LDS Support in Reunion

Transferring Data to FamilySearch FamilyTree Using GEDCOM

The LDS Ordinance Events
Recording LDS Ordinances in Reunion
Recording the Temple Code
Recording the Status Code
Other LDS Fields
What is a Temple?

The List of Temples
Ordinances in the Family View
About the Ordinances

Using the LDS Ordinances Window
The LDS Tools

Creating Reports from the LDS Ordinances Window

Transferring Data to FamilySearch FamilyTree Using GEDCOM

Registered users of familysearch.org may upload GEDCOM files to FamilySearch for use with FamilyTree. Details on how to do so can be found here.

According to documentation at FamilySearch.org, the FamilySearch FamilyTree website accepts GEDCOM files up to 100 MB in size. However, unless you are sure the system does not have the information, you may want to consider contributing much smaller files — perhaps those with 100 individuals or less.

Additionally, with the assistance of a family history consultant, a family history center director, or a temple worker, a Family Ordinance Request can be submitted to FamilySearch/FamilySearch FamilyTree. (Note: a Family Ordinance Request can be created from a GEDCOM file exported from Reunion.)

The following features are particularly helpful if you plan to use GEDCOM to exchange information with the FamilySearch FamilyTree:

The LDS Temple Ordinance Events

Note: Much of the information presented here probably won't be meaningful unless the reader...

  1. Is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS).
  2. Understands the tenets, definitions, and customs of the LDS faith.

Reunion supports the recording, editing, importing, and exporting of information unique to the LDS faith including the four temple ordinances listed below:

A status or a date and temple code is associated with each temple ordinance event.

Recording LDS Ordinances in Reunion

The procedure for recording LDS Ordinance events is similar to recording any other type of event in Reunion, with a few special features.

To record an LDS ordinance event for a person, click the Add Event button in the Edit Person window, just as you would add events like birth, graduation, etc. And you can specify that the LDS ordinance events appear, by default, for every person you enter.

When you add an LDS ordinance event, you'll note the special features that apply only to LDS ordinances. For example,

The illustration below shows how LDS Baptism and Endowment will appear in the Events list of the Edit Person window.

Recording the Temple Code

While the display of columns in the Edit Person window shows Place above the 3rd column, this field actually holds the temple information for the four LDS temple ordinances.

You can enter the LDS temple code into this "Place" field, or, if you're not sure of the temple codes, you should double-click the event line, which opens the Edit Event window, shown below. As you can see, the temple data now appears next to a Temple button...

Clicking the Temple button lets you pick a temple from a list by selecting Choose Temple.

A window with a list of temples appears, making it easy to select the codes.

When to Choose "Living Place"

As you probably know, LDS baptisms are either performed when the person is alive or as an ordinance done in a temple vicariously for a deceased person. When an LDS baptism is performed for a living person, you should choose Living Place and enter the place of the baptism. However, if the baptism was done vicariously for a person after they were deceased, it is performed in an LDS temple, and that should be indicated by a temple code (choose Choose Temple after clicking the Temple button), rather than a place entry.

Temple Codes in GEDCOM

A temple code indicates the LDS temple in which ordinances are performed. A temple code field is much like a place field.

In GEDCOM files, temple codes are referred to with a TEMP tag rather than a PLAC tag. Use of the TEMP tag for LDS ordinance data is required for a GEDCOM file to properly convey LDS ordinance data to the LDS Church's New FamilySearch and other genealogical programs which recognize and process LDS ordinances. Reunion supports the required temple field codes and recognizes the TEMP GEDCOM tag necessary for recording, importing, and exporting LDS ordinance data. Reunion understands that the temple data goes in the "place" field, since the temple is the place where the LDS ordinance event occurred.

Recording the Status Code

To record an LDS Status code for an ordinance event, click the pop-up menu button that appears in the date field.

You can also double-click the event line (which opens the Edit Event window) and a separate Status button will appear.

About Status Codes...

An LDS status code is used in lieu of a date and temple code (or place for a living LDS baptism) for an LDS ordinance. Only one status is used per LDS ordinance event. Different ordinance events have different applicable status codes.

