Confirmation for the dead in the Temple

[slv95]

Quick Background. I was Baptized, Confirmed and received the Aaronic Priesthood  in November 2017. That was about the time the Aaaronic Priesthood was allowed to actually perform the ordinance of baptism in the Temple and be allowed to witness. I took advantage of it and baptized 700+ of my deceased family members. In June 2018 I received the Melchizedek Priesthood and now when I was at the Temple I was now allowed to perform not only Baptisms for the Dead but I could confirm my names as well. So I thought. Even though I did my own names, Temple workers at my home Temple had me perform confirmations on hundreds of other people's names because they were often shorthanded with priests in the Temple. I willingly did it...I would estimate from June to present I made 8-9 Temple visits and performed 50-100 confirmations on each visit. Turns out the Temple realized that the person confirming must be endowed and therefore the many of hundreds of confirmations I did are invalid. I'm wondering I cannot possible be an isolated case, are there people out there who have done what I did and is the Temple correct? I'm really confused by this. The Temple wants me to backtrack for them, which I'll do it but I really feel they're valid. I felt the spirit in each one I did...Thoughts?

Edited August 29, 2018 by slv95

[mrmarklin]

Not sure about temple rules. It would seem to me that any confirmation done by a Melchizedek priesthood holder would be valid.

On the other hand, if one is not endowed, access to many parts of the temple would be limited.  Likely you should not have been allowed in the confirmation area, even though in our local temple here, it’s just another room near the baptistery.  Maybe a technicality?

 

 

[Just_A_Guy]

I had a ZL back in 1999 who had a similar thing happen, but with baptisms for the dead—he had done them as an unendowed elder (before his mission) and was later told by temple staff that they were invalid.

[Jane_Doe]

20 hours ago, slv95 said:

Quick Background. I was Baptized, Confirmed and received the Aaronic Priesthood  in November 2017. That was about the time the Aaaronic Priesthood was allowed to actually perform the ordinance of baptism in the Temple and be allowed to witness. I took advantage of it and baptized 700+ of my deceased family members. In June 2018 I received the Melchizedek Priesthood and now when I was at the Temple I was now allowed to perform not only Baptisms for the Dead but I could confirm my names as well. So I thought. Even though I did my own names, Temple workers at my home Temple had me perform confirmations on hundreds of other people's names because they were often shorthanded with priests in the Temple. I willingly did it...I would estimate from June to present I made 8-9 Temple visits and performed 50-100 confirmations on each visit. Turns out the Temple realized that the person confirming must be endowed and therefore the many of hundreds of confirmations I did are invalid. I'm wondering I cannot possible be an isolated case, are there people out there who have done what I did and is the Temple correct? I'm really confused by this. The Temple wants me to backtrack for them, which I'll do it but I really feel they're valid. I felt the spirit in each one I did...Thoughts?

I think this is a case of people trying to figure out things with the new rules. I would talk to the Temple President about this, and maybe consult folk in Salt Lake for clarification of things.  Sorry for the headache involved here!

[Grunt]

I'm not endowed and have performed confirmations.  I've never had anyone say anything.  

[slv95]

Here's an update. I have submitted all the dates and times I visited my home Temple. The question whether the confirmations were valid was directly asked to Elder Holland who was visiting our Stake Conference and he referred it to my home Temple's President who said I in fact had to be endowed. I was at another Temple the day before and that's how I was alerted that being endowed was a requirement.

I had a strong suspicion that I was not an isolated incident. My Temple which is a huge one, I could not possible be the only  non endowed priest doing confirmations, especially with the Temple workers pushing Melchizedek priests to do it. The problem is now beyond fixing  just mine. I agree SLC probably needs to step in and clarify .

The Baptistry is the one area in the Temple you don't need to be escorted with an endowed member. So being able to do Baptisms and Confirmations  makes sense.

Thanks guys, I hope to hear more stories about this.