LDS ORDINANCES
Robert Hyatt
1992
DEFINITION: OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY
"A RELIGIOUS OR CEREMONIAL OBSERVANCE"
"AN ARRANGEMENT IN RANKS OR ROWS"
"COMES FROM ORDER & ORDAIN (ROOTS)"
TEMPLE ORDINANCES:
1. CELESTIAL MARRIAGE-SEALING ORDINANCE-FOR LIVING
2. ORDINANCE OF ADOPTION
3. CELESTIAL MARRIAGE-SEALING ORDINANCE-FOR DEAD
4. ENDOWMENT-FOR LIVING
5. ENDOWMENT-FOR DEAD
6. BAPTISM-FOR DEAD
7&8. INITIATORY WORK-WASHINGS & ANOINTING-FOR LIVING
9&10. INITIATORY WORK-WASHINGS & ANOINTING-FOR DEAD
11. CALLING & ELECTION
12. WASHING OF FEET
13. ORDINANCES BESTOWED ON TEMPLE WORKERS
CHURCH ORDINANCES:
14. BAPTISM
15. RECEIVING THE HOLY GHOST
16. CONFIRMATION OF PRIESTHOOD
17. SACRAMENT
18. PATRIARCHAL BLESSING
19. ANOINTING OF SICK
20. SEALING THE ANOINTING & BLESSING
21. BLESSING OF CHILDREN
22. CONSECRATION OF OIL
23. SETTING APART-CALLINGS WITHIN CHURCH
OTHER ORDINANCES:
24. CASTING OUT OF DEVILS
25-27. DEDICATION OF GRAVES, CHURCH BUILDINGS, & HOMES
28. MARRIAGE-FOR TIME ONLY
29. FATHERS BLESSING
CHRONOLOGY OF TEMPLE ORDINANCES
1. BAPTISM FOR THE DEAD.....................SEP 1840
2. SEALING OF LIVING COUPLES................APR 1841
3. SEALING OF LIVING CHILDREN TO PARENTS....JAN 1846
4. SEALING OF COUPLES FOR THE DEAD..............1855
5. ENDOWMENTS FOR THE DEAD..................JAN 1877
SUGGESTED GUIDELINES FOR ORDINANCES
BLESSING CHILDREN IN CHURCH:
Our Heavenly Father, by the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood which
we hold, we take this infant in our arms to give Him (Her) a name and a
blessing. The name by which He (She) shall be known here upon the
Earth and upon the records of the Church is ...(Full Name). At this
point you may wish to bless the child as the spirit directs. Examples
of blessings could include: 1. Blessing the child with good
health. 2. That He (She) will serve a mission & be married in the
temple when they become of age. 3. That the child might heed the
advice of their parents. 4. Could bless them with special gifts such
as discernment, a strong testimony, etc. After giving the child all
blessings, it is important to end the blessing in the name of Jesus
Christ. Amen.
Notes: Remember that you are acting on behalf of everyone in the
circle, therefore you should use the words we, our, and us, not me and
I. If you wish to give the child a Fathers personal blessing at home
then you may use personal pronouns. Remember that the blessing of
children in church is not a fathers blessing.
BAPTISM:
The Elder or Priest officiating should hold in his left hand, the left
hand of the person being baptized. He should then raise his right hand
and arm to the square and repeat the baptismal prayer. Calling the
person by His (Her) full name, repeat word for word "Having been com-
missioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father and
of the Son and of The Holy Ghost. Amen. He should then place his
right hand on the back of the person being baptized, Helping them in
and out of the water. The baptismal candidate should be completely im-
mersed. If not the prayer must be given again until it is done cor-
rectly. There should be two witnesses to make sure that everything is
done properly.
Notes: Both the priest and/or Melchizedek Priesthood holder should
have permission from the Ward mission leader or the Bishop to perform a
baptism. The person being baptized could use the right hand to keep the
nostrils of the nose closed.
CONFIRMATION:
One or more members of the Melchizedek Priesthood should lay their
hands upon the individual to be confirmed and say the following...(Full
name)..In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the authority of the Holy
Melchizedek Priesthood, we lay our hands upon your head and confirm you
a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and say
unto you, receive the Holy Ghost. After this, the person giving the
confirmation may add additional blessings as the spirit directs. You
should end the confirmation in the name of Jesus Christ if not previ-
ously mentioned, then - Amen.
CONSECRATION OF OIL:
Remove the cap of the bottle. If one or two perform the ordinance,
hold the bottle in both hands; if three or more, hold the bottle in the
right hand and place the left hand on the companion's shoulder. The
consecration should contain the following essential words.."Our Heav-
enly Father, we present before thee this oil, and by virtue of the Holy
Melchizedek Priesthood that we hold, we consecrate, dedicate and set
this oil apart for the anointing of the sick in the house hold of
faith, and we do it in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
ANOINTING OF OIL:
Anoint the crown of the head with a few drops of consecrated oil and
say the following essential words...(Full Name).."By the authority of
the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which I hold, I anoint your head with
this oil, which has been consecrated, dedicated, and set apart for the
anointing of the sick in the household of faith, and I do this in the
name of Jesus Christ." Amen. You may add the following words before
amen..."and I do it in preparation for the sealing which is to follow.
Note: You should only bless the sick who desire it, unless you are
prompted by the Holy Ghost to offer a blessing. Only one person should
anoint the sick; two or more should seal the anointing.
SEALING THE ANOINTING:
One or more Melchizedek Priesthood holders should lay their hands on
the head of the sick person and say the following essential
words....(Full Name).."By the authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priest-
hood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head to seal the anoint-
ing which you have just received, and do this in the name of Jesus
Christ." Amen. You may give the person a blessing during the sealing
if the spirit prompts you. Be sure to say...if it be Thy will.
CONFERRING THE AARONIC PRIESTHOOD:
This is done in conjunction with the ordination of a Deacon. First you
are conferring the Aaronic Priesthood, then you are ordaining the indi-
vidual as a Deacon within that Priesthood. (Full Name).."By the au-
thority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood which we hold, we lay our
hands upon your head and confer upon you the Aaronic Priesthood, and
bestow upon you all the rights, powers and authority pertaining to this
office and calling in the Aaronic Priesthood, and we do it in the name
of Jesus Christ." Amen. You may offer additional blessings as the
spirit directs.
ORDAINING A TEACHER OR A PRIEST:
When ordaining a Teacher or Priest, be sure they hold the Aaronic
Priesthood. If they do not, then confer it upon them. The following
words may be used. (Full Name).."By the authority of the Holy Priest-
hood which we hold, we lay our hands upon your head and ordain you to
the office of a Teacher (Priest), in the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-Day Saints, and confer upon you all the rights, powers and au-
thority pertaining to this office and calling in the Aaronic Priest-
hood, and we do it in the Name of Jesus Christ." Amen. You may offer
additional blessings as the spirit directs.