I also don't want to be augmentative and ultimately It is up to the bishops and stake presidents involved to make a determination of how to proceed and I don't claim to any authority.mrclary wrote:I don't want to be antagonistic, but I disagree with both chriswoodut and eblood66.
When printing a certificate, it will reflect the ward in which the certificate is printed. While a baby blessing is not a saving ordinance, it is still presided over by priesthood authority, in particular the Bishop of the ward in which the blessing takes place. For this reason, it is only appropriate for this Bishop to sign the blessing certificate and therefore should be printed and signed in the ward in which the blessing takes place. See Handbook 1, section 16 and Handbook2, section 20.
However, personally, I don't find anything in the handbook that addresses this situation. In fact, what the handbook does say (in Handbook 2, section 20.2.1) is that blessings are normally done in the ward where the parent's records are. My take is that out-of-unit blessings are overall discouraged anyway. LCR seems to be programmed accordingly.
As for which priesthood authority has the keys over the blessing, I don't know of anywhere it is addressed. However, for a baptism the home bishop is definitely the one with the keys. He is the one to do the interview and he is the one to sign the certificate. That is stated in the handbook (Handbook 1, section 16.1.3). A priesthood leader in the other unit does preside over the ordinance but the ordinance must be authorized by the home ward bishop. I think the same applies for a blessing. Parents cannot go to just any ward and ask for authorization to bless their child. They have to go to their home ward bishop. Without specific guidance otherwise, I think it reasonable to follow the same models as for other ordinances and have the home ward handle the paperwork and the home ward bishop sign the certificate.
At least, that's the recommendation I'd still make to my priesthood leaders but I'd leave it up to them to decide after giving them the information I know.