On Dec. 14, the president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints modified a policy that has been in place for over a century, opening priesthood ordination to boys as young as 11. Boys and girls will also be eligible at 11 to do baptisms for the dead in the temple, and participate in activities with the youth program for junior high and high school students.
Since 1908, boys have become eligible to hold the Aaronic priesthood only after their 12th birthday. In practice, that has meant that the Primary organization for Latter-day Saints ages 3 to 11 has slowly emptied of its oldest kids throughout the year, as one after another would reach their magic birthday and switch over to the youth program.