Latter-day Saints

Starting-point guide, not medical, legal, or spiritual advice. This entry summarizes patterns documented in scholarly and clinical literature. Latter-day Saints is internally diverse: denomination, sect, lineage, region, generation, and personal practice all vary. Always confirm with the individual and their own faith leader, chaplain, humanist celebrant, or care team.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches the sanctity of human life and opposes euthanasia, while explicitly distinguishing euthanasia from allowing a natural death by removing a patient from artificial life support in cases of terminal illness. Members are taught they are not obligated to extend mortal life by unreasonable means, and that death from terminal illness, when it becomes inevitable, can be understood as a purposeful part of eternal existence grounded in belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sourced from official Church Newsroom statements and the General Handbook. Not yet verified against the original source, and not yet independently reviewed by a Latter-day Saint chaplain or ethicist.

Citation review pending

Core Beliefs About Death & Afterlife

The Church opposes euthanasia but does not consider allowing a person to die from natural causes — including removing a patient from artificial life support in a terminal illness — to fall within that definition.
Members should not feel obligated to extend mortal life by means that are unreasonable; when dying from a terminal illness or accident becomes inevitable, it can be understood as a purposeful, foreordained part of eternal existence.
Belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the eventual reuniting of spirit and body underlies the Church's measured approach to prolonging mortal life through artificial means.
The use of medical science is taught to be fully compatible with prayer and reliance on priesthood blessings, not in tension with it.

Key End-of-Life Rituals & Practices

Worthy Melchizedek Priesthood holders may give a priesthood blessing to the sick or afflicted, usually at the request of the person or their family; the blessing has two parts — anointing with consecrated oil and sealing the anointing — or may be given without anointing if oil is unavailable.
Church members are taught that the Word of Wisdom (the Church's health code) prohibits misuse of drugs, not their legitimate medical use — opioids and other pain medications prescribed by a competent physician are compatible with Church teaching.
Families frequently draw comfort from teachings on the eternal nature of families and the hope of reunion after resurrection.

Hospice & Clinical Considerations

DNR orders and withdrawal of artificial life support in a terminal illness are explicitly distinguished from euthanasia in official Church guidance and are compatible with Church teaching when further intervention is medically unreasonable.
Pain management, including opioid medication when medically necessary and prescribed, is fully compatible with the Word of Wisdom — the health code addresses misuse, not legitimate medical treatment.
Clinicians should ask whether the patient or family would like a priesthood blessing; this is a request-based practice, not something offered unprompted by clergy.
Members may wear temple garments (sacred underclothing for endowed members); care teams should ask the patient or family how they wish these to be handled during treatment and after death rather than assuming.

Organ Donation Views

The Church has no doctrinal objection to organ donation or transplantation; official guidance describes the decision to donate or receive an organ as one to be made with competent medical counsel and prayerful, personal consideration.
The decision to authorize donation from a deceased member is made by the individual (through advance directive) or by their family — the Church does not mandate or prohibit it.

Opioid & Sedation Views

Church leaders have taught that substances such as opioids should be used only for medicinal purposes as prescribed by a competent physician; the Word of Wisdom's prohibition targets misuse of legal, illegal, prescription, or controlled substances, not legitimate medical treatment.
There is no theological objection to proportionate palliative sedation for symptom control at the end of life.

Faith & Medical Decisions

Primary source

This represents documented guidance from the Church's official statements. Not yet verified against the original source. Individual beliefs vary; always consult your own Church leader and care team.

View of death: Death from terminal illness, when inevitable, is a purposeful part of eternal existence grounded in belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ and eventual reuniting of spirit and body.

DNR

EXPERT CONSENSUS

Distinguished from euthanasia; compatible with Church teaching

Official Church guidance explicitly distinguishes allowing a natural death (including DNR and withdrawal of artificial life support in terminal illness) from euthanasia, which the Church opposes.
Members are taught they are not obligated to extend mortal life by unreasonable means.

Source: Church Newsroom, "Euthanasia and Prolonging Life" (official statement)

Ask whether the patient or family would like a priesthood blessing (request-based, not offered unprompted). Members may wear temple garments — ask how the family wishes these handled during treatment and after death rather than assuming.

Source: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — official Church Newsroom statements and General Handbook

Ask Your Chaplain

Every person's faith journey is unique. Ask your chaplain or spiritual care provider: "How can we honor your specific beliefs and practices during your care?"

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