Field Endowment
and
Baptism
Sealing
to Spouse
Sealing of Child
to Parents
Statuses Child
Cleared
Completed
Infant
Pre-1970
Stillborn
Submitted
None
Canceled
Cleared
Completed
DNS
DNS/CAN
Pre-1970
Submitted
Uncleared
None
BIC
Cleared
Completed
DNS
Pre-1970
Stillborn
Submitted
Uncleared

According to LDS doctrine, in some cases LDS ordinances do not need to be performed. In these cases, LDS genealogists should record specific abbreviations or key words defined by the LDS church in the date fields of their ordinance events to indicate this. When their data is transmitted, via a GEDCOM file, the program knows how to properly process the data.

For example, LDS theology teaches that children who die under the age of 8 die before the "age of accountability," and therefore Christ's atonement covers them automatically without them having to be baptized. Thus, if someone died before 8, and was never baptized, LDS genealogists would enter a status of "CHILD" in the date field of the LDS Baptism event to indicate an LDS baptism was not applicable or necessary for that person. In a GEDCOM file exported by Reunion, the GEDCOM tag that precedes this "Child" information is the STATus tag. Then the FamilySearch FamilyTree site will know not to process that person's data for a posthumous temple baptism ordinance.

Other LDS status codes are not permanent codes, but are used to indicate the known status of LDS ordinances temporarily until the full dates and temple codes can be found. For example, "Submitted" or "Cleared" indicates that the information has been submitted for temple work, but that the LDS genealogist has not yet obtained the full date and place of that ordinance. Every few years the LDS church creates an updated "Ordinance Index" of LDS temple work performed, but in the meantime, LDS genealogists can use "submitted" and "cleared" to keep track of what they have submitted so they do not duplicate the work.

Status Codes in GEDCOM

Reunion uses the STATus GEDCOM tag...

Status Codes in Lists and Find

If the LDS events are used in a family file, you may include the status for these events in columns of the List window, and you may search for the status using the Advanced Find feature.

For example, if the event field "Baptism LDS" is used in the family file, you'll notice an extra item called "Baptism LDS Status" in the field pop-up menus of the List window (see the illustration below). Choosing this field will display the status color-coded. You may also sort lists by status.

The same applies to the Find Anything window: if an LDS event is present, then you may search for the status.

This applies to.

Note that event "Confirmation LDS" is not included because there is no pre-qualification support for this ordinance.

Other LDS Fields

Other LDS ordinances such as LDS Confirmations, LDS Priesthood ordinations, etc., are supported, but are entered and handled like normal events in Reunion — with a normal date and place field. They are not subject to the temple codes and LDS status words/abbreviations requirements that apply to the four ordinances listed above.

What is a Temple?

A temple is a place where LDS members conduct ordinances for the living (endowment, sealing, etc.), as well as ordinances for their deceased ancestors (baptism, endowment, sealings, etc.).

LDS churches are open to everyone, including members and nonmembers. However, to enter an LDS temple after it has been dedicated, one must demonstrate they are in good standing in the LDS church, and living and keeping the commandments, by having an interview with, and getting a recommendation from one's local LDS church leaders.

The List of Temples

The LDS Temples file is your temple database and, when kept current, will contain information about every LDS temple. Since LDS temple information is subject to change, the contents of this file will need to change as well. There are two ways to keep this file current:

The first way is to acquire an updated "LDS Temples" file from our web site or another Reunion user and then replace your existing "LDS Temples" file. To do this...

  1. Quit the Reunion application.
  2. Drop the new "LDS Temples" file into this folder: Home/Library/Application Support/Reunion
    Note: Apple hides the Library folder and you'll need to go to the Finder, hold down the Option key and choose Go > Library. From there, go to Application Support/Reunion.
  3. Start Reunion.

The second way is to make the changes yourself. The LDS Temples file can be edited, within Reunion, via the Edit Event window. To do this...

  1. Find any person with an LDS event and click the event in the family view to open Edit Person > Events.
  2. Double-click the LDS event to open the Edit Event window (described above).
  3. Click the Temple pop-up menu button and select Choose Temple.
  4. An editable list of Temples is presented.

The list of temples displays the temple code along with a text description and the date of dedication for each temple. The list may be sorted by clicking the header of any column. It is essential that the temple code you enter be accurate, or it will not be recognized by the church or other LDS-compatible programs.

