A practice previously reserved exclusively for male priesthood holders in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has now been extended to girls and women.
Church President Russell M. Nelson announced to general officers meeting Wednesday that any baptized member (starting at young as age 8) may serve as a “witness of the baptism of a living person.”
In addition, “a proxy baptism for a deceased person may be witnessed by anyone holding a current temple recommend, including a limited-use temple recommend.”
Latter-day Saints perform baptisms for the dead in their temples. Members search genealogies to find the names of departed ancestors.