Veils no longer needed for deceased endowed women

[JAHS]

“Veiling the faces of deceased, ‘endowed’ [members who have been through a temple ceremony] women prior to burial is optional,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, wrote in a Jan. 24 letter to Latter-day Saint leaders. “This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living. In cases where the wishes of the deceased sister on this matter are not known, her family should be consulted.”

On heels of temple changes, faithful Latter-day Saint women no longer need to be veiled before burial

This goes along with the similar change in the endowment ceremony. I wonder if anyone knows exactly when or why the faces of the deceased endowed women were veiled when they were laid away.
 

[Scott Lloyd]

2 hours ago, JAHS said:

“Veiling the faces of deceased, ‘endowed’ [members who have been through a temple ceremony] women prior to burial is optional,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, wrote in a Jan. 24 letter to Latter-day Saint leaders. “This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living. In cases where the wishes of the deceased sister on this matter are not known, her family should be consulted.”

On heels of temple changes, faithful Latter-day Saint women no longer need to be veiled before burial

This goes along with the similar change in the endowment ceremony. I wonder if anyone knows exactly when or why the faces of the deceased endowed women were veiled when they were laid away.
 

Is this a policy change or merely a reaffirmation of existing practice?

[JAHS]

24 minutes ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Is this a policy change or merely a reaffirmation of existing practice?

Instructions in the handbook (1999) say:
"The woman’s veil should be placed on the head with the shorter underveil next to the head, or
the short ruffled part (if the veil has a cap) at the back of the neck, and with part of the hair showing below the veil over the forehead.
The body of the veil may be softly draped on the pillow at the back of the head until time to close the casket,
at which time it is drawn over the face by someone who is approved by the bishop.
In no instance should a flower or jewelry be placed on the temple clothing. If desired, a white
handkerchief may be placed in a woman’s hand."

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLOTHING THE DEAD WHO HAVE RECEIVED THEIR ENDOWMENTS

I know putting the veil over the face just before closing the casket has been a tradition for a long time. T
The above statement sounds like it's an actual policy requiring Bishop's approval that is supposed to be followed. 
Not sure why anyone would put a white handkerchief in the hand.

Edited January 30, 2019 by JAHS

[Calm]

Symbolic of joining in the ultimate Hosanna Shout at the Second Coming, I suspect.  There may be some who believe it will be with their identical body and clothing as well.

Either that or for sneezing due to the dust and dirt creeping in after awhile.

It is only for a woman though....maybe it just became a placeholder so that people wouldn't be tempted to put flowers or keepsakes in her hands.

Edited January 30, 2019 by Calm

[katherine the great]

10 minutes ago, Calm said:

Either that or for sneezing due to the dust and dirt creeping in after awhile.

😂

[Hamba Tuhan]

17 minutes ago, Calm said:

It is only for a woman though....maybe it just became a placeholder so that people wouldn't be tempted to put flowers or keepsakes in her hands.

We bury both men and women with white handkerchiefs in their hands.

[Calm]

7 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

We bury both men and women with white handkerchiefs in their hands.

Which makes sense, but the instruction only has it for women.

[Hamba Tuhan]

6 minutes ago, Calm said:

Which makes sense, but the instruction only has it for women.

Check the publication. It is in a section that refers to both men and women.

[Hamba Tuhan]

By the way, there is something of a parallel for men in the instructions as well:

Quote

The man’s cap is usually placed at the side of the body until time to close the casket, at which time it should be placed on the head with the bow over the left ear and cap string (at the opposite side of the cap) attached to the robe at the right shoulder. This should be done by someone who is approved by the bishop.

This means that in both cases, an act of covering occurred immediately before closing the coffin lid. This is now optional for women.

[strappinglad]

Is an endowed member to be in temple dress if cremation or some other method is chosen?

[JLHPROF]

2 minutes ago, strappinglad said:

Is an endowed member to be in temple dress if cremation or some other method is chosen?

I was under the impression that cremation was discouraged for endowed members unless required by law in that location.

[JLHPROF]

1 hour ago, Scott Lloyd said:

Is this a policy change or merely a reaffirmation of existing practice?

At this point what difference would it make.

Nothing is sacred any more.

[JAHS]

7 minutes ago, strappinglad said:

Is an endowed member to be in temple dress if cremation or some other method is chosen?

 

4 minutes ago, JLHPROF said:

I was under the impression that cremation was discouraged for endowed members unless required by law in that location.

