LDS Freedom Forum

Lizzy60 wrote:A close friend of mine, who I worked with in the temple, moved to another temple district, and asked her new Bishop to recommend her as a temple worker in her new temple. She knew from members of her new ward that the temple had an ongoing need for workers. Months went by, and she grew impatient, and asked her Bishop if he knew what the holdup was. He took her into his office, got very serious, and told her that he didn't know what her previous "problem" had been, but her membership record was flagged, and he was not allowed to submit her name for a temple calling, nor any leadership calling in the ward.

Well, this was news to my friend, as she was about as righteous as the Q12! Subsequently, her new Bishop contacted her previous Bishop and they determined that the previous Bishop had accidentally checked a box that indicated that she only be given certain callings. If she had not wanted to work in the temple, and had not pressed for an explanation on why she wasn't being called to do so, that little checkmark could have followed her around the rest of her life, with Bishops always wondering what infraction she had committed to warrant the warning.

True story -- told to me in person.

BrianM wrote:Maybe the former bishops here could clarify but it's my understanding (from my time as a membership clerk) that the additional notes on membership records would apply to anyone that had been excommunicated or gone through some kind of temporary dis-fellowship or other such church discipline.

BroJones wrote:I would like to see the file the FBI keep on me - can I see this file? how?

(PS - not worried about my "church file" if any. I served as a Bishop and NEVER entered any such note in any such file.)

Lizzy60 wrote:A close friend of mine, who I worked with in the temple, moved to another temple district, and asked her new Bishop to recommend her as a temple worker in her new temple. She knew from members of her new ward that the temple had an ongoing need for workers. Months went by, and she grew impatient, and asked her Bishop if he knew what the holdup was. He took her into his office, got very serious, and told her that he didn't know what her previous "problem" had been, but her membership record was flagged, and he was not allowed to submit her name for a temple calling, nor any leadership calling in the ward.

Well, this was news to my friend, as she was about as righteous as the Q12! Subsequently, her new Bishop contacted her previous Bishop and they determined that the previous Bishop had accidentally checked a box that indicated that she only be given certain callings. If she had not wanted to work in the temple, and had not pressed for an explanation on why she wasn't being called to do so, that little checkmark could have followed her around the rest of her life, with Bishops always wondering what infraction she had committed to warrant the warning.

True story -- told to me in person.

Edit to add time frame -- this occurred about 10 years ago.

Thinker wrote:In all of the years I've been in the church, I never thought a file was kept on me that I didn't have access to. I thought only cults did that.
Is it true that we as members of the LDS church do NOT have access to our own files?
What if a bishop writes false or exaggerated things in there because he doesn't like us?

I believe such practices are illegal in countries like UK.

I hope and pray the church does not do this.
Please, inform me as to membership records and whether we have access to our own file or not.
I could understand if someone is a convicted abuser or something where the bishop needs to be sure he/she's not around children, but each person should be able to at least see their own files that others in the bishopric and stake (& their gossipy wives) have access to.

Franco wrote:

Thinker wrote:In all of the years I've been in the church, I never thought a file was kept on me that I didn't have access to. I thought only cults did that.
Is it true that we as members of the LDS church do NOT have access to our own files?
What if a bishop writes false or exaggerated things in there because he doesn't like us?

I believe such practices are illegal in countries like UK.

I hope and pray the church does not do this.
Please, inform me as to membership records and whether we have access to our own file or not.
I could understand if someone is a convicted abuser or something where the bishop needs to be sure he/she's not around children, but each person should be able to at least see their own files that others in the bishopric and stake (& their gossipy wives) have access to.

This is amazing. You were so intent on accusing the brethren and attacking Jesus Christ's Church that you fabricated something and then stated, "I hope and pray the church does not do this."

Let's see how you like it when someone does to you exactly what you are doing to the Church. I will use the same phraseology that you used in your post and will conclude with hoping and praying that you "do not do this." Feel free to report yourself for saying such things.

In all the time I've seen you, Thinker, posting on this forum, I never thought you robbed banks and killed people. I thought only horrible criminals did those things.
Is it true that you, Thinker, rob banks and kill people?
What if you robbed a bank and killed five people?

I believe such things are illegal in any country.

I hope and pray that you do not do this.

If Brian deletes this post, he should delete your post too. But since you would obviously not get a warning for your "speculative" post, there is no reason why I should get a warning for this post.

Sunain wrote:The church does keep a record of members but its not like an NSA/FBI like record where there is a written report of the member. It does lists ordinations, mission locations, baptism, confirmation, endowment, marriage dates, ect.

There is a bishop's+ only annotation field that can only be used if official church discipline has occurred but even then its a limited character field. Bishoprics, stake presidencies, area authorities, ect are the only ones authorized to access that information. Information from the membership records are used for the statistical reports of the church which are announced at April General Conferences.

That being said, nothing is stopping these people from accessing the records and disseminating information. It's generally church policy for members moving into a ward for the bishop to talk to a previous bishop and that's generally where the issues arise that you are alluding to.

