Eternal Family Adoptions:
An Adoption Journey for LDS Families

To move forward with awareness, we have to look back with honesty.

Adoption within the Latter-day Saint community has deep and complex roots.

From the early days when Joseph and Emma Smith took in John Murdock’s twins, to the formation of Relief Society Social Services, to the shift toward
professionalized, private adoption through LDS Family Services—our history is layered with both care and silence.

For much of the 20th century, adoption in the Church was centered on placing infants—especially white infants—into temple-sealed, two-parent households.

Unwed mothers were often sent away in secrecy. Birth certificates were changed. Some adoptions were never spoken of again.

This wasn’t out of malice—but out of a sincere, if misguided, desire to protect reputations and ensure eternal family structures. And still, many birth mothers carry grief. Many adoptees wrestle with identity and visibility.

In 2014, the Church stopped directly facilitating adoptions.

There were a number of reasons for that. There were shifts in the demographics of birth parents and the role the church should play changed. Other organizations were asked to support women considering adoption and involve LDS families who were looking to adopt.