The Church  recently announced that there have been major (and amazingly wonderful, in my opinion) changes for all priests holding the Aaronic priesthood and young women with limited-use temple recommends!  This news, according to lds.org, expands opportunities and will be directed by temple presidencies in the 159 operating LDS temples worldwide.    The First Presidency wrote a letter to general authorities, area authorities, stake, mission and temple presidents, bishops and other local leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is to be read in sacrament meetings Sunday, December 17th, 2017. In part, it reads:

“We are grateful for the increase in temple history work being completed by the faithful youth of the Church…In unprecedented numbers, young women and young men throughout the world are researching, finding, and bringing family names to the temple to perform baptisms and confirmations. . . . We are confident that these changes will bless the lives of youth and children throughout the Church.”

This change will begin Jan. 1st. Young women ages 12-18 now may assist with tasks in the temple baptistry performed previously only by adult women serving as temple ordinance workers or volunteers. Ordained priests ages 16-18 will now be able to perform baptisms for the dead and act as witnesses for baptisms.

The First Presidency also announced a change for 11-year-olds in regard to the annual priesthood preview meeting to introduce 11-year-old boys to the priesthood. It will now become a combined temple and priesthood preparation meeting for 11-year-old girls and boys. According to new information published at primary.lds.org, the purpose of this meeting is to bless both boys and girls of primary age to help them understand the blessings of temple service, priesthood service and making and keeping covenants in their lives.  Read more here.

With this new announcement comes what I consider to be an invitation for all of us – individuals, leaders, teachers, parents, youth, and children – to be more prepared in all aspects of temple and family history work.  The Family History Guide is your “go-to” place for help in every aspect of this great work of salvation! If you are looking for a specific area in which you need help, check out the Quick Start Menu and the LDS Topics Page.

Let’s work together as we learn, research, prepare names for temple ordinances, and participate in performing them.  Could there be any greater work anywhere? What a blessing for the youth and children of the church this new announcement is – and for al of us!

The Joy of Redeeming the Dead                                                                                            (Elder Richard G. Scott Conference Oct. 2012)

“Any work you do in the temple is time well spent, but receiving ordinances vicariously for one of your own ancestors will make the time in the temple more sacred, and even greater blessings will be received. The First Presidency has declared, “Our preeminent obligation is to seek out and identify our own ancestors.”

“Do you young people want a sure way to eliminate the influence of the adversary in your life? Immerse yourself in searching for your ancestors, prepare their names for the sacred vicarious ordinances available in the temple, and then go to the temple to stand as proxy for them to receive the ordinances of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. As you grow older, you will be able to participate in receiving the other ordinances as well. I can think of no greater protection from the influence of the adversary in your life.”