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Can anyone explain to me where/how our death traditions came into being? Specifically:
1) Consecration of a grave. Not a saving ordinance, but an ordinance.
2) Custom of dressing the deceased endowed persons in temple clothing for burial?
3) The notion that cremation is bad.
3) predates Mormonism. My mother, a non-member, was always opposed to being cremated. I think it was to do with the resurrection. There’s also the pagan aspect… many pagan religions in the Middle East cremated people, amidst child sacrifice and all kinds of other things. Death traditions are very old. Neanderthals buried their dead with honors.
Regarding #3, Bruce R. McConkie wrote in Mormon Doctrine that “only under the most extraordinary and unusual circumstances” would cremation be consistent with LDS teachings, but I have heard other GAs have said it is ok. In some countries, the law requires cremation. I wouldn’t consider this extraordinary, but perhaps he would…. I have a new book on the Development of LDS Temple worship by Devery Anderson. I know there is some information in the book about dressing endowed members in temple clothes for burial, and I will try to look for more information.
I think consecration of a grave is similar to a baby blessing. It is not a saving ordinance either, but rather is a nice blessing that the church would like to keep under the direction of the priesthood.
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