Clicking Add Temple or Edit Temple will open the Edit Temple window, allowing five fields to be edited. Those fields are as follows:

Field
Description
Location
A text description of the temple location, this information will be displayed in the family view and in reports.
Temple code
A unique letter code (3 to 5 digits) defined by the LDS church used to identify a temple. This code is used when importing and exporting GEDCOM files containing the TEMP tag for LDS ordinance events.
Other codes
2- to 4-digit temple codes that might be encountered when importing an older GEDCOM file that did not support 5-digit codes. If Reunion encounters an obsolete temple code while importing a GEDCOM file, the old code will automatically be converted to the 5-digit code.
Dedicated
The date when the temple was dedicated and became a valid location for ordinances.
Dissolved
The date when, for whatever reason, the temple could no longer perform ordinances.

Note: the two date fields are intended to be used for automatic validity checking of ordinance dates in the future. At this point it is just some "useful" information for you to have at your fingertips.

LDS Ordinances in the Family View

LDS ordinances can be included in the family view, much like any other event.

When Baptism, Endowment, Seal to Parents, or Seal to Spouse are displayed in the family view, the same colored/styled words will appear for those fields. The actual field data will be displayed in the family view.

Note: Sealing to Spouse is a "family field," but will be listed along with person fields in the family view.

About the Ordinances

Baptism

Where performed: Either performed in a place (in the case of a baptism for a living person) or a temple (when a baptism was done for a deceased person).

What it is: Baptism is nicely defined on this web page.

An LDS baptism is slightly different in data handling than the other three key LDS events, since either a temple code may be applicable for baptisms performed for deceased people, or a normal place field is applicable if it was a live baptism performed outside a temple. In this case, many programs, including the newer Windows version of PAF, have three fields for the LDS baptism event: 1) a date field (in which a date or "status" can be entered) 2) a temple code field, and 3) a place field.

Either the temple code field or the place field is used. Both are not used together.

Endowment

Where performed: in a temple, for both living and deceased people, or in the early church prior to an operating temple, an endowment house.

What it is: Elder James E. Talmage provided the following description of the endowment: "The ordinances of the endowment embody certain obligations on the part of the individual, such as covenant and promise to observe the law of strict virtue and chastity, to be charitable, benevolent, tolerant and pure; to devote both talent and material means to the spread of truth and the uplifting of the race; to maintain devotion to the cause of truth; and to seek in every way to contribute to the great preparation that the earth may be made ready to receive her King, the Lord Jesus Christ. With the taking of each covenant and the assuming of each obligation a promised blessing is pronounced, contingent upon the faithful observance of the conditions.

"No jot, iota, or tittle of the temple rites is otherwise than uplifting and sanctifying. In every detail the endowment ceremony contributes to covenants of morality of life, consecration of person to high ideals, devotion to truth, patriotism to nation, and allegiance to God." (James E. Talmage, The House of the Lord, rev. ed. 1976, p. 84.)

Sealing

Where performed: in a temple, for both living and deceased people.

Sealing To Spouse: A temple sealing is the ordinance where a man and a woman are 'sealed' (married) for 'time and eternity.' It is, in addition to being a church ordinance, also recognized as a legal marriage, performed in a manner, and by those recognized by law. A man and woman are sealed (married) to each other, and each may be sealed to their own parents.

Where performed: in a temple, for both living and deceased people, and its equivalent, Born in the Covenant [BIC].

Sealing To Parents: Children born to a couple before they are sealed in the temple are sealed to their parents (in the temple). Children born to a couple after they are sealed in the temple are "born in the covenant" [BIC] (that is, they are already sealed to their parents).

Confirmation

Confirmation is an ordinance that is done shortly after an LDS baptism. (Members are confirmed members of the church, and given the gift of the holy ghost in this ordinance.) When the LDS church designed PAF, they apparently assumed that if an LDS baptism was entered, the confirmation was also done — and so they didn't create fields specifically to track that ordinance. In Reunion, you may enter confirmation information as a normal event with a place field.

