New Policy: Developmentally Disabled and the Temple

[cinepro]

I attended a Temple sealing for a relative recently. They have an adult sibling who is developmentally disabled (mentally, he's about five years old). For years, he has sat outside with the other young relatives for family sealings. This time, he was in the waiting room, and my wife inquired as to who was going to sit with him. To our surprise, he had been given a special recommend and attended the sealing along with the rest of his brothers and sisters.

Not sure how new this policy is, but it's interesting to see changes like this. I wonder what other small adjustments have been made in areas like this...?

[Duncan]

In our temple district there is a man who is not down's syndrome but something similar. He is endowed and someone soemwhere said he is accountable and he's completely fine going through a session.

[Pyreaux]

An autistic girl was able to get her endowment last year. She was raised in the church and has to be older than 30 now. I don't know if things changed and/or it takes time and attention to prepare people with special needs. It could have a cost. She speaks in Fast and Testimony meeting, shares personal details of her patriarchal blessing and her temple experiences. Her intent is pure, she can retain what she is told but she may have trouble guarding it.

[bsjkki]

This is a very personal decision. It’s not something I will seek for my autistic daughter. 

[bluebell]

11 hours ago, bsjkki said:

This is a very personal decision. It’s not something I will seek for my autistic daughter. 

Do you mean you wouldn’t not seek a special recommend so she could attend a family member’s sealing or do you mean not helping her become endowed?

One seems pretty different from the other and I’d love to understand your perspective better.

 

 

[bsjkki]

6 minutes ago, bluebell said:

Do you mean you wouldn’t not seek a special recommend so she could attend a family member’s sealing or do you mean not helping her become endowed?

One seems pretty different from the other and I’d love to understand your perspective better.

 

 

With my daughter at this time, I would do neither but was more referring to getting endowed. I think a special recommend to attend a sealing is a kind policy for special needs family members.

[MustardSeed]

37 minutes ago, bluebell said:

Do you mean you wouldn’t not seek a special recommend so she could attend a family member’s sealing or do you mean not helping her become endowed?

One seems pretty different from the other and I’d love to understand your perspective better.

 

 

My friend has 3 autistic adult children.  Two I’m sure have their recommends, one she would never.  He can’t get through a sacrament without a major disruption.  

[bluebell]

3 hours ago, bsjkki said:

With my daughter at this time, I would do neither but was more referring to getting endowed. I think a special recommend to attend a sealing is a kind policy for special needs family members.

That makes sense. 

[rpn]

I taught a non-verbal 13 year old once who had not been baptized and whose parents had decided she should not be baptized.   She didn't act like she understood anything and couldn't talk to any of us either.   There was a cabinet in the room that was not square, so its door kept creeping open.  Over several weeks I watch her be increasing annoyed by it.  The next week, she came to class early and started trying things to make it stop falling open.  The third thing she tried, worked.   I knew that for all her outward presentation, she was absolutely capable of keeping baptismal covenants and should be baptized.   I did share my experience with the bishop, but that decision is typically left to parents.  Outward appearance of a person with disabilities do not always accurately convey possibilities.   Of course those who are developmentally disabled should be able to do everything they physically can do with help in the temple if they choose.

Edited May 9, 2023 by rpn

[John A]

As a parent of a child with DS currently considering this decision, I am a bit surprised about some of the opinions posted. Although my son did not need to be baptized, when he finally expressed a desire at 11, he was baptized with his brother. When he expressed a desire to get the priesthood, he progressed and is an Elder. When he expressed a desire to serve a mission, he was called and served completely at 23. He is now expressing a desire to go to the temple. He is non very verbal and there is no way for him to complete parts of the ceremony on his own nor to know if he has the depth of knowledge of accountability. But, what I do know is that there is power in the endowment to those that receive it and he is entitled to that power as much as anyone else. He will make mistakes just as anyone who does not have special needs and he will express feelings of sorrow and they to make it better just like anyone else. We will continue to provide support and help him serve and adapt to what he can. As far as accountability, I fully expect that he will be judged based on the intent of his heart and anyone that has any long term contact with special needs children knows that they are as pure as they come. 

