“You address people in need that I won’t see, that I won’t get to, that on some battlefront somewhere, moral, or spiritual, or emotional, somewhere, that you’ll be on the front lines in a way that I won’t get to be. So we do pray for you, and love you, and admire you, and see it as a very, very special service.” — President Jeffrey R. Holland, 2019 ACTS “Chaplains Are Messengers of Hope on the Battlefront of Crisis”
Latter-day Saint chaplains serve people of all faiths. The primary role of a chaplain is to ensure that each person they serve is afforded the free exercise of his or her religion. Chaplains also assist those they serve with issues that affect their spiritual welfare.
Chaplains should possess faith, hope, charity, love, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, kindness, godliness, humility, and diligence (see Doctrine and Covenants 4:5–6). They should also be firmly grounded in the teachings and doctrines of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, acquire good listening and counseling skills, and have a strong testimony of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
The first step to becoming an endorsed chaplain is to contact Chaplain Services (1-801-240-2286 or ChaplainServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org). A representative will guide you through the process, which includes an application, interviews, training in Crisis Ministry, and endorsement from one’s bishop and stake president. The representative can also help you understand the options to fulfill the educational and ministerial requirements of various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
The Church provides centralized endorsement for Latter-day Saint chaplains. Governmental and nongovernmental entities establish specific educational and ministerial requirements for their organization or entity.
Below are the requirements for continued endorsement of a Latter-day Saint chaplain. The chaplain must meet the following:
The following requirements are for the United States only. Those considering chaplaincy outside the United States need to meet the educational or military standards for their country of employment or service, as well as the Church’s endorsement requirements. Please email Chaplain Services at ChaplainServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org for additional information.
The educational requirements for serving as a chaplain vary depending on the type of chaplaincy an individual is pursuing. Brigham Young University offers a graduate degree that meets the educational requirements for the United States Department of Defense and other governmental and nongovernmental organizations. Other accredited universities and seminaries may also offer graduate programs that meet the educational requirements. Interested individuals should consult with the manager of Chaplain Services before pursuing a graduate degree program.
To learn more about master’s degree programs offered by Religious Education at Brigham Young University, go to https://chaplaincy.byu.edu. Please direct questions regarding the BYU application process to the Associate Graduate Coordinator at 1-801-422-3290.
For questions regarding application for ecclesiastical endorsement, contact Chaplain Services Division at 1-801-240-2286 or ChaplainServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Latter-day Saint chaplains diligently serve people of all faiths, ensuring that individuals are afforded religious freedom and assistance in accommodating religious and spiritual needs.
If you would like to serve as a chaplain in the military of a country other than the United States, please contact the specific military branch of your country for their chaplaincy requirements, then contact Chaplain Services (ChaplainServices@ChurchOfJesusChrist.org).
The following requirements are for a chaplaincy in the United States military.
Military chaplains serve in the Army, Air Force (Air Force chaplains also serve the Space Force), and Navy (Navy chaplains also serve the Marine Corps and Coast Guard).
Applicant Requirements
Chaplains may serve in federal and state institutions, where permitted. Each organization establishes its own requirements for chaplaincy. Please contact Chaplain Services via email: ChaplainServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org for additional information.
Public safety chaplains serve in an important range of law enforcement agencies, including police, fire, and emergency services. Public safety chaplains may serve in full-time, part-time, or volunteer positions. Most public safety entities require specialized chaplain training.
Correctional and rehabilitation chaplains serve in a range of correctional facilities, including those operated by federal, state, and county governments, as well as private companies. They also serve in juvenile detention centers and other treatment facilities.
Chaplains may serve in civic, private, and nongovernmental organizations, each with specific standards and requirements. Please contact the organization directly to identify opportunities and requirements. After obtaining the pertinent organizational information, please contact Chaplain Services (ChaplainServices@ChurchOfJesusChrist.org) to determine the endorsement procedures and requirements.
Educational and ministerial experience requirements are established by the institutions or organizations to which chaplain candidates are applying and may vary from one facility to another.
Healthcare chaplains serve in hospitals, outpatient clinics, hospice, behavioral health, and assisted living or nursing homes.
Education chaplains work within a setting of colleges, universities, or private schools.
Correctional and rehabilitation chaplains serve in a range of correctional facilities, including those operated by federal, state, and county governments, as well as private companies. They also serve in juvenile detention centers and other treatment facilities.
Corporate chaplains provide pastoral care in the workplace. Chaplain training in critical stress incidents and suicide awareness is highly valued.
The educational and ministerial experience requirements for Civil Air Patrol are the same as for military chaplains (see Military Chaplains). However, the Civil Air Patrol may grant educational waivers for individuals with extensive ministerial experience.
Chaplains for civic, private, and nongovernmental organizations serve in veterans’ organizations, various civic organizations, and relief agencies.
The scope of chaplain ministry varies depending on the setting and type of chaplaincy. However, most chaplains may have the following responsibilities:
Female Latter-day Saint chaplains may perform marriages, funerals, memorials, worship services, counseling, classes, and other needs of ministry. If services or ordinances are needed beyond the scope of one’s authority, the chaplain will facilitate the service taking place with authorized personnel. This protocol is also used for administration of the sacrament and priesthood blessings.
This statement of what female Latter-day Saint Chaplains are authorized to do is applicable for the Church throughout the world. Should such a policy be unauthorized or unacceptable in a country outside the United States, adjustments by the Area Presidency will need to be made.
Latter-day Saint chaplains serve people of all faiths. They work closely with local priesthood leaders ensuring that Church members in the military have opportunities to receive the full blessings of Church membership.
Latter-day Saint chaplains are expected to attend Church meetings with their own ward and serve in a calling in their ward or stake. For additional guidance on Church callings for chaplains, see the chaplain sections of the General Handbook in section 38.
Latter-day Saint chaplains must receive an annual ecclesiastical endorsement. The stake president is responsible for conducting an annual interview with each chaplain in his stake, and the spouse if they were set apart as a missionary in conjunction with their spouse’s appointment as a chaplain. The stake president completes the Annual Interview of a Latter-day Saint Chaplain form for each chaplain and submits the form to Chaplain Services.
For further information and additional resources, priesthood leaders should contact Chaplain Services at 1-801-240-2286 or ChaplainServices@ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
In addition to their normal worship services, chaplains often counsel with people and their families to help them work through challenges they are facing. The information given in this section is to provide chaplains, both military and civilian, resources they can familiarize themselves with and use in their ministering efforts.
Previous Chaplain Seminars and Trainings can be found on ChurchofJesusChrist.org.
Below are some selected training segments: