What Do You Need To Do For An Lds Graveside Service

Latter-day Saints — What to Expect at the Funeral Service

During an LDS funeral, the family follows behind as the casket is wheeled into a church building chapel. The guests have already been seated and they rising to testify respect to the dead, and the family.

When the service begins, you tin can wait to hear an opening prayer, a reading, at least one song, though there may exist several, a few words from the ward Bishop and a terminal blessing. The ward Bishop may be the only man to speak, though other men may stand up and speak as well. There may exist some variances in the tone of the service, and services often last from one to 3 hours.

Generally, Mormon funerals are meant to be a didactics opportunity for those who take non heard the gospel. However, in that location seems to be some controversy virtually the proper focus for speakers during a funeral. On the 1 hand, Boyd K. Packer, president of the Quorum of the Twelve of The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-24-hour interval Saints, has expressed the opinion that Mormon funerals should be "spiritually impressive and when the family insists that several family members speak in a funeral, then the speaking should not exist about the deceased person. Instead, any talking should focus on the Atonement, the Resurrection, and the comforting promises revealed in the scriptures. Now it's all right to accept a family member speak at a funeral, only if they do, their remarks should be in keeping with the spirit of the meeting."

Non all concur. Many comments can be constitute posted on websites that have exception to Packer'due south view. The gist of these comments is that it is advisable to talk about the deceased at a funeral.

What to do about LDS Graveside services?

Following the funeral service, guests may exist invited to the graveside service for burial. If guests are not invited, then you should assume you are not invited to attend. It may exist specifically for those in the family, or for those who are members of the Latter Mean solar day Saints. In some cases, the graveside service is the only service held for the deceased.

At the gravesite, a small-scale service is rendered as a Melchizedek Priesthood holder, who has the potency to act in the proper noun of God, offers a "Dedication" of the grave. The dedication typically follows this model:

Addresses Heavenly Father.
States that he is acting by the authority of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
Dedicates and consecrates the burial plot every bit the resting place for the body of the deceased.
(Where appropriate) prays that the place may be hallowed and protected until the Resurrection.
Asks the Lord to comfort the family and expresses thoughts as the Spirit directs.
Closes in the proper name of Jesus Christ.

Typically a Priesthood holder will stand guard until the grave has been airtight if closing is not a part of the graveside service.