LDS Funeral for an Excommunicated or Resigned Member

A Sensitive Situation With Clear Rules

When a Latter-day Saint who was excommunicated or who resigned their membership dies, the surviving family faces a uniquely difficult set of questions. Can the funeral be held at the meetinghouse? Will the bishop participate? Can the body be buried in temple clothing? The answers depend on the deceased's specific membership status at the time of death and on arrangements with the local bishop; the temple-clothing rule is the clearest distinction.

Chapel Use and Bishop Involvement

A bishop may offer the use of a Church meetinghouse for the funeral of a person who is no longer a member. Confirm with the local bishop whether the meetinghouse will be used and who will conduct the service. The General Handbook allows clergy from another church to conduct a service in the meetinghouse if the family desires and the service is dignified and appropriate; rituals of other churches or organizations may not be performed there.

If the bishop offers the meetinghouse, confirm the program, speakers, and music with him; Church-building rules about dignity and chapel decorum apply. Ask separately what ward support is available for meals, pallbearers, and setup.

From a practical standpoint, the biggest variable is not policy but pastoral approach. Some bishops will conduct the service with the same warmth they would show any family. Others may feel less personally connected to a member who left the faith. The family's relationship with the local bishop matters, and early communication about expectations helps prevent awkward moments during the service.

The Temple Clothing Question

This is where the rules draw a firm line.

People whose Church membership was withdrawn or who resigned, and whose blessings were not restored cannot be buried or cremated in temple clothing. Because temple clothing represents sacred covenants made during the endowment ceremony, the clothing is reserved for those whose blessings are intact at the time of death.

If the person's blessings were restored through the Church's formal restoration process, they are eligible as an endowed member for burial purposes. They may be dressed in full temple clothing.

Members who stopped attending or became inactive but never formally resigned or had their membership withdrawn may still be buried in temple clothing if they were endowed and the family requests it. The ward clerk can verify the deceased's membership and endowment status quickly.

If temple clothing is not permitted, the family chooses modest, dignified everyday clothing for burial. White clothing is common but not required.

What the Family Should Do

Verify the deceased's membership and endowment status early. Contact the ward clerk or bishop within 24 hours of the death to confirm whether the deceased retained membership and whether they were endowed. This determines the temple clothing question and avoids confusion later.

Communicate with the bishop honestly. If the deceased left the Church under difficult circumstances, the family may have complex feelings about involving Church leadership. The bishop is not obligated to reference the deceased's membership status during the service, and most bishops focus their remarks on comfort and the universal hope of the resurrection rather than administrative history.

Decide what kind of service you want. Families of former members sometimes prefer a secular memorial at a funeral home or private venue rather than a Church meetinghouse service. Both options are valid. If you ask to use the meetinghouse, the bishop decides whether to offer it; confirm who will conduct the service and which Church-building policies apply. If you choose a secular venue, you can still invite the bishop to attend and offer a prayer or brief remarks, but the family controls the program.

Navigating Family Dynamics

Funerals for former members often involve family members who are still active in the Church alongside those who have left or never joined. This can create tension over what the service should look like.

Active family members may want a traditional LDS chapel funeral with priesthood ordinances and gospel-centered talks. Family members who left the Church may want a less structured, more personal memorial. Both perspectives are legitimate, and the family needs to navigate this before meeting with the bishop.

A practical compromise that works well: hold the formal chapel service for those who want it, then host a separate celebration of life in the cultural hall or at another venue where the atmosphere is more relaxed and open. If you ask to use the meetinghouse, the bishop decides whether to offer it; confirm who will conduct the service and which Church-building policies apply. This allows the active side of the family to honor their traditions while giving the other side space for personal tributes, secular music, and open sharing.

The Graveside Service

A formal grave dedication is arranged through the bishop and performed by a Melchizedek Priesthood holder. If the family prefers, a simple graveside prayer may be offered instead; it can be given by anyone — member, non-member, male, or female — at the family's request.

If the family is unsure whether a formal dedication or a simple prayer is more appropriate, the bishop can advise based on the specific circumstances.

Planning With Confidence

The rules for funerals involving former members are documented in the General Handbook, but they are written for bishops, not for families trying to plan a service under grief and time pressure. The Mormon / LDS Funeral Guide translates these policies into plain language and includes a planning checklist that covers every scenario — active members, inactive members, and former members — so the family knows exactly what to expect before the first meeting with the bishop.