Using the LDS Ordinances Window

Reunion has many features to help you focus on, and quickly review, your temple work for a group of people in preparation for temple submissions. These features appear in the LDS Ordinances window. To open the LDS Ordinances window, choose File > LDS > LDS Ordinances.

(Note that this window is designed to include only marked people. If nobody is marked, the window will not appear.)

The LDS Ordinances window contains two lists:

The columns containing ordinances include special formatting to give you feedback about each person and couple in the lists. The "key" for information in these columns appears below...

This text color/style
means...
Blue Text
Ordinance is not required, along with a word describing why. For example, the word "Done" indicates that temple information appears in the field.
Red
Ordinance does not qualify, with a word or so to explain why.
Green
Qualified. All criteria have been met for this ordinance to be submitted to FamilySearch FamilyTree.
Blue Italics
Ordinance is not required, and Reunion is suggesting a status be entered for this ordinance.

 

Note about Marking: When you use the first column to mark and unmark people in the lists, please note that couples in the list of Family Ordinances will only appear marked if both members are marked. Thus, if you unmark a person in the list of Individual Ordinances and if he or she also appears in the list of Family Ordinances, the couple will become unmarked. Similarly, if you unmark a couple, both people (who comprise the couple) will become unmarked in the list of Individual Ordinances.

The LDS Tools

Here is a description of items in the pop-up menu that appears when clicking the Tools button, which appears in the lower-left corner of the LDS Ordinances window...

Mark Everyone In This Window: Marks everybody in the two lists.

Unmark Everyone In This Window: Unmarks everybody in the two lists.

Mark People With a Suggested Status: Marks people who have at least one suggested ordinance (italicized). Only applies to the Individual Ordinances list.

Mark People Who Qualify For Something: Marks only the people in the list who have at least one green "Qualified" event.

Mark People Who Qualify For Nothing: Marks only the people in the list have no green "Qualified" events.

Mark People With At Least 1 Ordinance Not Done: Marks anyone who doesn't have all their ordinances done, whether or not they qualified to have it done, and whether or not they need more information to be submitted.

Mark People With At Least 1 Ordinance Done AND At Least 1 Not Done: Marks people with at least one ordinance done, but who don't have all their ordinances done.

Mark People Who Require No Ordinances: Marks only the people in the list who need no more ordinance work.

Mark People With a Status of Submitted: Marks only the people in the list who have at least one ordinance with a status of "Submitted."

Mark People Who Have a Spouse Not In This Window: Marks anyone in the LDS Ordinances window who has a spouse that doesn't appear in the window.

Apply Suggested Statuses to Marked People: Puts italicized (suggested) ordinances into the actual person fields for all marked people in the list.

Apply a Temple Date and Code to Marked People: Opens the Apply Temple Information window, shown below, which is used to change a status of "Submitted" to the user-entered date and code in the selected ordinance field. This will only apply the temple date and code for marked people (or families) that have an ordinance event status of Submitted.

Bring All Spouses of Marked People Into This Window: Adds spouses to the LDS Ordinances window for any marked person in the window who has a spouse not listed in the window.

Change Submitted Ordinances of Marked People to None: Provides a quick way to delete all submitted statuses, so you can recreate a new GEDCOM file. This is a very destructive command; please use it with care.

Remove Unmarked People From This List: Provides a way to prune the list when used in conjunction with the marking commands at the top of the LDS Tools pop-up menu.

Creating Reports from the LDS Ordinances Window

To create a report containing the people in the LDS Ordinances window list (and all the relevant LDS data for those people), follow this procedure:

  1. In the LDS Ordinances window, click the Tools button and use the marking items in the pop-up menu along with the item Remove Unmarked People From This List to prune the list so it only contains people meeting (or not meeting) certain criteria.

  2. Click the Share button to create an RTF or TEXT report of the people in the list along with all the relevant LDS data for each person.

For example, to create an "Incomplete Ordinance Report"...

  1. Choose File > LDS > LDS Ordinances.
  2. Click the Tools button and choose Mark People With At Least 1 Ordinance Not Done.
  3. Click the Tools button and choose Remove Unmarked People From This List.
  4. Click the Share button.

Our thanks to Reunion users Warren White, Troy Adair, and Randy Wilson for helping us to learn LDS genealogy and offering commentary and suggestions to support LDS genealogists.