Effective January 1, 2018:
• Under the direction of the temple presidency, young women (ages 12-18) with a limited-use temple
recommend may assist with baptistry assignments currently performed by sister temple ordinance
workers and volunteers.
• Under the direction of the temple presidency, all priests in the Aaronic Priesthood with a limited-use
temple recommend may officiate in baptisms for the dead, including serving as the baptizer and as a
witness. Bestowing the gift of the Holy Ghost continues to be solely a Melchizedek Priesthood function.
• The Primary’s Priesthood Preview meeting will be modified to include both 11-year-old boys and girls
and will be called the Temple and Priesthood Preparation meeting. This will be an opportunity for
priesthood, Primary, and youth leaders to help girls and boys, and their parents, understand the significant
blessings of temple service, priesthood service, and making and keeping sacred covenants.
It continues:
“We are confident that these changes will bless the lives of youth and children throughout the Church. According to a letter from the First Presidency, all worthy priests with the Aaronic priesthood and a limited-use temple recommend may now officiate baptisms for the dead as a baptizer and a witness. Previously, priests with the Aaronic priesthood were only permitted to be baptized for the dead.”
“This will be an opportunity for the priesthood, Primary, and youth leaders to help girls and boys, and their parents, understand the significant blessings of temple service, priesthood service, and making and keep sacred covenants.”
