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“GENERAL HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS (1989 ed’n.)
(5% reduction in overall length)
STUDY GUIDE OF MAJOR CHANGES
Note: This document is only a study guide and checklist of changes. It should not be used as an independent source. For instruction on each subject mentioned here, see the 1989 Handbook language at the page cited in the parentheses.
CHANGES THROUGHOUT:
o “Family history” instead of “Genealogy.”
o Revisions to accommodate the discontinuance of seventies quorums in stakes.
DISTRIBUTION
See iii for new instructions on distribution.
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SECTION 1 – CHURCH ADMINISTRATION (20% increase in length)
o Adds instructions on stake president recommending bishops and patriarchs. (1-1)
o Elaborates criteria for creating and naming new units. (1-5, 1-6)
o Incorporates recent policy changes on activities and units for single members. (1-6)
[page 2]o New chart outlines recommendation and approval process for new Church units. (1-8)
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SECTION 2 – MEETINGS (6% increase in length)
o Adds instructions on stake conferences and other meetings: general priesthood, priesthood leadership, bishop’s welfare council, and auxiliary training. (2-1, 2-2, 2-3)
o New burial instructions for endowed members where temple clothing not available. (2-7)
o Adds guidelines for funeral services. (2-7)
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SECTION 3 – CALLS AND RELEASES (9% decrease in length)
o Adds instructions on issuing calls to married persons.
(3-1)
o Stake president no longer submits to the Area Presidency his recommendation for a branch president in a stake. (3-1, 3-9)
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SECTION 4 – ORDINATIONS (8% decrease in length)
o New procedures for ordaining servicemen whose duty stations are not within a stake or mission. (4-2)
[page 3]SECTION 5 – ORDINANCES AND BLESSINGS (10% increase in length)
o Discourages participation of “large numbers” of brethren in giving blessings. (5-1)
o Deletes permission for a father who does not hold the Melchizedek Priesthood to “hold” his child during the blessing. Only those who hold the Melchizedek Priesthood can participate in the blessing. (5-1)
o New instructions on blessing babies born out of wedlock. (5-1)
o A married person should not be baptized without the consent of the spouse. (5-2)
o Persons who have confessed to (and those who have been convicted of) homicide cannot be baptized without permission from the First Presidency. (5-2)
o Clarifies procedures for missionaries to use baptismal fonts and conduct baptismal service. (5-3)
o Any worthy brother who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood may confirm a child–it does not need to be the father. (5-3)
o New instructions on correcting mistakes in sacrament prayers. (5-4)
o New instructions on providing the sacrament to members who are unable to attend sacrament meeting. (5-4)
o Church members should not compare patriarchal blessings and should not share them with other except close family members. They should not be read in Church meetings or other gatherings. (5-5)
[page 4]o Specifies how a member who speaks a language different from his stake patriarch can obtain a patriarchal blessing in his own language. (5-5)
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SECTION 6 – TEMPLES, MARRIAGE, AND FAMILY HISTORY
(Formerly “Temple Work and Marriage”; materially rewritten and significantly reduced in length and complexity; 29% decrease in length.)
o Describes the three new types of recommends to enter a temple. (6-1)
o New instructions on issuing recommends, especially to members outside stakes or missions and those living away from home temporarily. (6-1, 6-2)
o Clarifies spouse consent to endowment in cases of legal separation or prolonged absence. (6-2)
o Clarifies instruction on temple ordinances for members with mental handicaps. (6-2)
o Enlarges authority to perform marriages (where permitted by law) to include branch presidents in missions. (6-4)
o Modifies civil marriage ceremony to stress a covenant and to improve the language. (6-4, 6-5)
o Removes waiting period following marriage for time, once wife’s previous sealing is canceled. (6-5)
o Implements the First Presidency’s letter of December 8, 1988:
[page 5] A deceased couple who lived together as man and wife may be sealed even though there may be no documentary evidence of marriage. (6-6)
Directions for sealing a deceased child to other than
natural parents. (6-6)
Directions on sealing a deceased woman to a man with whom she lived as a wife. (6-6)
o Directions on sealing a living woman to a deceased former husband. (6-5)
o Simplified new rules on sealing living adopted or foster children. (6-6)
o New instructions on sealing children born out of wedlock [responsive to possible parental rights of natural father]. (6-6)
o Updates instructions on family history activities, procedures, and publications. (6-7, 6-8)
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SECTION 7 – MISSIONARY SERVICE.
