Question
Gramps,
What is the church policy on members who commit suicide receiving the temple ordinances in their behalf?
Bob
Answer
Bob,
This is one of those tender, complicated questions where doctrine, policy, and compassion all come together—and honestly, it’s easy to see why people feel unsure about it. When someone dies by suicide, families are often already carrying a heavy emotional weight, so questions about temple ordinances can feel especially important.
From the standpoint of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it helps to begin by separating two things: how the Church views suicide itself, and what the policy is regarding temple ordinances for those who have died by suicide.
Doctrinally, Church leaders have made it clear that suicide is a serious matter, but they’ve also emphasized that we are not in a position to judge someone’s eternal outcome. For many years, some people assumed suicide automatically meant condemnation. Modern prophets and apostles have clarified that the reality is more complex—and far more hopeful.
For example, M. Russell Ballard taught:
“Obviously, we do not know the full circumstances surrounding every suicide. Only the Lord knows all the details, and He is the one who can judge.” (“Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not,” Ensign, Oct. 1987)
He continued by explaining that factors like mental illness, emotional distress, or physical suffering can affect a person’s accountability. That teaching alone changes the tone of the conversation—it reminds us that what may look like a clear decision from the outside is often tied to pain we cannot fully see.
That same compassionate understanding shows up in more recent teachings. Dale G. Renlund has addressed this directly in official Church materials, stating:
“The old sectarian notion that suicide is a sin that cannot be forgiven is false.” (“Understanding Suicide,” Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints video/resource)
He also taught:
“Suicide does not determine a person’s eternal destiny.” (Church suicide doctrine and principles materials, ChurchofJesusChrist.org)
Those are strong, reassuring statements. They make it clear that while suicide is tragic, it is not treated as an automatic spiritual endpoint. God’s judgment is more informed, more merciful, and more complete than anything we could make ourselves.
With that doctrinal foundation in place, the Church’s policy regarding temple ordinances becomes much easier to understand.
In most cases, temple ordinances can be performed for individuals who died by suicide. There is no blanket restriction preventing their work from being done. That’s an important point, because it reflects the Church’s confidence in God’s mercy and its desire to extend every possible blessing.
There is, however, an additional procedural step. When a person has died by suicide, First Presidency approval is generally required before temple ordinances are performed on their behalf. While that might sound intimidating, it’s really not meant to create a barrier—it’s meant to ensure that these situations are handled with care and consistency.
Typically, a family member submits the name for temple work, notes the circumstances of death, and works through local priesthood leaders such as a bishop or stake president. The request is then forwarded for approval. In practice, approval is often granted, and the ordinances can proceed.
Understanding why this step exists can make a big difference. The Church treats life as sacred, and decisions surrounding life and death are approached with reverence. At the same time, leaders recognize that accountability may be affected by mental illness, trauma, or overwhelming emotional distress. The review process allows those realities to be considered without making assumptions.
And underneath all of this is a deeply important doctrinal principle: final judgment belongs to God. He understands every circumstance, every thought, every unseen burden.
That perspective is echoed in the teachings of Jeffrey R. Holland, who said:
“However late you think you are, however many chances you think you have missed… I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.” (“The Laborers in the Vineyard,” General Conference, Apr. 2012)
While that statement isn’t about suicide specifically, it reflects the broader doctrinal truth that no one is beyond the reach of the Savior’s grace. That same principle applies here.
Temple ordinances themselves are based on agency. Performing ordinances for someone who has died does not force anything upon them. Instead, it provides an opportunity. Individuals in the spirit world are free to accept or reject what is done on their behalf.
So when ordinances are performed for someone who died by suicide, it’s not a declaration about their worthiness—it’s an expression of faith and hope. It says, in essence, “We trust God, and we want every possible blessing to be available to you.”
For families, that can be incredibly comforting. Questions often linger after a loss like this—questions about fairness, about mercy, about what happens next. While the Church doesn’t claim to answer every detail, it consistently points back to the nature of God: perfectly just, perfectly merciful, and fully aware of things we cannot see.
When you step back and look at the policy as a whole, it actually communicates something deeply hopeful. Suicide is treated seriously, but not simplistically. The Church does not automatically condemn. Temple ordinances are not withheld; they are made available with thoughtful oversight. And ultimately, everything is placed in the hands of a loving Heavenly Father.
If anything, this approach reinforces a central truth of the gospel: no situation is beyond the reach of Jesus Christ’s Atonement. Even in the most painful and complicated circumstances, the door is not closed. There is still room for mercy, for understanding, and for redemption.
And for anyone who has wondered about a loved one in this situation, that message matters. It leaves space for hope—and sometimes, that’s exactly what’s needed most.
Gramps
