First-timer preparing for temple duties..

[RachelleDrew]

Hey everybody!

As a lot of you know, i'm newly baptized in the church. My next goal is to do some work in the temple for my deceased ancestors. I'm really excited to do this, i'm just not sure how to go about it.

I've been working on my family history, and i've gotten dates and names back about as far as the 1810's. Until I can get to a bigger city and check out a library for records that's about as far as I can get for right now. Is the info I have now enough to get started with as far as proxy work goes?

Also, this is a silly question but i'm confused about the recommend thing. Do I have to have one in order to do baptisms for the dead? I've heard of my friends going to the temple to do this work when they were teens.

Also, the first time I go does it have to be with a member of a certain standing (like, a recommend holder)? Or can I go with just any member who also wants to do their work?

Sorry if this is a little confusing, i'm not even really sure what i'm trying to ask. I guess the easiest thing to ask is: once i've got my history started up what happens next? What is the process like?

Thanks in advance.

[utcowboy]

Teens get a special recommend from their bishops to go do baptisms for the dead. If you are a new member working toward the temple I think that you'll have to wait until you get your personal recommend to do your work and then you are welcome to do your family's work. But Pale or one of them can probably answer that better then I can.

best of luck and I hope this helps.. :)

[Moksha]

Also, the first time I go does it have to be with a member of a certain standing (like, a recommend holder)? Or can I go with just any member who also wants to do their work?

It would help if you take someone knowledgeable about Temple symbolism, so they can answer your many questions when you get to the Celestial Room. They can't really discuss much of it till then. This of course would be right after your own endowments.

[Maureen]

It would help if you take someone knowledgeable about Temple symbolism, so they can answer your many questions when you get to the Celestial Room. They can't really discuss much of it till then. This of course would be right after your own endowments.

I don't think Rachelle is trying to receive her Endowments yet; she's wanting to do proxy baptisms and confirmations.

M.

[Iggy]

Rachelle, go talk with your Bishop/Branch President- he is the one who can issue you a temporary recommend to do the baptisms.

Also, before you submit any names, please be sure that you have the correct names, dates, birth places, spouses, children, parents, etc. Take a gander at this web site, My Plea for More Citation of Primary Sources then go to your Family History Center and have them help you to validate all of your information.

I have a cousin who submitted about 200 family names for temple work. She did not verify any names or dates. I have since hunted down and given her some of the correct information. In the meantime those 200 names are still in the Temple records- there is nothing that can be done to get them corrected. "Jesus will correct everything during the millennium" is what I have been told again, and again. An incredible amount of time and energy went into the baptism, initiatory, endowment and sealing of people who aren't even related to each other, let alone members of my and her family.

I am missing about 30 people, once I have them then I will gather my living endowed family members and we will get the work done properly.

Doing the genealogy for ones family is quite the task. I do the work to verify the basic data, another cousin (male and not a member of this or any church) gathers the history. I have only met him once in person, the rest of the time we converse and share data via snail mail. He didn't trust the internet, and he also can not afford it.

Good luck on your genealogy- I really enjoy doing mine.

[RachelleDrew]

I don't think Rachelle is trying to receive her Endowments yet; she's wanting to do proxy baptisms and confirmations.

M.

Exactly right. I cannot get my endowments until i've been a member for a year, correct? My husband and I are aiming to get our endowments and sealing next fall.

I wanted to do baptisms and confirmations until then, just to get into the habit of going to the temple.

I was planning on asking my Bishop about it, but we won't be at our ward next weekend because we'll be out of town at a wedding. So I have to wait two whole weeks to ask. I'm too impatient, I want to start making plans now! Lol.

As for the history work....I had it easy. We're talking actual copies of birth, death and marriage certificates. My grandparents are awesome.

[Jenamarie]

You should be able to get a temporary recommend (like the ones the teens get) to do the Baptisms and Confirmations, and if your DH has the Priesthood, he can also do Proxy Priesthood ordinations for the men.

I think this would be a great opportunity also for you to learn about what is required to recieve a recommend, as they ask you the same questions for the temporary one as they do for the "real one". :)

[RachelleDrew]

^ Thanks! So what happens after I have the temp? Do I need to set up an appointment with the temple, or can I just like show up? How does all that work?

[Jenamarie]

That depends on the Temple. If it's a mini-Temple you'll deffinately need an appointment. If it's a full-size Temple you may need an appointment, or they may have "walk-in" hours where you can just walk in and do your work. I would just call the Temple to find out either way. Sometimes they need time to process the names you submit as well, before you start the work, and that may take a day or two, depending on how busy they are.

[HoosierGuy]

I'm a new member as well - March 8th. I went to the Louisville Kentucky temple with the Youth. I had my Mom baptized and I was baptized for my Dad. I had their names on a floppy disk and they took it. They thought there were hundreds of names on it and said they probably would not be able to get the names ready but when they actually checked the floppy they saw it only contained two people and said - no problem!

So, if you have a big list you might want to call them to see if they want you to send in the names first.

I think the recommend I had was with the youth. I was on the youth list even tho I was not a youth. It worked - got in the temple and the baptism for the dead was very spiritual.

[StrawberryFields]

I am happy to hear of your excited to get going on the temple work of your family. I love geneology. :)