[InCognitus]

16 minutes ago, John A said:

As a parent of a child with DS currently considering this decision, I am a bit surprised about some of the opinions posted. Although my son did not need to be baptized, when he finally expressed a desire at 11, he was baptized with his brother. When he expressed a desire to get the priesthood, he progressed and is an Elder. When he expressed a desire to serve a mission, he was called and served completely at 23. He is now expressing a desire to go to the temple. He is non very verbal and there is no way for him to complete parts of the ceremony on his own nor to know if he has the depth of knowledge of accountability. But, what I do know is that there is power in the endowment to those that receive it and he is entitled to that power as much as anyone else. He will make mistakes just as anyone who does not have special needs and he will express feelings of sorrow and they to make it better just like anyone else. We will continue to provide support and help him serve and adapt to what he can. As far as accountability, I fully expect that he will be judged based on the intent of his heart and anyone that has any long term contact with special needs children knows that they are as pure as they come. 

Welcome to the board.  

Being new here there is not a way for me to "like" or upvote your post (that can't happen until you make 25 posts).  But if I could do that I would do that.

I am moved by the unwavering determination of some individuals to seek out temple covenants and the blessings of the temple.  Thank you for sharing this.

[Calm]

26 minutes ago, John A said:

am a bit surprised about some of the opinions posted

Which ones?  They all seemed to me to be pretty amenable to allow anyone expressing a wish to go to go, especially for sealings, but at most saying they would not push it themselves.

Iow, I saw them as agreeing with you.  Maybe this is unusual?

Edited September 8, 2024 by Calm

[Stargazer]

1 hour ago, John A said:

As a parent of a child with DS currently considering this decision, I am a bit surprised about some of the opinions posted. Although my son did not need to be baptized, when he finally expressed a desire at 11, he was baptized with his brother. When he expressed a desire to get the priesthood, he progressed and is an Elder. When he expressed a desire to serve a mission, he was called and served completely at 23. He is now expressing a desire to go to the temple. He is non very verbal and there is no way for him to complete parts of the ceremony on his own nor to know if he has the depth of knowledge of accountability. But, what I do know is that there is power in the endowment to those that receive it and he is entitled to that power as much as anyone else. He will make mistakes just as anyone who does not have special needs and he will express feelings of sorrow and they to make it better just like anyone else. We will continue to provide support and help him serve and adapt to what he can. As far as accountability, I fully expect that he will be judged based on the intent of his heart and anyone that has any long term contact with special needs children knows that they are as pure as they come. 

I am sure that the temple will make it possible for your son to succeed in the endowment. As a former temple ordinance worker, I am pretty sure that they will be able to make accommodation for his issues. 

Long long time ago (but in this galaxy) there was a family in my then ward who had a DS daughter. Her name was Ellen. Her parents were quite elderly by the time she expressed a desire to be baptized, and it was determined that she was accountable enough. So she was baptized. Later she expressed a desire to be endowed, and she was. She passed away a few years after her last living parent did. The last time I saw her she was still coming to church, still faithful. 

My brother-in-law has DS, but he never progressed to the point where he could be baptized. His condition has deteriorated and is suffering with dementia and a few other health issues (he's 62 now) My wife thinks her brother could have progressed to the point of accountability over time, but feels that her parents didn't help him advance, and were too indulgent with his disability. But who knows?

I'm certain that God will judge all of us by our true intents.

Edited September 8, 2024 by Stargazer

[The Nehor]

On 5/7/2023 at 5:37 PM, Pyreaux said:

An autistic girl was able to get her endowment last year. She was raised in the church and has to be older than 30 now. I don't know if things changed and/or it takes time and attention to prepare people with special needs. It could have a cost. She speaks in Fast and Testimony meeting, shares personal details of her patriarchal blessing and her temple experiences. Her intent is pure, she can retain what she is told but she may have trouble guarding it.

Autism is a big spectrum.

[Dario_M]

Oh this is an old topic i see.