LDS Funeral Viewing and Open Casket Etiquette

What Happens at an LDS Viewing

The viewing is the first public stage of a Latter-day Saint funeral, and it can feel unfamiliar if you have never attended one. It is an informal gathering where ward members, colleagues, and friends pay their respects to the deceased and offer comfort to the family. Most LDS viewings happen in one of two settings: a funeral home the evening before the service, or inside the ward meetinghouse for about an hour immediately before the chapel funeral begins.

When the viewing takes place at the meetinghouse, it is typically held in the Relief Society room, the foyer, or another designated multi-purpose space — never inside the main chapel. The atmosphere is quiet but conversational. Families often set up memorabilia tables, photo displays, and sometimes a digital slideshow highlighting the person's life, hobbies, and milestones. Unlike many secular memorial viewings, there is no formal receiving line requirement, though the family usually positions themselves near the casket to greet visitors.

Open Casket Rules and What to Expect

Open casket viewings are common in LDS tradition, and the deceased is typically dressed in white. For endowed members — those who participated in sacred temple ceremonies — the body is dressed in ceremonial temple clothing, including specific white garments arranged in a precise order. You may notice items that look unfamiliar, such as a green apron, a white sash, or a cap placed beside the body. These are sacred items tied to temple covenants, and asking about them respectfully is perfectly acceptable.

A few things to know about the open casket portion:

• The casket closes permanently before the chapel service. About 15 to 30 minutes before the funeral begins, the viewing room is cleared of guests. The immediate family gathers privately for a final moment and a family prayer. After this prayer, the funeral director closes the casket. It stays closed for the rest of the day — there is no second viewing after the service.
• Temple clothing is handled with care. For deceased women, a white veil may be placed on the pillow. Whether it is lowered over her face before closing is the family's decision. For men, a white cap is placed with the bow over the left ear just before the casket is shut.
• The body may not always be viewable. If physical trauma, autopsy, or advanced decomposition makes a viewing impractical, the family may opt for a closed casket from the start. In these cases, temple clothing may be folded and placed inside the casket next to the body rather than being worn.

Attending Etiquette for Guests

You do not need to be a member of the Church to attend the viewing — all are welcome. Here is what good etiquette looks like:

Sign the guest book in the foyer when you arrive. This helps the family track who came and send thank-you notes later.

Keep your greeting brief. A short, warm expression of sympathy — "I'm sorry for your loss" or "Your mother was wonderful" — is plenty. Avoid long stories or conversations that hold up the line or delay the timeline.

Dress conservatively. A suit or dress shirt with tie for men, and a modest dress or blouse with a skirt that covers the shoulders and knees for women. Black is safe, but muted or even brighter colors are acceptable — LDS funerals carry a hopeful tone rooted in the belief in resurrection.

Be quiet near the casket. If you choose to approach the open casket, a moment of silent respect is appropriate. You do not need to touch, kiss, or kneel — simply standing respectfully for a few seconds is sufficient.

No photography in the chapel. Do not take pictures or video inside the chapel. For the viewing room or a funeral home, follow the family's and funeral home's instructions about photography.

What Not to Bring

A few items to leave at home or in the car:

• Alcohol, coffee, tea, or tobacco products — Latter-day Saints follow the Word of Wisdom health code, and bringing these to a viewing or any church function would be a significant cultural misstep.
• Loud or elaborate floral arrangements with crosses — While flowers are welcomed and common, cross symbols are not part of LDS tradition. Simple, elegant arrangements are preferred.
• Food for the viewing itself — Meals for the family should be coordinated through the Relief Society or delivered to the family's home separately, not brought to the meetinghouse during the viewing.

The Transition to the Chapel Service

Once the viewing concludes and the private family prayer is finished, guests move from the viewing area into the chapel and take their seats. The front rows are reserved for the immediate family. The organ prelude has typically been playing for about an hour during the viewing, and it continues as the congregation settles.

When the bishop signals, everyone stands. The closed casket is escorted into the chapel by the pallbearers, followed by the family. Once the family is seated, the congregation sits and the formal service begins.

If you are attending the chapel service after the viewing, remember that this is a formal worship meeting — photography and videography are not allowed in the chapel. If the bishop has authorized a private livestream for absent family members, it uses one inconspicuous device and its recording must be deleted within twenty-four hours; an audio-only recording of the talks may be preserved with permission. Phones should be silenced completely, not just set to vibrate.

Planning a Viewing for Your Family

If you are organizing the viewing for a loved one's LDS funeral, coordinating with both the funeral home and the ward bishop early is critical. The bishop controls the meetinghouse schedule and needs to approve the viewing time. The funeral director manages transportation of the body and any cosmetic preparation.

For endowed members, you will also need to coordinate the sacred dressing of the body — this is performed by endowed members of the same gender and is typically arranged through the Relief Society president (for women) or Elders Quorum president (for men).

Our Mormon / LDS Funeral Guide includes a printable 72-hour planning timeline and a bishop coordination worksheet that walks you through every step — from scheduling the viewing to closing the casket — so nothing falls through the cracks during the hardest week of your life.