It happens every day.
More than a few members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints show up at one of the faith’s temples only to discover they have forgotten their “recommend,” a paper slip allowing entry into the faith’s most sacred buildings.
Now the church has a solution: Let members put that recommend on their cellphones, which in today’s digital world people are far less likely to overlook.
The global faith of 17.5 million announced Thursday it will now allow members to opt for these recommends — used to determine a member’s “worthiness” to enter temples — on mobile devices.
“Members with current temple recommends may choose to keep their printed recommend or switch immediately to a mobile [one],” a letter from the temple department states. “As members renew their temple recommends, they will have the opportunity to choose between a paper or mobile [one].”
Recommend holders may have either version, the letter adds, but not both.
These mobile recommends are available immediately in the Americas, the temple department added. “All other areas will have access to [them] over the next two to three weeks.”
Latter-day Saints view temples as Houses of the Lord and, unlike the more common meetinghouses, are places where devout members participate in the church’s highest religious rites such as eternal marriage.
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) The recommend desk in the Red Cliffs Temple in St. George.
