LDS Freedom Forum

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.

I think it's true!

LDS Church exclusion of members access to their own records 2008
https://wikileaks.org/wiki/LDS_Church_e ... cords_2008" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

" This document was leaked because the whistleblower thought the implementation was scandalous and that it newly required leaders to either comply with the policy, perjure themselves, or employ creative reasoning."

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.

I wanted to create an account at LDS.org. To do so I needed my membership number, which is printed on temple recommends, but I didn't have a temple recommend at the time. I also needed my confirmation date, but wasn't positive on that date. So I went to the ward clerk and asked, "Would you print a copy of my membership record for me?"
He said, "Sure. Just a moment."
Less than a minute later I walked out with a copy of my membership record.

Some things, such as disfellowshipment or excommunication and rebaptism, are treated as confidential and are not part of the membership record the ward clerk has access to. I don't even know if the Bishop of Stake President has access to that information. But, instead of believing anything you read on the internet, I would suggest going to your ward clerk on Sunday and asking for a copy of your member record.

I was under the impression that this file simply has our name, and our family members on it with the dates of our ordinances that were performed.
I don't really care if they have a record like that.

Is there more information on these records that I'm not aware of?

When I was a membership clerk I did not have access to whatever additional notes the bishop might have had access to. I recall when a new member record came in there was some kind of indicator on the record that there where additional notes the bishop could access. It was likely based on whose login was being used - I think we each had our own login to the system.

brianj wrote:... Less than a minute later I walked out with a copy of my membership record...

What they printed out for you is not your full membership records.

SO it's likely that our records have notes about us? For example if a Bishop noted that a certain member exhibits apostate behavior, he might put it on the notes for other leaders to see in the future?

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.

Jesus forgives. But the church keeps track.

Stahura wrote:SO it's likely that our records have notes about us? For example if a Bishop noted that a certain member exhibits apostate behavior, he might put it on the notes for other leaders to see in the future?

No, bishops aren't authorized to add anything to the notes field unless official church discipline has taken place. They can't just add "Sunain is an apostate that deals drugs on the side and has a harem but refuses to acknowledge this". :))

I was under the impression that this was a known thing. At 28 yrs old and was asked during a bishops interview, for my upcoming temple marriage, if the discretion's I had when I was 14yrs old where all taken care of. That was with a new bishop in Colorado and I lived in Utah at age 14.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strengthe ... _Committee

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.)

AgaetisTakk wrote:I was under the impression that this was a known thing. At 28 yrs old and was asked during a bishops interview, for my upcoming temple marriage, if the discretion's I had when I was 14yrs old where all taken care of. That was with a new bishop in Colorado and I lived in Utah at age 14.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strengthe ... _Committee

So like, if I broke the law of chastity when I was 15, it'll be on my record for the rest of my life?

Sunain wrote:

Stahura wrote:SO it's likely that our records have notes about us? For example if a Bishop noted that a certain member exhibits apostate behavior, he might put it on the notes for other leaders to see in the future?

No, bishops aren't authorized to add anything to the notes field unless official church discipline has taken place. They can't just add "Sunain is an apostate that deals drugs on the side and has a harem but refuses to acknowledge this". :))

haha this made me laugh out loud!

Sunain wrote:

Stahura wrote:SO it's likely that our records have notes about us? For example if a Bishop noted that a certain member exhibits apostate behavior, he might put it on the notes for other leaders to see in the future?

No, bishops aren't authorized to add anything to the notes field unless official church discipline has taken place. They can't just add "Sunain is an apostate that deals drugs on the side and has a harem but refuses to acknowledge this". :))

Sunain
What is considered "official church discipline"?
If a bishop (& his wife) had a disagreement with you (&several times with your spouse), and in his rage says, "you can't give the talk, visit teach or anything!" -would that apply, or does there have to be others involved - like a council or whatever?

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.

Stahura wrote:So like, if I broke the law of chastity when I was 15, it'll be on my record for the rest of my life?

Like a criminal record, yes. Official church discipline is not expunged from your record. A BIG reason why people are refusing to do confessions these days. Information leaks and gossip ruins lives.

I was really confused when my Bishop asked me about being a go-go dancer in Las Vegas. Seems my hubby told him. ;)

Sunain wrote:

Stahura wrote:So like, if I broke the law of chastity when I was 15, it'll be on my record for the rest of my life?

Like a criminal record, yes. Official church discipline is not expunged from your record. A BIG reason why people are refusing to do confessions these days. Information leaks and gossip ruins lives.

I see. Only legal matters?

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.

If she was smart, she would have left it that way. Such little regard for tender mercies.

Jbalm, you know me too well. I was just thinking that I hope I have that checkmark in my membership file! :))

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.

Thinker wrote:What is considered "official church discipline"?
If a bishop (& his wife) had a disagreement with you (&several times with your spouse), and in his rage says, "you can't give the talk, visit teach or anything!" -would that apply, or does there have to be others involved - like a council or whatever?

No that wouldn't count. Requires that a sin be broken and then confessed.

Information on official Church Discipline: http://www.mormonnewsroom.ca/article/church-discipline" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Bee Prepared wrote:I was really confused when my Bishop asked me about being a go-go dancer in Las Vegas. Seems my hubby told him. ;)

Was this before or after he asked you about your preference in underwear?