(Materially rewritten and reduced in length and detail; 16% decrease in length)
o Deletes details on recommendation forms and travel instructions because these matters are covered on forms and in individual letters. (throughout)
o Clarifies age and length of service for various classifications of missionaries. (7-1)
[page 6]o Clarifies standards and procedures for prospective missionaries who require special clearance. (7-1)
o Only the First Presidency can approve exceptions to the rule forbidding missionary calls to persons who have been involved in abortions. (7-1)
o Lists the eight “additional assignments” that may be given to couples and lady missionaries. (7-1, 7-2)
o New instructions on missionary behavior after call is received. (7-2)
o In farewells, etc., members and local leaders should avoid inappropriate practices that detract from the sacred nature of the mission call or create unnecessary expenses. (7-2)
o A father or other worthy Melchizedek Priesthood bearers may be invited to stand in the circle when a missionary is set apart. (7-3)
o A missionary should be set apart as one “assigned to labor” in a particular mission. (7-3)
o New instructions on stake missionary work, following recent publications and letters. (7-4, 7-5)
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SECTION 8 – RECORDS AND REPORTS (Formerly Section 9; 21% increase in length)
o Additions on responsibility and training in record keeping. (8-1)
[page 7]o Additions on confidentiality and record management [responding to privacy concerns]. (8-1)
o Additions on member examinations of membership record. (8-2)
2)
o Bishops must obtain the permission of the stake president before canceling the membership records of unbaptized nine-year-olds. (8-2)
o When membership records should be transferred. (8-2)
o Handling records of members in the military. (8-3)
o New instructions on members serving outside their home wards, covering records, recommends, and contributions. (8-2)
o Instruction on procedure when an ordinance was invalid or was performed improperly. (8-4)
o Establishes an entirely new procedure for removing a member’s name from the records of the Church at his request (no longer handled by a “Church court”). (8-4)
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SECTION 9 – FINANCES (Formerly Section 10; 25% decrease in length)
o Bishops should not promise to turn a fast offering donation over to a person or family designated by the donor. (9-1)
o New section on not soliciting funds outside the local unit. (9-2)
[page 8]o Projects not in the stake or ward budget must be approved by the adult members of the unit before funds can be solicited or committed. (9-2)
o Another person should accompany the member of the bishopric
who makes a deposit in a bank. (9-3)
o New directions on when audits are to be performed. (9-4)
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SECTION 10 – CHURCH DISCIPLINE (Formerly Section 8, “The Church Judicial System;” 11% decrease in length)
o Eliminates almost all legal terminology throughout, including “Church court.” Substitutes “Church discipline” and “disciplinary council.”
