If a person wants to do the temple work for their father, do they need to get permission from their

Susanne Skabelund

Advising someone as to whether they can check the box as the closest relative for permission to do temple work. The siblings are not members of the church and mother is not alive.

Shannon Potter Wilcox

Susanne Skabelund. If the individual wants to do her own father's temple work, she does not have to get permission from any siblings.

Willis Whitlock

Short answer is yes they can.

I usually point out the opportune the member has to grow closer to siblings by sharing their plans with the rest of the family.

as much as possible, we can point out that you are honoring deceased parents by doing their temple work.

 

I think we sometimes set ourselves up for contention by doing things “behind the backs” of family members.

It’s very difficult for others to accuse us of nefarious intent when we explain that we do temple work because we love our ancestors.

Chris Schmink

@Susanne Skabelund​  I concur with @Willis Whitlock​ . The article giving guidance on this is:

https://www.familysearch.org/help/helpcenter/article/do-i-need-permission-from-the-closest-living-relative-to-do-temple-ordinances

 

From the above guidance, "The closest living relatives are an undivorced spouse (the spouse to whom the individual was married when he or she died), an adult child, a parent, a brother, or a sister." While it doesn't explicitly say so in the article, most people accept the order in that sentence to be the order of permissions, thus any adult child has the first right to have the temple work done if the spouse of the individual is also deceased.

 

--Chris

Cheryl Ann Nelson

Now we have seen that the church's stand is that - yes, as one of the closest people to her you can, and I think we have a responsibility to do so. We know that people are taught on the other side but because they do not have bodies they can not do their own work and so are relying on us to it. It is my understanding that they have another chance after death if they still are not willing, they have do not have to accept it. I guess what I am trying to say is that by doing their work we are giving them one last opportunity to accept or reject that work. If we do not do the work that option is no longer even on the table.

Taggart Barron

I interpret this way as well. "An adult child" means any adult child, regardless of order, and it doesn't have to be unanimous. So yes, the person can do the work for his/her father.

LegacyUser

I think that you don’t have to have permission from your siblings because you are also part of his immediate family so you should be able to do it

Susanne Skabelund

Thank you. I like the thought behind discussing with the siblings. I appreciate your input!

Susanne

Susanne Skabelund

Thank you! I appreciate your response.

Best regards,

Susanne

MikalMcKinnon

Telling your siblings of your plans is an opportunity to share the principle of agency with them in the terms of providing a gift to your parents that they can accept or reject. It is non-binding and you feel that it provides them opportunities that can be a great blessing to them. As you pray about it, the spirit will guide the process so blessings can be received on both sides of the veil. If your mother is alive, she would be the closest living relative.

Susanne Skabelund

Thanks for your help!!

Susanne