eblood66 wrote:This is not entirely true. Usually you print out and have the parents fill out the Child Blessing Record (on the menu select Membership > Ordinances > Forms and then select Child Blessing Record from the list). This provides all the information needed to create the record for the child and provides the parents signature giving their consent to create the child's record. I've seen nothing that says this form has to be filled out before the blessing but it is generally filled out before recording the blessing in MLS.
This form may not strictly be necessary but it is at very least convenient to make sure you have all the information needed to record the blessing and create the child's record.
I print this form for every child born in our ward as soon as I learn of its birth. I then fill out as much information as I can, then leave the rest to fill out with the parents at some future date. Printing out the forms also helps me keep track of which children have been blessed and which haven't. I find them to be a useful reminder.
I've also sent this form with parents when they've blessed their children outside of the unit. That way the recording unit has the right unit numbers to use in creating the record, as well as little details, like the city and county the child was born in (it isn't always obvious which city the hospitals are in around here).