You cannot update your own address though as it must be done by a membership clerk. So if that's what you mean then yes, you cannot directly access your file. You can update your email and phone number and set it to private on your LDS.org account though but that still won't stop it from being given to Home Teachers and the Elders Quorum.

Thinker wrote:Franco,
Am I pretending to be a prophet, collecting money in exchange for temple worthiness and then keeping money dealings dark and secret?
Have I admitted to NOT sharing tithes with the poor (as Oaks admitted), disobeying the law of tithing (Deut. 14:28-29)?
Have I hidden that scripture from members - pretending that the law of tithing says nothing about the poor?

You, BeePrepared & Rewcox seem to take great delight in my suffering.
Should I make your day and tell you I was molested by old men, raped and abused by my spouse? Are you all smiles now???

Membership Records
Membership records include members' names and addresses, as well as ordinances and other vital information. The ward should have a membership record for each member living within the ward boundaries. Membership records are to be kept in the ward in which the member lives. Exceptions, which should be few, require the consent of the bishops and stake presidents involved and the approval of the Office of the First Presidency.

Membership records are the only means of recording ordinances and other official actions in the permanent records of the Church. Therefore, the bishop makes sure that the clerks keep accurate records and send updated information promptly to the administration office. It is especially important to record ordinance information, promptly request records of the members who move into the ward, and promptly transfer records of members who move from the ward.

Before a member is interviewed for a Church calling, ordination to a Melchizedak Priesthood office, or a temple recommend, the bishop should carefully review the person's membership record to verify that it does not include an annotation, a comment about a sealing or ordinance restriction, or a comment about unresolved Church discipline.

Members many not have copies of membership records. Under no circumstances may membership records be given to anyone other than the bishop or a clerk.

Church Handbook of Instructions - Book 1 - Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics - 2006 - Page 145
http://file.wikileaks.org/file/mormon-h ... -small.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

BrotherOfMahonri wrote:

Lizzy60 wrote:A close friend of mine, who I worked with in the temple, moved to another temple district, and asked her new Bishop to recommend her as a temple worker in her new temple. She knew from members of her new ward that the temple had an ongoing need for workers. Months went by, and she grew impatient, and asked her Bishop if he knew what the holdup was. He took her into his office, got very serious, and told her that he didn't know what her previous "problem" had been, but her membership record was flagged, and he was not allowed to submit her name for a temple calling, nor any leadership calling in the ward.

Well, this was news to my friend, as she was about as righteous as the Q12! Subsequently, her new Bishop contacted her previous Bishop and they determined that the previous Bishop had accidentally checked a box that indicated that she only be given certain callings. If she had not wanted to work in the temple, and had not pressed for an explanation on why she wasn't being called to do so, that little checkmark could have followed her around the rest of her life, with Bishops always wondering what infraction she had committed to warrant the warning.

True story -- told to me in person.

Edit to add time frame -- this occurred about 10 years ago.

I've always wondered how the spirit of inspiration and discernment works... now I know, a checkbox!

Thinker wrote:Thanks for confirming what I was afraid of.
I just keep saying, "Oh my gosh!"
If I would have known, I would not have told bishops so much.
I feel very manipulated.
This isn't right - not Christ-like at all.

How I came across this is a Stake president was saying how he needed to train people about not giving members their own record/file information. A clerk accidentally (or purposefully who knows) printed out all of a member's records and the member was very upset about some discipline action that was noted but happened long ago.

djinwa wrote:

BrotherOfMahonri wrote:

Lizzy60 wrote:A close friend of mine, who I worked with in the temple, moved to another temple district, and asked her new Bishop to recommend her as a temple worker in her new temple. She knew from members of her new ward that the temple had an ongoing need for workers. Months went by, and she grew impatient, and asked her Bishop if he knew what the holdup was. He took her into his office, got very serious, and told her that he didn't know what her previous "problem" had been, but her membership record was flagged, and he was not allowed to submit her name for a temple calling, nor any leadership calling in the ward.

Well, this was news to my friend, as she was about as righteous as the Q12! Subsequently, her new Bishop contacted her previous Bishop and they determined that the previous Bishop had accidentally checked a box that indicated that she only be given certain callings. If she had not wanted to work in the temple, and had not pressed for an explanation on why she wasn't being called to do so, that little checkmark could have followed her around the rest of her life, with Bishops always wondering what infraction she had committed to warrant the warning.

True story -- told to me in person.

Edit to add time frame -- this occurred about 10 years ago.

I've always wondered how the spirit of inspiration and discernment works... now I know, a checkbox!

It is funny reading all the stories of lack of inspiration.

Leaders could cut the red tape if they just asked the Lord what a member's status was.

If the Lord is directing the leaders, how did He have them check the wrong box, or mix up two missionaries, and on and on. I finally gave up playing the inspiration game as a leader. I was right about half the time - as much as my dog.

And we keep saying our leaders are inspired.......except when they aren't. Aren't we special!