o Emphasized counsel, probation, and disfellowshipment; deemphasizes excommunication. (throughout)
o Favors disciplinary action by bishops or bishoprics rather than stake presidencies and high councils. (throughout)
o Describes the three purposes of Church discipline. (10-1)
o Bishops, stake presidents, and mission presidents are the judges in Church discipline. (10-1)
o When a member needing Church discipline moves to another ward before action is taken and before the membership record is moved, the two bishops confer and decide which one should take action. (10-1)
o All sins must be confessed to the Lord; “serious transgressions” should also be confessed to the bishop. (10-2)
[page 9]o Restitution is a prerequisite of repentance. (10-2)
o Bishops should encourage disclosure of the identity of other persons who participated in the transgression. Bishops should require disclosure where needed to restore or protect persons who may have been injured by the wrongdoing. (10-2)
o Specifies what a bishop can do if the transgressor withholds permission to use his confession in a disciplinary council. (10-2)
o Defines “informal discipline,” which is administered by a bishop (or stake president) without the participation of his counselors or a disciplinary council. (10-2, 10-3)
o Informal discipline includes (1) private counsel and caution and (2) informal probation. (10-3)
o When authorized by the mission president, a mission district president and branch president have authority to administer informal discipline. (10-6)
o Describes circumstances where informal discipline may be sufficient. (10-3)
o For members in stakes, “formal Church discipline” (formerly a “Church court”) is administered by a bishopric or a stake presidency. (10-3) When the stake presidency act, they are always accompanied by the high council. (10-6)
o Formal Church discipline for full-time missionaries is administered by the mission president. (10-3)
o Formal Church discipline for members in a mission branch or district is administered by or under the direction of the mission president. (10-3)
[page 10]o When time or distance prevent a mission president from personally holding a disciplinary council for members (but not full-time missionaries) under his jurisdiction, he can appoint a mission disciplinary council. Its composition and authority is specified. (10-6)
o Clarifies the definition of apostasy, and emphasizes the importance of Church discipline for members in apostasy. (10-3, 10-4)
o Adds “deliberate abandonment of family responsibilities” to the category of “serious transgressions.” (10-4)
o Describes the relationship between criminal charges and Church discipline. (10-4)
o Adds that a disciplinary council is not necessary for most sins of omission, such as inactivity. (10-4)
o A member’s request to have his name removed from the records of the Church should not be handled by a disciplinary council. Use the procedure specified in Section 8. (10-5)
o Excommunication defined as “an exceptional, ultimate penalty reserved for those circumstances in which it is mandatory or clearly directed by the Spirit”. Circumstances where it may be necessary are suggested. (10-5)
o Although the stake presidency has authority over the Church discipline of all members in the stake, most formal Church discipline should be administered by the bishopric. (10-5)
o A bishop must confer with the stake president before holding a disciplinary council. (10-5)
o If a member holds the Melchizedek Priesthood, the stake president must designate whether the bishopric or the stake [page 11] presidency (and high council) will proceed with the disciplinary council. The bishopric will usually proceed, unless excommunication appears to be a likely decision. (10-6)
o Describes the procedures the bishopric should follow in a disciplinary action involving a member who holds the Melchizedek Priesthood. (10-6)
o All provisions on replacement of participants in a disciplinary council are grouped in a single enlarged section. (10-6)
o A disciplinary council should not be held in haste. (10-6)
o Requires a more specific notice of the matter to be considered in a disciplinary council (10-6)
o When a member has been excommunicated, the presiding officer should seek his consent to keep his name and address on a list of former members with whom Church leaders are working, and to forward that information if he moves to another area before being baptized again. (10-7)
o Clarifies the role of the high council in a stake disciplinary council. (10-8)
o Specifies who receives an appeal from a mission disciplinary council. (10-8)
o Adds to the First Presidency’s options in handling an appeal. (10-8)
o In certain kinds of cases, the announcement of disciplinary action may be expanded to include a Relief Society meeting in a ward or an even broader announcement where authorized by the stake president. (10-8)
[page 12]o The Report of Church Disciplinary Action form is sent to Salt Lake City only if the decision is disfellowshipment or excommunication. (10-9)
o A Church disciplinary council usually is not held on conduct that is being examined by a criminal or civil court until after the final judgement has been entered and the period of appeal has expired or the appeal has been rejected. Exceptions are permitted where needed. (10-9)
o A charge of adultery must be established by two witnesses (D&C 42:80). This requirement is explained. (10-9)
o For the guidance of presiding officers, an extensive discussion of “Considerations in Church Discipline” is added. (10-9, 10-10)
o The bishop’s judicial role continues until a disciplined person returns to full fellowship and restoration of blessings. (10-10)
o If the disciplined person moves from the ward before returning to full fellowship and restoration of blessings, the bishop of the new ward should be given the information necessary to continue to work with the person. (10-10)
o Only the bishopric or stake presidency of the ward or stake where the disciplined person currently resides has the authority to end formal probation, to readmit a member to full fellowship, or to approve baptism again [significant change, to facilitate return]. (10-11)
o New procedures are specified to govern the exercise of this newly granted authority, including a direction on when there must be consultation with the authorities of the ward or stake where disciplinary action was taken. (10-11)
o Excommunicated persons who are still on official probation or parole from criminal court action should not be considered for baptism until probation or parole is completed. (10-11)
[page 13]o An unendowed member readmitted by baptism should not receive a temple recommend for at least one year. (10-12)
o An applicant for restoration of blessings must be current in the payment of all alimony and child support. (10-12)
o The First Presidency will not consider an application for restoration of blessings sooner than one year after the readmission baptism. (10-13)
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SECTION 11 – CHURCH POLICIES (27% increase in length)
o Deletes prior statements on: secret organizations, faith healing, dispensing alcoholic beverages, bulletin boards, and trophy cases.
