The institutions of the Church Educational System (CES) of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Church of Jesus Christ) are fitly framed and knit together to develop disciples of Jesus Christ who are leaders in their homes, the Church, and their communities. To best accomplish this purpose, CES selects and retains employees who are committed to and represent the teachings, practices, and doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ.
In October 2021 and January 2022, the Board of Education for the Church of Jesus Christ approved ecclesiastical requirements for employment at CES institutions, including Ensign College. The Board of Trustees of Ensign College adopted these ecclesiastical requirements for employment. The new requirements were announced on January 27, 2022.
Conditions of Employment
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ who accept an offer of college employment in any nonstudent position beginning on or after January 27, 2022, accept as conditions of employment that they will hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend. Those hired into these positions prior to January 27, 2022, are invited to voluntarily accept these same conditions of employment. Members of the Church of Jesus Christ hired in nonstudent positions before January 27, 2022, who have not voluntarily accepted these conditions of employment continue to accept as a condition of employment the standards of conduct consistent with qualifying for temple privileges.
The Church of Jesus Christ may adjust the criteria for a temple recommend in its sole discretion. Temple recommend worthiness is an ecclesiastical determination made by local leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ. The college does not intervene in ecclesiastical determinations.
All employees accept as conditions of employment that they will
- refrain from behavior or expression that seriously and adversely affects the college mission or the Church of Jesus Christ,
- act in accordance with the Church Educational System Honor Code and the Dress and Grooming Principles and Expectations , and
- comply with all other college policies.
See Employee Conduct Policy .
Pre-Hire Ecclesiastical Clearance and College Standards Compliance Verification
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ, including current college employees, who satisfy academic and professional requirements and apply for nonstudent positions must receive clearance from the Ecclesiastical Clearance Office of the Church of Jesus Christ (ECO) before they can be considered for employment in those positions. The ECO, an office approved by the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ, confirms that candidates meet ecclesiastical requirements and indicates to the college only whether candidates are cleared or not cleared ecclesiastically to be considered for the position.
The ECO contacts current and former ecclesiastical leaders and asks them
the questions provided here
. It also reviews and assesses the candidate’s
- historical and current activity in the Church of Jesus Christ;
- religious behavior;
- public positions or statements related to leaders, doctrine, and policies of the Church of Jesus Christ; and
- support for the teachings, practices, and leadership of the Church of Jesus Christ.
The college verifies compliance with college standards for candidates for nonstudent positions who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ and who satisfy academic and professional requirements.
Many nonstudent positions have no expectations of continuing employment, such as adjunct instructors. For these positions, the pre-hire ecclesiastical clearance process (for candidates who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ) or college standards compliance verification process (for candidates who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ) occurs prior to the commencement of each new contract period, and in any event no less than annually. If a candidate for these positions is already a current college employee, the pre-hire ecclesiastical clearance process, and the temple recommend condition of employment, applies only to applications for these positions and this portion of employment at the college.
Members of the Church of Jesus Christ who serve in key leadership and administrative positions within the college’s faculty and administration accept as conditions of employment that they will hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend, regardless of when they were initially hired. Final candidates for initial employment in full-time faculty positions and in certain other administrative positions also interview with a general authority of the Church of Jesus Christ as part of the ecclesiastical clearance process or college standards compliance verification process.
Continuing Employee Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and College Standards Compliance
Employees in nonstudent positions who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ must meet ecclesiastical conditions of employment (hold and be worthy to hold a current temple recommend or, as applicable, demonstrate conduct consistent with qualifying for temple privileges) and all other conditions to continue their employment at the college. Ecclesiastical conditions of employment also include maintaining Church membership status, with no formal membership restrictions or withdrawal or resignation of membership from the Church. The ECO confirms at least annually that continuing employees are in compliance with ecclesiastical conditions of employment. The ECO indicates to the college only whether employees are cleared or not cleared ecclesiastically for continuing employment by the college.
Employees in nonstudent positions who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ must meet college standards and all other conditions of employment to continue their employment at the college.
Failure to Meet the Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment or College Standards Requirements
To fulfill the college’s mission, which is founded upon sincerely held religious beliefs, the college requires employees who are members of the Church of Jesus Christ to meet applicable ecclesiastical standards of employment and also requires employees who are not members of the Church of Jesus Christ to meet college standards requirements. An employee who fails to meet these requirements is subject to termination. A temporary probationary period or temporary exception may be allowed as described below and as further described in the Ecclesiastical Conditions of Employment and College Standards Procedures.
Temporary Probation
At the discretion of the college, a temporary probationary period, usually no more than three months, may be granted for an employee who has temporarily failed to meet applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or college standards requirements.
Temporary Exception
Employees who are not granted a temporary probationary period or who do not meet applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or college standards requirements by the conclusion of their temporary probationary period may petition for a temporary exception to continue their employment despite not meeting applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or college standards requirements if they comply with all other expectations and conditions of employment.
The college, in furtherance of its sincerely held religious beliefs, will not waive its ecclesiastical conditions of employment or college standards requirements. It will neither review nor seek reconsideration of ecclesiastical leaders’ determinations of ecclesiastical worthiness. However, it may, in its sole discretion, grant a temporary exception to the employee’s termination. Exceptions may be granted for no more than one year and only if the employee demonstrates a compelling reason for a temporary exception. The employee has the burden of demonstrating consistent compliance with all other expectations and conditions of employment. The college makes all final decisions regarding termination of employment, including under this policy.
Reemployment of Terminated Employees
An individual who has been separated from college employment for failing to meet an applicable ecclesiastical conditions of employment or college standards requirements may become eligible for reemployment at the college when he or she once again complies with the expectations and conditions identified in this policy. Former employees who meet these eligibility requirements may apply for any open position at the college for which they are qualified, and the college will consider their applications, along with those of other candidates, subject to meeting the pre-hire requirements of this policy. Employment decisions are at the sole discretion of the college. See Employee Corrective Action and Termination Policy and Hiring Policy .