MLS on Home Computer

I am the local Assist Ward Clerk. I downloaded the MLS on my home computer and before importing everything I thought I better check and see if this is acceptable or not. I didn't see any policies for or against when I was looking into the download instructions and FAQ's. Any response?

Jim Boyce

It is not. Aside from the data privacy issues, the MLS database can only reside on one computer (the one in the clerk's office) to avoid data collisions.

I suggest you try looking at lds.org/clerk to see what it enables you to do from home.

According to policy

11. Ensure that priesthood leaders and clerks do not install Church record-keeping software on their home computers, except for training purposes using test data, and that they do not reverse-engineer record-keeping software code.

For training purposes there are test units which you can import to MLS. That is the only way of using MLS on a home computer that is still in accord with the policy referenced by russellhltn.

What information are you trying to access from home that isn't available on lds.org?

It is my understanding that the test unit data is so outdated as to be useless. Then, it would seem, there is no legitimate reason to try installing MLS on any computer besides the one in the clerk's office.

What makes the test data useless? For training purposes on MLS you can still demonstrate how to record ordinances, process finances, handle tithing settlement, etc.

The test unit data itself simply allows you to use MLS to familiarize yourself with its functions without actually performing any actions on vital data.

mdyoung wrote:What makes the test data useless?

Not completely useless, but certainly crippled. Because of the outdated birth dates, you'll find that without a lot of manual tweaking, your Primary will be nonexistent. Also, CUBS can't be simulated, so financial training will be lacking key elements.

We've asked (a LOT) to have this updated, but because of the trend to move more MLS functionality to the cloud, MLS is no longer the stand-alone program it used to be. This limits the usefulness of running MLS in an isolated "sand-box" environment with the built-in "test data".

Mikerowaved wrote:Because of the outdated birth dates, you'll find that without a lot of manual tweaking, your Primary will be nonexistent. Also, CUBS can't be simulated, so financial training will be lacking key elements

You could practice entering many child of record baptisms, and ordinations to the priesthood .

In terms of dates you could change your system time before importing the test unit, though I would understand why some would be reticent to do that. Additionally that may not be obvious course of action.

Regardless, I see your point. The absence of CUBS forgoes a lot of the potential utility of test data.