A letter was just issued to temple and stake leadership from the female general presidencies. The purpose of the letter is to instruct that excluding temple patrons from proxy baptism because of their menstrual cycle is "inappropriate."
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| Image courtesy of: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints |
It said temple workers, leaders, and parents are not to inquire if youth patrons are menstruating. They are not to exclude them from performing baptisms. It clarifies that whether they participate in baptisms, confirmations, or chooses to observe only, no one is to question or pressure them to serve differently than they want to do.
It asks local leadership to review these items with parents. While it's frustrating we have to say this,, I'm glad we are saying it to people who need to be corrected.
The letter was dated 8 September 2017, and I would invite you to discuss it with your local temple matron if you have any questions.
When I was in Young Women, I always seemed to be on my cycle when we had group trips to the Washington DC temple. It was really hard for me. My tender little heart was afraid it kept happening because I wasn't worthy, or God didn't want me there. Nothing could have been further from the truth. And I don't want anyone to feel this way, especially not my little sisters in Young Women. They deserve better.
So if anyone has ever made you feel unworthy to serve in the temple because of your menstrual cycle, even if the person was you, please know you haven't done anything wrong. And if you see or hear youth leaders or temple workers doing this, please be brave and tell them to stop. Have conversations about it with the youth in your family. Make sure they haven't misunderstood or internalized negative messages about their bodies and temple worship.
Reading this letter today, it took me back more than a decade to feelings in my life I never should have had. And it warmed my heart to see the institution I love trying to stretch itself to do better.
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