Church announces all employees of church education must have temple recommend

SALT LAKE CITY — The Church Educational System for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced Thursday that all employees who are members of the Church must hold a current temple recommend.

According to the release,  the new requirement will apply to BYU and all affiliated universities in Idaho, Hawaii, BYU Pathway Worldwide, Ensign College, all institutes of religion and high school seminaries.

“It is critical that each employee represent the mission, values and goals of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Elder Clark G. Gilbert, Church Commissioner of Education said. “These updates reflect the expectations we have for each employee to continue to engage fully in the spiritual mission that is central to each CES institution. We are grateful to have such remarkable and committed employees.”

Effective immediately, the new standard will apply to all faculty, staff and administrative employees.

However, the release states, “Any continuing employees who choose not to opt in to the standard, as well as employees who are not members of The Church of Jesus Christ, must continue to meet existing employment and ecclesiastical standards.”

A temple recommend is a card that permits members of the Church to enter their temples. It is signed by ecclesiastical leaders and signifies that the owner is living in accordance with standards of the Church.