings can be performed. 4. We can perform ordinances for descendants of all of our direct line ancestors, which would include ordinances for descendants of siblings, because they would all be descendants of the next generation back. 5. We can assist our spouses in the work for their families, especially if the spouse is living or previously gave permission for us to continue. Here are some of the "gray areas" to consider and seek personal guidance of the Spirit: 1. As mentioned in #3 above, the spouses of children on our family group sheets become part of our related family because of their marriage to a family member. We can submit them for personal ordinances and the marriage sealing. Where this starts to go into a gray area would be work for the in-law's parents, siblings, and ancestors. Those individuals are not usually considered related, but if the Spirit directs, we can move forward. 2. Work for the family of a deceased spouse where permission was not given before death, is a gray area, but not usually a problem. Seek inspiration. Are there other family members more closely related and involved in the work who should have that opportunity and privilege? 3. Be extremely careful in extended lines where famous people or Jewish Holocaust victims are involved. In these areas, think much more strongly about blood relations, be SURE to follow the 110 year rules, and obtain all appropriate permissions. You may be asked to document your blood relation. Let me repeat that the Brethren have declined to define their instruction beyond the concept that we must be related to those whom we submit. The statements I have made above are given with the knowledge and agreement of the FamilySearch leadership, but ANY "clarification" of the Prophet's statement in the recent letter is a personal opinion-including mine. The vagueness of the statement is to allow for appropriate agency. We should not be involved in allowing others to remove our responsibility to seek the guidance of the Spirit, and we should not remove the responsibility of those whom we counsel in our stewardship. I hope this is helpful, Jill Crandell

Very good explanations Jill. Joseph Smith.... Concerning government: Some years ago, in Nauvoo, a gentleman in my hearing, a member of the Legislature, asked Joseph Smith how it was that he was enabled to govern so many people, and to preserve such perfect order; remarking at the same time that it was impossible for them to do it anywhere else. Mr. Smith remarked that it was very easy to do that. "How?" responded the gentleman; "to us it is very difficult." Mr. Smith replied, "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves." Shanna Jones -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jill N. Crandell Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 11:47 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [LDS-WC] Temple Ordinance Guidelines I have been in touch with the leadership of FamilySearch today, and we discussed the current confusion and various interpretations that are being placed on the First Presidency's statement that we must be "related" to the people we submit for temple ordinance work. They stated that the Brethren will not be giving any further clarification on this terminology, because it is up to the members of the Church to seek personal inspiration as to how that statement applies to them. The desire is to preserve the members' agency and personal accountability. As consultants and those who teach the guidelines, we need to be careful not to put our personal interpretation "in force" on others. Having said that, here are some statements to consider: 1. First, we need to obey all of the permission rules for the past 110 years. 2. We can perform ordinances for ourselves and all of our direct line ancestors on our pedigree (including adoptive, sealing, and step pedigrees). 3. We can perform ordinances for the children on all of the family group sheets of the ancestors on those pedigrees, including their spouses so that marriage sealings can be performed. 4. We can perform ordinances for descendants of all of our direct line ancestors, which would include ordinances for descendants of siblings, because they would all be descendants of the next generation back. 5. We can assist our spouses in the work for their families, especially if the spouse is living or previously gave permission for us to continue. Here are some of the "gray areas" to consider and seek personal guidance of the Spirit: 1. As mentioned in #3 above, the spouses of children on our family group sheets become part of our related family because of their marriage to a family member. We can submit them for personal ordinances and the marriage sealing. Where this starts to go into a gray area would be work for the in-law's parents, siblings, and ancestors. Those individuals are not usually considered related, but if the Spirit directs, we can move forward. 2. Work for the family of a deceased spouse where permission was not given before death, is a gray area, but not usually a problem. Seek inspiration. Are there other family members more closely related and involved in the work who should have that opportunity and privilege? 3. Be extremely careful in extended lines where famous people or Jewish Holocaust victims are involved. In these areas, think much more strongly about blood relations, be SURE to follow the 110 year rules, and obtain all appropriate permissions. You may be asked to document your blood relation. Let me repeat that the Brethren have declined to define their instruction beyond the concept that we must be related to those whom we submit. The statements I have made above are given with the knowledge and agreement of the FamilySearch leadership, but ANY "clarification" of the Prophet's statement in the recent letter is a personal opinion-including mine. The vagueness of the statement is to allow for appropriate agency. We should not be involved in allowing others to remove our responsibility to seek the guidance of the Spirit, and we should not remove the responsibility of those whom we counsel in our stewardship. I hope this is helpful, Jill Crandell Please send the one word message SUBSCRIBE or UNSUBSCRIBE to [email protected] ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message