In Mormonism, an ordinance is a religious ritual of special significance, often involving the formation of a covenant with God. Ordinances are performed by the authority of the priesthood and in the name of Jesus Christ. The term has a meaning roughly similar to that of the term "sacrament" in other Christian denominations.

There are numerous Latter Day Saint ordinances, many of which are also practiced by other Christian denominations. For example, Mormons practice:

• Baptism;

• Confirmation; and

• Sacrament (the Lord's Supper)

Some ordinances that are unique to Mormonism are usually associated with and performed in LDS temples. These ordinances include the Endowment and sealings.

Types of ordinances

Saving ordinances

A Latter Day Saint confirmation circa 1852.

Saving ordinances are those rituals that are a requirement for exaltation. They are performed only once for each individual. However, if a person is excommunicated or removes his or her name from the church membership rolls, all saving ordinances are revoked; if the individual wishes to re-join the church, he or she must receive the saving ordinances again, beginning with baptism.^[1] The following constitute the saving ordinances of the LDS Church; the minimum requirements that must be met in order for the ordinance to be performed are included in parenthesis:

1. Baptism (age 8), and Rebaptism of excommunicated or disfellowshipped members

1. Confirmation and reception of the Gift of the Holy Ghost (age 8; must be baptized)

1. Ordination to the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthoods (for males only) (must be baptized and confirmed; age 12 (Aaronic); age 18 (Melchizedek); must hold Aaronic before receiving Melchizedek)

1. Endowment (including washing and anointing) (must be baptized and confirmed; males must hold Melchizedek priesthood)

1. Marriage and sealing to a spouse (legal marriageable age; must have received Endowment)

1. Sealing to parents (no minimum age; no pre-existing ordinance requirements)

1. Ritual of the Law of Adoption, whereby men are sealed to other men. This ordinance is no longer practiced in the mainstream LDS church, though it is in some fundamentalist groups.

1. Second anointing: an ordinance performed by a sealed couple, sealing them up to eternal life, and anointing them as kings and queens, priests, and priestesses. The ordinance was originally taught as a requirement for salvation. The LDS Church, however, has largely (but not entirely) discontinued the ordinance, and it is not routinely performed by proxy.

Non-saving ordinances

Ordinances which are not a requirement for exaltation are referred to as non-saving ordinances. A non-saving ordinance may be performed on behalf of an individual many times; however, in practice some non-saving ordinances are only performed once per individual. The following constitute the non-saving ordinances of the LDS Church:

1. Rebaptism of faithful members - this ordinance is no longer performed in the mainstream LDS church, but was a significant ordinance during the Mormon Reformation

1. Sacrament : this ordinance is usually performed weekly in every church congregation^[2]

1. Naming and blessing a child : typically this is performed shortly after a child's birth; it is usually performed only once for each individual

1. Patriarchal blessing : this ordinance is usually performed only once for an individual

1. Consecrating oil : this ordinance is performed as needed to provide oil for other ordinances

1. Anointing and blessing of the sick and afflicted : these ordinances may be performed on an individual as needed

1. Priesthood blessing (including father's blessings) : this ordinance may be performed on an individual as needed or requested

1. Dedication of a church building or a temple : this ordinance is performed after the building is completed and paid for; if a building undergoes extensive remodelling, this ordinance may be performed again

1. Dedication of a grave : this ordinance is performed immediately before a dead body is placed in a grave; it is usually performed only once

1. Dedication of a land or country for the preaching of the gospel : this ordinance is usually performed before or soon after missionaries begin to preach in a particular country; it is usually performed only once (but may be performed again if missionaries have not been in a particular country for an extended period of time); it is typically performed by an Apostle

1. Shaking the dust from the feet: a cursing ordinance against people who reject the teachings of missionaries, or who fail to provide them with food, money, or shelter. It was commonly and sometimes routinely used by Mormon missionaries in the 19th century, but is now rare.

1. Prayer circle: an antiphonic prayer around an altar, performed as part of the Endowment, and also on other occasions by the LDS Church, such as meetings of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in the Salt Lake Temple. Until the early 20th century, the ordinance was performed in local LDS meetinghouses.

