Mormonism

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (the LDS church), or often simply called the Mormon Church, is a Christian denomination that considers itself to be the true restoration of the original church founded by Jesus Christ. The denomination has its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah and has formed churches, called wards or branches, around the world.

Because of the variety of traditions and customs associated with religions, it may be a challenge to know what condolence gift would be considered appropriate. The Latter Day Saints traditionally consider a variety of items as meaningful in expressing condolences to a grieving Mormon family.

The Mormon funeral and burial traditions help to provide assurance and hope for the bereaved during their time of loss. The rituals of the religion take some of the burden of decision making off the family by outlining the preparation and procedures for the funeral and burial. The Latter Day Saints Church have funeral customs that blend the honor and respect of ceremony with the compassion and love of a grieving family.

The way that individuals mourn the loss of a loved one is a very personal expression of the type of relationship shared with the deceased. For many, processing through grief is a difficult experience, one that needs the support and strength from others. The Mormon periods of mourning attempt to blend the formal structure of religion with the caring compassion of a friend as it helps its members find comfort and hope.

For many, an important part of the grieving process is visiting the cemetery and grave site of the loved one. The opportunity to visit the final resting place of the deceased demonstrates in a concrete way that the loved one has not been forgotten. In the Mormon faith and tradition, visiting the cemetery can be a concrete way to pay final respects for the deceased and support to the bereaved.