Unordained 11 year old boy

[ramsdenb]

Thank you brethren who have responded to this situation, and of the many positive suggestions. Just to let you know, that I have been a membership clerk, finance clerk in a ward/branch, stake clerk, a ward clerk for 13 years straight, released, and only to be called back as a ward clerk. My bishop...6 months. I did counsel with my bishop what he needs to do, when I found out what was happening late last year.
Whenever there is questions or uncertainly, the Handbook provides that certainty. My last course of action is to suggest to my bishop that he counsels with the stake president on this matter.

[BrianEdwards]

Whenever there is questions or uncertainly, the Handbook provides that certainty. My last course of action is to suggest to my bishop that he counsels with the stake president on this matter.

I've found that simply redoing the ordinance is often the most straightforward and satisfactory for all parties, when uncertainty like this occurs that is difficult to resolve. It might take a bit of counseling and discussion -- but if the member and family can understand that this in no way is an indication of anything having been done wrong, but is rather to do what we can to try and make things right administratively, then repeating the ordinance can be a spiritual event not many members ever experience.

But as you say, the stake president and bishop can counsel together and receive appropriate revelation for this specific circumstance.

[jonesrk]

Only the bishop of the ward in which the member's records resides "holds the priesthood keys for conferring the Aaronic Priesthood and ordaining to the offices of deacon, teacher, and priest." (General Handbook, 18.10.2)

Yes, the bishop holds the keys, but I'm not finding anything that says the records have to be in his ward. He does have to get "verbal permission from the parents or guardians".

The wording in the handbook is the bishop not a bishop. To me that refers to the bishop with the keys for that individual not just any bishop.

[russellhltn]

The wording in the handbook is the bishop not a bishop. To me that refers to the bishop with the keys for that individual not just any bishop.

Maybe, but it's not a terribly strong argument. "The" bishop could also refer to the bishop of the ward the sustaining or ordination will take place in.

From the Handbook 33.6:

The bishop or stake president ensures that a membership record is in the appropriate ward before a member is interviewed to receive:

• A Church calling.
• A temple recommend.
• The Melchizedek Priesthood or to be ordained to an office in that priesthood.

Noticeably absent is the same requirement for the Aaronic Priesthood. Which strikes me as a little strange, as you'd want to make sure he had been baptized.

[BrianEdwards]

Perhaps it isn't explicitly listed because it is implicit in the Bishop's responsibilities as the President of the Aaronic Priesthood and keyholder for the Aaronic Priesthood in his ward. I agree there's no definitive language about the discussion topic, and that's one reason I appreciate the discussions that take place here in the Forum. But I share the view that not any Bishop is able to authorize Aaronic Priesthood ordinances, only the Bishop of the ward where the Aaronic Priesthood holder resides under the keys of the President of the Aaronic Priesthood (aka records are there).

[ramsdenb]

Yes. The easiest resolution is for the ordinance to be performed again in our ward. I already mentioned this.