Racer wrote:Pahoran wrote:Okay, so baptising, blessing the Sacrament, Father's blessings, blessing and anointing the sick, naming and blessing children or dedicating graves, among other ordinances, don't require that the person acting as voice be a Temple Recommend holder (or TR worthy).
And someone who doesn't qualify to act as voice can still stand in the circle for the shorter list of ordinances where the TR qualification applies.
Note that Temple Recommends can be (and routinely are) granted to people who pay no tithing at all.
Wrong sir. Wrong. Did you read my post above?
Yes I did, but the cited documentation does not include naming and blessing of babies in the list.
Racer wrote:I have also attended many baby blessings of friends and family members at different wards where the Bishop met with those standing in the circle before the meeting to inquire if all those in the circle had current recommends. Those that didn't were not able to stand in the circle, myself included. I think most Bishops don't care and let it slide, but this definitely has happened to me a few times over the last 5 years. I was never allowed a TR for any of this. The main thing that kept me from a TR was tithing.
The Bishop may have misinterpreted the instruction. What I was told -- and which the cited source confirms -- is that the worthiness requirement only applies to the person acting as voice.
That said, it is reasonable for the bishop to assure himself that the other participants are actual Church members and ordained Priesthood holders, because contrary to one ubercynical comment I've seen, Priesthood authority is of course the key point; and if someone is a stranger to the Bishop (i.e. visiting from outside his ward) then sighting the Temple Recommend is the simplest way to determine that; but if they don't have one, and if there is time, a phone call to the participant's home ward should suffice.
But it doesn't hurt to remember that ultimately all ordinances performed in a ward are under the authority of the Bishop, and it's up to him to see that they are done in order.
Regards,
Pahoran