In a month that saw dramatic equalizing of women and men in Latter-day Saint temple rituals, the faith’s top leaders have announced one more move: Pulling a veil over a faithful Mormon woman’s face as her casket is closed is no longer required.
“Veiling the faces of deceased, ‘endowed’ [members who have been through a temple ceremony] women prior to burial is optional,” church President Russell M. Nelson and his counselors, Dallin H. Oaks and Henry B. Eyring, wrote in a Jan. 24 letter to Latter-day Saint leaders. “This may be done if the sister expressed such a desire while she was living.