o The policies included in this section have been arranged in alphabetical order under six categories. The important changes, many o which have been previously circulated in letters of the First Presidency, are listed below. The word new signifies that the topic has been included for the first time in this edition of the Handbook.
o Autographs and Photographs. Members should not take photographs of General Authorities in chapels. (11-1)
o Recording Addresses. Adds that members may record broadcasts of general conference on home equipment for personal, noncommercial use. (11-1)
o Adoption and Foster Care. New instruction. (11-1)
o Business Interests. Authors must not use Church meetings to promote their books or other creative works. (11-1)
[page 14]o Copyrighted Materials. Section revised with new content. (11-1)
o Income Taxes. Prohibitory language extended to refusals to file tax returns and to require that those who litigate tax objections have a “well-founded legal objection.” (11-2)
o Interviewing Candidates for Seminary Graduation. New. (11-2)
o Political Parties and Candidates. Adds caution against conduct that might be interpreted as Church endorsement of candidates or causes. (11-2, 11-3)
o Requirements for Church Employees. New. Must comply with laws and Church standards. (11-3)
o Worthiness for Callings. New. This general statement of principle is substituted for earlier cautions on specific occupations.
o Abortion. The exception to the Church’s condemnation of abortion are enlarged to include “The fetus is known to have severe birth defects that will not allow the baby to live.” (11-4)
o Abuse and Cruelty. New. Members who abuse or are cruel to their spouses or children or other members of their family violate the laws of both God and man. (11-4)
o Artificial Insemination. Adds disapproval as to single sisters, and suggests Church discipline. (11-4)
[page 15]o Birth Control. Modified statement. In essence: “husbands must be considerate of their wives,” and “married couples should seek inspiration from the Lord in meeting their marital challenges.” (11-4)
o Chastity and Moral Cleanliness. New. “To be morally clean, a person must….” (11-4)
o Donation of Sperm. New. Practice “discouraged.” (11-4)
o In Vitro Fertilization. New. Strongly discouraged in specified circumstances, but is a matter for personal decision. Describes sealing consequences. (11-4)
o Sex Education. New. Where schools have undertaken sex education, parents should seek to insure that instructions given their children are consistent with moral and ethical values. (11-5)
o Surgical Sterilization, Including Vasectomy. Rewritten. the First Presidency “seriously deplores the fact that members of the Church would voluntarily take measures to render themselves incapable of further procreation…” Specifies when and how surgical sterilization could be considered. (11-5)
o Surrogate Motherhood. New. Practice is discouraged. (11-5)
o Victims of Rape or Sexual Abuse. New. Victims are not guilty of sin and should be helped to regain their sense of innocence and to overcome any possible feelings of guilt. (11-5)
o AIDS. New. Instructions on counseling and treating members with AIDS. (11-5)
[page 16]o Hypnosis. New. Its use under competent medical supervision is a medical question, but members should not participate in hypnosis demonstrations. (11-5)
o Prolonging Life. Rewritten. New statement on the extent to which we are obligated to attempt to extend mortal life. (11-6)
o Photographs and Video Recordings. New. Prohibited in chapels. (11-6)
o Use of Meetinghouses. Regional Representatives and the Physical Facilities Department removed from approval sequence when ward members need to cross stake boundaries to occupy a chapel. (11-5)
o Works of Art in Church Buildings. New. (11-6, 11-7)
[END]
GENERAL HANDBOOK OF INSTRUCTIONS (1989 ed’n.), Study Guide of Major Changes, 24 Mar 1989, pp. 1-16)