Discouraged, not forbidden
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and cremation
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints does not normally encourage cremation, but it does not prohibit it. The General Handbook leaves the decision to the family, asks that local laws be followed, and — where a deceased member was endowed — provides that the body be dressed in temple clothing where possible before cremation or burial.
Not encouraged, but not prohibited — the family decides.
What the General Handbook says
The Church’s governing manual, the General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, addresses cremation in its section on funerals and burial policy. The Church does not normally encourage cremation, reflecting its reverence for the body as a gift of God; at the same time it states that the decision rests with the family, and that in some countries or circumstances cremation is required or customary and members may proceed.
Doctrinally, Latter-day Saint teaching is explicit that cremation is no obstacle to resurrection — the power of God restores the body regardless of its condition. Where the deceased was endowed, the Handbook directs that the body be dressed in temple clothing where possible; this can be done before a cremation just as before a burial, and bishops help families arrange it.
LDS practice with a cremation
An LDS funeral or memorial service is typically held in the ward chapel under the bishop’s direction, and it may be held with an urn present. If your family chooses cremation, involve the bishop early — for the service, for dressing the body if the member was endowed, and for the ward’s support in the days after. We coordinate timing so none of that is rushed.
How we serve Latter-day Saint (LDS) families
- We allow time before the cremation for the body to be dressed in temple clothing, arranged with your bishop or Relief Society.
- We schedule around the ward chapel service, with ashes returned before it if the family wants the urn present.
- Our team works respectfully with ward and stake leaders — tell us who to coordinate with on the first call.
Our direct cremation is $1,750, all-inclusive, answered live at (214) 550-7369 any hour. What it covers — and what it does not — is published on our pricing page; how the process runs is on how it works.
Primary sources
Doctrinal statements on this page cite the documents below. Where we link, we link the issuing body itself; where a document has no stable public link, we cite it by name.
- General Handbook: Serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — sections on funerals, burial, and cremation — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Questions families ask
Is cremation forbidden for Latter-day Saints?
No. The General Handbook states the Church does not normally encourage cremation but leaves the decision to the family. Members who choose it remain in good standing, and the ordinances and funeral services proceed normally.
What about temple clothing for an endowed member?
The Handbook provides that the body of an endowed member be dressed in temple clothing where possible — before cremation as before burial. Your bishop can arrange this, and we build the time for it into our schedule.
Does cremation affect the resurrection in LDS teaching?
No. Church teaching is explicit that the resurrection restores the body by the power of God regardless of how it was laid to rest.
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