LDS Beliefs and views.

[Nats]

Hi there,

I am currently doing a Diploma, in health, and as part of that, I have to research different religions that a patient may have, and how that may impact their quality of care. I have chosen to research the religion of LDS, as i currently do not know a lot about this religion and I am very interested, both personally and professionally. I know this religion was a big part of my family many years ago, but some how as my generation came, the religion had been lost. Hence why I am interested n finding out more. If any of you have any spare time, please could you read over what I have written and help me fill in the blanks. I really do hope what I Have written does not offend any of you, or the religion in its self, that is not my intention (as I have said, I am personally interested) but it is just information (and not a lot of it ) that I have currently found on the internet. I just figure It would be more beneficial to actually seek advice from the members, rather than 3rd parties.

Eating:

The a patient practising the Mormon religion (the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints) would eat mostly fruits, vegetables, grains and little meat. Tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco products and addictive substances are prohibited.

Toileting:

Sleeping:

Surgery – before and after

Bereavement:

Transfusion:

Emergency situation:

Thank you very much.

[applepansy]

Hi there,

I am currently doing a Diploma, in health, and as part of that, I have to research different religions that a patient may have, and how that may impact their quality of care. I have chosen to research the religion of LDS, as i currently do not know a lot about this religion and I am very interested, both personally and professionally. I know this religion was a big part of my family many years ago, but some how as my generation came, the religion had been lost. Hence why I am interested n finding out more. If any of you have any spare time, please could you read over what I have written and help me fill in the blanks. I really do hope what I Have written does not offend any of you, or the religion in its self, that is not my intention (as I have said, I am personally interested) but it is just information (and not a lot of it ) that I have currently found on the internet. I just figure It would be more beneficial to actually seek advice from the members, rather than 3rd parties.

Most hospitals have protocols in place, at least the hospitals in Utah do. It was only a matter of opening a book and reading what a specific religion might require.

I'm interested how far back in your family you have to go to find members of the church. I'm the Family History Consultant in my Ward (parish) and it always fascinates me when I get a member back one or two generations and suddenly the Genealogy Database has their ancestors back to the 1600s or further. :)

Eating:

The a patient practising the Mormon religion (the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints) would eat mostly fruits, vegetables, grains and little meat. Tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco products and addictive substances are prohibited.

Its unlikely a patient will need unusual dietary requirements in a hospital setting in the USA. The only things to avoid are coffee and tea. Hebals teas are ok.

Toileting:

Nothing unusual

Sleeping:

Nothing unusual. Patient preference or as doctor prescribes (such as sleeping pill)

Surgery – before and after

Most adult LDS patients will be wearing garments. Treat these underclothing with respect.

Bereavement:

Helping a patient contact family and clergy is all you would need to do. We believe in afterlife.

Transfusion:

There are no rules against blood transfusions. Some patients as in every group in society may have personal views.

Emergency situation:

Contact family first. Clergy second.

Treat an LDS patient the same respect you would treat any other patient. The only things which you might run into which are different are garments. But usually garments are removed before surgery just as any other patient removes their underwear prior to surgery. Most LDS patients will desire to put their garments back on as soon as its possible to do so after surgery.

Our Christian views are very similar to most other Christian religions. The only differences in a hospital setting are no coffee/tea and they will likely wear garments. If the patient requests a blessing there are usually clergy who need to be called. In Utah there are usually several elders who work in the hospital anyway so just requesting a blessing doesn't always mean you need to call their bishop. The hospitals I've worked in had a list of Mormon Elders who worked in different departments in the hospital who were willing to help out upon request.

Edited August 14, 2012 by applepansy

[Dravin]

Applepansy gives a good response. Only other thing I could think to add is that someone in a hospital may desire a blessing (requires two or more men to put their hands on the person's head) from either their Bishop or others in the ward. For all practical purpose that just amounts to a couple more visitors than one might expect. Which means in an ICU you may have to instruct them on wearing a face mask and sanitizing their hands, or if unsafe explaining it'll have to wait until later.

[applepansy]

One other thing LDS Clergy will not come wearing the typical clerical collar. They might show up in their work clothes or a suit.

[Nats]

Applepansy gives a good response. Only other thing I could think to add is that someone in a hospital may desire a blessing (requires two or more men to put their hands on the person's head) from either their Bishop or others in the ward. For all practical purpose that just amounts to a couple more visitors than one might expect. Which means in an ICU you may have to instruct them on wearing a face mask and sanitizing their hands, or if unsafe explaining it'll have to wait until later.

Just wondering, about the blessing, would this be relating to before surgery? Or Bereavement?

[Nats]

Hi there,

Most hospitals have protocols in place, at least the hospitals in Utah do. It was only a matter of opening a book and reading what a specific religion might require.

I am in the UK, and I wanted a broadened view rather than just my own hospitals.

Contact family first. Clergy second.

Is there any ruling against medical interventions such as life support machines ect?

[Vort]

Eating:

The a patient practising the Mormon religion (the church of jesus christ of latter-day saints) would eat mostly fruits, vegetables, grains and little meat. Tea, coffee, alcohol, tobacco products and addictive substances are prohibited.

Ideally, this is true. The last sentence is certainly correct in most cases. The "little meat" part is perhaps less true than it ought to be; most Latter-day Saints would be only too happy to chow down on a large, juicy steak. Present company not excepted.

Toileting:

Nothing unusual about toiletry, except perhaps that you would be less likely to see tattooing and multiple piercings in Latter-day Saints. We brush our teeth and comb our hair pretty much like everyone else, I imagine.

Sleeping:

We sleep only on the left side, with one leg raised higher than the level of our head. Always.

(Just kidding.)

Surgery – before and after

Bereavement:

We have no equivalent to Catholic "last rites". As others have mentioned, we do give Priesthood blessings to the sick, but not after death.

Transfusion:

Latter-day Saints have no issue with transfusion or transplantation.

Emergency situation:

As others have mentioned, Priesthood holders (who as often as not are not what most would consider "ordained clergy", even though they are exactly that -- they are the "regular" men of the congregation) will administer blessings on request.

Just wondering, about the blessing, would this be relating to before surgery? Or Bereavement?

Before surgery, possibly after as well. Not post mortem. Such blessings are given to the living.

Is there any ruling against medical interventions such as life support machines ect?

No, not on a religious level. On an individual level, of course, people might have different desires about such things.

[Guest]

Hi there,

Most hospitals have protocols in place, at least the hospitals in Utah do. It was only a matter of opening a book and reading what a specific religion might require.

I am in the UK, and I wanted a broadened view rather than just my own hospitals.

Contact family first. Clergy second.

Is there any ruling against medical interventions such as life support machines ect?

This is left for the family to decide or through a living will if available.

[Dravin]

Just wondering, about the blessing, would this be relating to before surgery? Or Bereavement?

They may actually take place before, after, or both before and after, and there may be multiple ones (besides just one before and one after). There will be a distinction religiously between the blessings, a distinction I can go into if you so desire, but as far as how they interact with the hospital there isn't going to be a difference between them. Their purpose will be for comfort and healing, either separately or as part of the same blessing. I did forget to mention that one blessing, intended for healing, involves a small amount (a few drops) of olive oil being placed upon the head of the patient/sick person. This olive oil, which is consecrated for this purpose, is usually carried in and distributed from a small vial or bottle.

I'm not sure what you mean by bereavement in this context, but there is not a last rites type blessing.

[Nats]

We sleep only on the left side, with one leg raised higher than the level of our head. Always.

(Just kidding.)

This really made me laugh. Thank you!