The Development of LDS Temple Worship, 1846-2000: A Documentary History by

Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Signature Books
Published: 2013-11-27T05:00:00+00:00

5.

“A PERSONAL

RESPONSIBILITY”

1941-1960

There appears to be some confusion as to the course which Presidents of Stakes, Bishops, Presidents of Branches and Presidents of Missions should follow with reference to making out, signing, and delivering the new temple recommends. In the following instructions—

Presidents of Independent Branches will follow the procedure laid down for Bishops.

Presidents of Dependent Branches will work through their respective Bishops.

No recommends should be granted to anyone in the Mission except he has been first interviewed by the President of the Mission, who must fully satisfy himself as to the worthiness of the person applying for the recommend. The Mission President should have the Branch President sign the recommend with him.

That this whole matter be handled in an orderly way we call your attention to the following matters:

The giving of a recommend to enter into the House of the Lord and to participate in the ordinances therein performed, is a most serious matter, not a mere formality to get the member past the entrance to the temple. Bishops should, of course, urge all members of their wards to fit themselves by right thinking and living, to enter the temple to do temple work, and should urge the worthy members to get recommends; nevertheless, Bishops should not indiscriminately urge all members of their wards to come and get recommends for that purpose. Bishops should always remember that only those who are really worthy members of the Church should be given recommends.

The rather loose supervision which it appears has in some cases been exercised in these matters by Bishops has resulted in some persons going into the temple who are not worthy.

The Bishop should interview every applicant who applies for a temple recommend. He should see that the statement on the back of the recommend is signed by the applicant in triplicate. That is, the statement on the original recommend should be signed, the statement on the duplicate which is given to the applicant should be signed, and the statement on the copy retained in the office of the Bishop should be signed, so that there shall be no mistake as to the actual signature by the applicant.

If the Bishop feels that the statement has not been honestly made and signed, or if he feels for any other reason that the applicant is not worthy to go to the temple, he will, of course, not sign and issue the recommend.

After the Bishop has so examined the applicant and, being satisfied of his worthiness, has had him sign the statement, and has himself signed the recommend in triplicate, he will forward to the President of the Stake the original recommend, and the duplicate which is to be delivered to the applicant after its countersignature by the President of the Stake. Upon receiving them, the President of the Stake will examine them and determine whether or not he believes the applicant is worthy of a recommend. In case he has any doubt about the matter, either because he is not acquainted with the applicant

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