1. Hosanna Shout: performed at temple dedications, involving a recitation of praise to God while waving a white handkerchief.

Temple ordinances

One of ten full-size tubs used for washings and anointings in the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints circa 1912.

In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there are some ordinances, including the Endowment and sealings, that are performed only in temples. With the exception of the second anointing, all temple ordinances are saving ordinances.

The Endowment is a sacred ceremony in which the individual is washed and anointed; clothed in a temple garment; and instructed and tested on principles of the plan of salvation. See Endowment (Latter Day Saints).

Sealings are ceremonies in which spouses are sealed to each other, and children to parents, for all eternity as a family unit. See Sealing (Latter Day Saints).

In addition, after Latter-day Saints enter the temple and receive temple ordinances for themselves, they may return and perform the saving ordinances on behalf of their deceased ancestors. These are performed vicariously or by "proxy" on behalf of the dead, and Latter-day Saints believe that it is up to the deceased to accept or reject the offered ordinance in the spirit world. Only saving ordinances are performed on behalf of deceased persons.

Ordinances on behalf of the dead may be performed only when a deceased person's genealogical information has been submitted to a temple. Latter-day Saints complete genealogical work for deceased persons and if it is determined an individual has not received some or all of the saving ordinances, the individual's name is submitted to the temple to receive these ordinances by proxy. Optimally, the proxy who stands in will be a descendant of the deceased person, but the ordinance proxy may also be an unrelated volunteer.

Significance of ordinances

To Latter-day Saints, the saving ordinances are seen as necessary for salvation, but they are not sufficient in and of themselves. For example, baptism is required for exaltation, but simply having been baptized does not guarantee any eternal reward. The baptized person is expected to be obedient to God's commandments, to repent of any sinful conduct subsequent to baptism, and to receive the other saving ordinances.

An ordinance may be viewed as a physical act signifying a spiritual commitment, or a covenant. Failure to honor that commitment results in the ordinance having no effect. However, sincere repentance can restore the blessings associated with the ordinance.

The emphasis on the physical aspect of the ordinance is the basis for the Mormon practice of performing ordinances vicariously for the dead. Since deceased persons no longer have an earthly existence, they are unable to directly participate in these "saving" ordinances themselves. The physical performance of these ordinances by proxy is seen as fulfillment of the requirement. As with living ordinances, ordinances for the dead are seen as necessary but not sufficient. It is believed that the spirits in the spirit world are offered the teachings of the full gospel of Jesus Christ and have the opportunity to accept or decline vicarious ordinances done on their behalf. Some Latter-day Saints refer to the reference by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:29 regarding baptism for the dead as evidence that this was a religious practice of ancient tradition that has now been restored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

See also

• Ordinance room
• Law of Adoption

Notes

1. ↑ Apart from baptism and confirmation, the saving ordinances do not actually have to be performed again for a re-admitted person. Rather, a special ordinance called restoration of blessings is performed. This ordinance restores to the person any saving ordinances other than baptism and confirmation that were previously held by the person. It is received by the laying on of hands. Only a general authority, or, in exceptional circumstances, a stake president or mission president acting under the direction of a general authority may perform the ordinance of restoration of blessings.
2. ↑ Strictly speaking, this is a non-saving ordinance because a person could be exalted without ever having participated in the sacrament. However, individuals who have been baptized are expected to regularly participate in the sacrament and most Latter-day Saints would probably believe that a person who avoided doing so would not be a serious candidate for exaltation.

References

• LDS.org: Ordinance
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, ?Chapter 21: Ordinances?, Gospel Fundamentals, 115.
• Dennis B. Neuenschwander, ?Ordinances and Covenants?, Ensign, Aug. 2001, 20.
• Jorge A. Rojas, ?Covenants and Ordinances?, Ensign, Nov. 1991, 44.
• David E. Sorensen, ?Why Baptism Is Not Enough?, Ensign, Apr. 1999, 16.

External links

• ?Priesthood Ordinances and Blessings?, Family Guidebook, 18 : Instructions on how to perform a number of ordinances