According to the Church handbook:
Cremation
The Church does not normally encourage cremation. The family of the deceased must decide whether the body should be cremated, taking into account any laws governing burial or cremation. In some countries, the law requires cremation.
Where possible, the body of a deceased member who has been endowed should be dressed in temple clothing when it is cremated. A funeral service may be held

[JLHPROF]

1 minute ago, JAHS said:

 

According to the Church handbook:
Cremation
The Church does not normally encourage cremation. The family of the deceased must decide whether the body should be cremated, taking into account any laws governing burial or cremation. In some countries, the law requires cremation.
Where possible, the body of a deceased member who has been endowed should be dressed in temple clothing when it is cremated. A funeral service may be held

That's what I remembered.  Discouraged but not forbidden.

[Hamba Tuhan]

2 minutes ago, JAHS said:

The Church does not normally encourage cremation. The family of the deceased must decide whether the body should be cremated, taking into account any laws governing burial or cremation. In some countries, the law requires cremation.

I despise cremation. Unfortunately, I live in jurisdiction with a proudly 'progressive' government hell-bent on pushing it. They've already announced that they won't be building any more cemeteries ever. In addition, burial plots will no longer be sold in perpetuity but will only be leased for 20 years or so, after which, unless another lease is taken out, the remains will be exhumed and cremated so that the plot can be leased to another family. (They're also seriously pushing for 'euthanasia' for the elderly, the chronically ill and even the disabled. I guess I should just be glad that they're pushing cremation and not Soylent Green?)

[Anijen]

4 hours ago, JAHS said:

“Veiling the faces of deceased, ‘endowed’ [members who have been through a temple ceremony] women prior to burial is optional,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, wrote in a Jan. 24 letter to Latter-day Saint leaders. “This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living. In cases where the wishes of the deceased sister on this matter are not known, her family should be consulted.”

On heels of temple changes, faithful Latter-day Saint women no longer need to be veiled before burial

This goes along with the similar change in the endowment ceremony. I wonder if anyone knows exactly when or why the faces of the deceased endowed women were veiled when they were laid away.
 

In history a veiled face gave the symbolic gesture of the bride permitting herself to her husband. For the husband to unveil his bride gave the symbolic gesture of acceptance of responsibility from the brides father. The brides father unveiled the face and IIRC it symbolized the handing over from father to husband. In funerals, face veiling came from the belief of the spirit escaping through the mouth and was covered until the husband could unveil later in the spirit world. I believe many similar customs were contemporaneous, such as taking the body out feet first, covering mirrors with black cover, opening windows and doors... 

[juliann]

My mother and father were cremated, my husband was, and I will be. Burial is a ridiculous expense and also makes it difficult with even more expense to transport bodies if people die in the wrong place. This should be a very private family decision. 

[Kenngo1969]

I would donate my body to science, but I doubt science would want it!    

(Yes, I know this is a serious topic, and how dare I joke about it, and I should go flog myself, and et cetera, et cetera, et cetera ...)

[Calm]

1 hour ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Check the publication. It is in a section that refers to both men and women.

Yes, but it presents differences in different paragraphs, such as the man's cap is followed by the woman's veil.  And it specifically says "a woman's hand".

When generic, instructions say "the body".

[JAHS]

2 hours ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

By the way, there is something of a parallel for men in the instructions as well:

Quote

The man’s cap is usually placed at the side of the body until time to close the casket, at which time it should be placed on the head with the bow over the left ear and cap string (at the opposite side of the cap) attached to the robe at the right shoulder. This should be done by someone who is approved by the bishop.

This means that in both cases, an act of covering occurred immediately before closing the coffin lid. This is now optional for women.

In a way I think the placing of the veil over the face or the cap on the head just before closing the casket is in a way part of bringing closure to the ordeal of saying goodbye to someone who has died.  It is also a final act of service and expression of love  that someone performs for their loved one who has passed. 

Edited January 30, 2019 by JAHS

[Hamba Tuhan]

1 hour ago, Calm said:

And it specifically says "a woman's hand".

Interesting. Well, we still bury both men and women that way.

[JAHS]

Just now, Hamba Tuhan said:

1 hour ago, Calm said:

And it specifically says "a woman's hand".

Interesting. Well, we still bury both men and women that way.

I have never seen anyone put a handkerchief in a deceased man's had. Not sure I have ever seen it for women either and I have been to a lot of funerals.

[Storm Rider]

It seems like to me that the placing of cap and veil on the deceased is just a way of fully dressing them in temple attire. I think one can read a whole lot more into it, but I take it as something rather straight forward. 

[Calm]

30 minutes ago, Hamba Tuhan said:

Interesting. Well, we still bury both men and women that way.

Definitely wouldn't bother me.

[Hamba Tuhan]

Just now, Calm said:

Definitely wouldn't bother me.

I would wish for it based on my personal understanding of the symbolism. Of course, that's presuming I have a burial at all. My current 'end of life plan' involves taking a final camping trip and letting the wild animals take care of the rest.