A Latter-day Saint funeral is a church meeting and a religious service, conducted by the bishop of your ward. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints asks that the term Mormon is not used of itself or its members, though many people still search for it that way. This guide covers what to expect – before, during and after – and how your local Dignity funeral director can support you.
Latter-day Saints understand death as an essential part of God’s plan of salvation: the separation of the spirit from the body, and a step rather than an ending. Before this life, individuals existed as spirit children of heavenly parents.
At death the spirit enters the postmortal spirit world, described as being around us rather than far away. Those who have lived righteously wait in paradise, a condition of happiness and peace, resting from their troubles. Those who died without the gospel are taught there and may progress.
All of God’s children will be resurrected, spirit and body reunited in a perfect frame. Family relationships persist, and the faithful are reunited.
If the funeral is held in a church building, the bishop conducts it. He may also be asked to conduct at a funeral home, at a family home or at the graveside. A bishop is an unpaid lay leader called from among the members, not professional clergy, and no member of the Church accepts payment for taking part in a funeral.
The service is deliberately simple and dignified: music and brief addresses centred on the gospel, emphasising the comfort offered through Christ’s atonement and resurrection. There is no fixed liturgy. Presiding is separate from conducting: if a member of the stake presidency attends, he presides while the bishop conducts.
At Dignity, we support families of every faith and background. From working with your bishop on the arrangements to handling temple clothing with the care it deserves, we have the expertise and experience to honour every detail. If you need to arrange a Latter-day Saint funeral, just contact your local Dignity funeral director who will talk everything through with you.
A Latter-day Saint funeral is a religious service in a chapel, and a few conventions are worth knowing. Here's what to expect:
Ask the family. The Church cautions against anything that becomes a burden for the bereaved, including payments to the family, so keep it simple. Do not offer an honorarium to the bishop: members do not accept payment for taking part.
The ward often prepares meals for the family, and a gathering after the funeral is normal but meant to be modest – the guidance cautions against prolonged feasts. Latter-day Saints abstain from alcohol, tea and coffee, so do not expect them to be served.
Smart, modest clothing, as for any chapel service. No head covering is needed and shoes stay on. If you are unsure, ask the family or the bishop.
A viewing may be held before the service; the casket is closed once it begins. Speaking is by invitation of the bishop, who oversees the programme.
The cost of a Latter-day Saint funeral in the UK depends on the funeral director and the cemetery or crematorium you choose. There is no clergy fee: the bishop is unpaid and no member of the Church accepts payment for taking part. Meetinghouses may be available for the service and for a viewing beforehand, and the ward often provides meals, so the arrangements are frequently simpler than average. Note that funerals are not normally held on a Sunday, which affects scheduling. Your local Dignity funeral director can talk you through everything that is included, and the costs.
Our funeral directors are at the heart of their communities, with over 500 branches across the UK. Search below to see if we have a funeral director near you.
At Dignity, we’re here to support people of all religions and none. We can arrange Catholic, Anglican, Methodist, Baptist, Quaker, Orthodox, Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist and Sikh funerals. Call your local funeral director today to talk about your needs.
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