Re-Baptism and Other Cases
I recently had an opportunity to learn some details about the way applications are handled for those who must apply to the First Presidency for authorization of certain ordinances and actions. These include readmission by baptism and confirmation and restoration of blessings after church membership was previously withdrawn when serious sins/crimes were involved. They also include sealing cancellations, sealing clearances and the lifting of sealing restrictions. This process also appears to apply for initial baptism of those who have committed serious crimes - or who are transgender adults or children that have taken steps to socially or medically transition.
When local leaders (bishops/branch presidents and stake/district presidents) want to make a recommendation to the First Presidency for someone involved in one of the situations above, they complete an application according to instructions in the Leadership and Clerk Resources (LCR) system. Those applications, along with any letters attached, are first reviewed by a committee of 3 General Authority Seventies (consistent with what David previously heard). If these 3 are in unanimous agreement regarding a decision, that decision can be forwarded to the First Presidency for approval. If there is disagreement, the application proceeds to the full committee of about 8 General Authorities for further review and a decision which will be forwarded to the First Presidency. I do not know if the full committee must be unanimous in its decision (either for or against, if a majority is sufficient, or if a split verdict results in recommending the application be declined). The First Presidency reviews all recommendations from the committee and retains final decision-making authority for each application. I was surprised to hear they sometimes override the committee, and the vast majority (nearly all) of these overrides are in favor of the applicant. Approximately 1000 applications are received each month. Some can no doubt be handled very quickly. Some decisions may take many months.
I loved this paraphrased quote from someone involved: “There may be ecclesiastical obstacles that persist in the lives of people, even after the individual and the Lord have worked things out.” I learned that multiple applications may be required over a period of years before an individual’s request is finally approved, which reminded me of the parable of the importunate widow from Luke 18:1-5:
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’”
