Quarterly Report Discrepancy: MLS vs. Web

While preparing our Quarterly Report, I noticed 4 pre-filled data lines (i.e. Single Adults, Endowed Members, Primary) had differing numbers between MLS and that displayed under the Clerk's Resources on "lds.org" - any thoughts and/or similar experiences?

The most notable are the two lines concerning Primary Children ["3 - 11" and "0 - 2"]. It seems those "age 3 on January 1st of the Reporting Year" were probably included on the wrong line of the Online Quarterly Report, because the difference is equal to the number of kids that turned 3 years-of-age during 2013. Unfortunately, the web site version does not provide a list of members in the various categories, as does MLS.

Same issue here. In fact some numbers appeared to change when I moved out members after the 1st of the year. I opted to use the MLS version for my report because of this.

MLS locks the statistics at the last/first day of each quarter. The Web version does not seem to lock them, but rather seems to display current statistics. I also prefer MLS.

It will be interesting to see what changes come when we prepare the 2014 1Q report in April.

deuel wrote:The most notable are the two lines concerning Primary Children ["3 - 11" and "0 - 2"]. It seems those "age 3 on January 1st of the Reporting Year" were probably included on the wrong line of the Online Quarterly Report, because the difference is equal to the number of kids that turned 3 years-of-age during 2013. Unfortunately, the web site version does not provide a list of members in the various categories, as does MLS.

There was an issue with the Primary calculation when the calculation routine ran at the beginning of the quarter. It has been fixed, but the calculated values weren't changed retroactively.

In the current configuration, the baseline statistics are calculated early in the morning (unit local time) on the first day of the quarter. When the quarterly report is sent from MLS, the baseline values calculated by MLS overwrite the values that were calculated at Church headquarters. Since the MLS-calculated values will overwrite the incorrect values, the decision was to let MLS push the corrections rather than try to go back and recalculate the statistics retroactively.

lajackson wrote:MLS locks the statistics at the last/first day of each quarter. The Web version does not seem to lock them, but rather seems to display current statistics. I also prefer MLS.

The web version should lock them at the beginning of the quarter (see above), but will update as the reports are submitting using MLS.

scgallafent wrote:

deuel wrote:The most notable are the two lines concerning Primary Children ["3 - 11" and "0 - 2"]. It seems those "age 3 on January 1st of the Reporting Year" were probably included on the wrong line of the Online Quarterly Report, because the difference is equal to the number of kids that turned 3 years-of-age during 2013. Unfortunately, the web site version does not provide a list of members in the various categories, as does MLS.

There was an issue with the Primary calculation when the calculation routine ran at the beginning of the quarter. It has been fixed, but the calculated values weren't changed retroactively.

In the current configuration, the baseline statistics are calculated early in the morning (unit local time) on the first day of the quarter. When the quarterly report is sent from MLS, the baseline values calculated by MLS overwrite the values that were calculated at Church headquarters. Since the MLS-calculated values will overwrite the incorrect values, the decision was to let MLS push the corrections rather than try to go back and recalculate the statistics retroactively.

Does that mean the statistics won't get updated if you submit the report via Clerk Resources and not MLS?

eblood66 wrote:Does that mean the statistics won't get updated if you submit the report via Clerk Resources and not MLS?

They will NOT get updated if you use Clerk Resources to submit the report. You don't have the ability to modify the baseline values from Clerk Resources, so you need to submit the report using MLS in order to use the MLS-calculated values instead of the existing values.

scgallafent wrote:

eblood66 wrote:Does that mean the statistics won't get updated if you submit the report via Clerk Resources and not MLS?

They will NOT get updated if you use Clerk Resources to submit the report. You don't have the ability to modify the baseline values from Clerk Resources, so you need to submit the report using MLS in order to use the MLS-calculated values instead of the existing values.

I've already submitted via the web (I just ignored the incorrect count for primary children and put in the correct number who attended). If I resubmit in MLS on Sunday will that update the report appropriately?

eblood66 wrote:

scgallafent wrote:

eblood66 wrote:Does that mean the statistics won't get updated if you submit the report via Clerk Resources and not MLS?

They will NOT get updated if you use Clerk Resources to submit the report. You don't have the ability to modify the baseline values from Clerk Resources, so you need to submit the report using MLS in order to use the MLS-calculated values instead of the existing values.

I've already submitted via the web (I just ignored the incorrect count for primary children and put in the correct number who attended). If I resubmit in MLS on Sunday will that update the report appropriately?

Yes. As long as the MLS report is submitted by January 30, the MLS baseline values will overwrite the generated baseline values that you see in Clerk Resources.

However, I think MLS values might change based on records being moved out. We've observed that with HT/VT stats.

russellhltn wrote:However, I think MLS values might change based on records being moved out. We've observed that with HT/VT stats.

That's never been the case before. Quarterly Report numbers have always been frozen and aren't changed by record moves after the end of the quarter.

I'm pretty sure that Quarterly Report numbers are permanently stored whereas HT/VT stats are recalculated on demand based on current data.

I have a question about Children on the new 2014 quarterly form.

Why do we need to count children for line 21 ages 3-11 when the only thing that matters most is the number of children 8-11 who are funded. Everyone else is not funded.

What would be better, more clear and accurate for the new 2014 quarterly would be the following.
Children ages 0 through 2 (Not funded) This is good no needs yet.
Children ages 3 through 7 (Not funded) Should of been.
Children ages 8 through 11 years (The important ones that get funded) Big needs

We always thought that line 21 Children ages 3-11 attending Primary were always counted and funded this is false.

daryl1 wrote:Why do we need to count attending children for line 21 ages 3-11 when the only thing that matters is the number of children 8-11 who are funded. Everyone else is not funded or counted for Financial.

There are many useful purposes for the Quarterly Report. Funding is just one (relatively minor) reason for reporting. The Church is interested in data for many reasons. Long before there was any relationship at all between the quarterly report and budget allowances, we reported attendance on Primary.

daryl1 wrote:I have a Primary President who is not very happy about this. Primary should be funded 3-11 not just 8-11.

The extra funding based on children 8-11 is for activities (Cub Scouts and Activity Days). Note that this is EXTRA funding. The remainder of the funding of Primary (and indeed for almost all organizations and other expenses in the ward) comes from the general budget allowance, which is based on sacrament meeting attendance.

daryl1 wrote:This causes fund raising to have to occur.

It really shouldn't. The only thing Primary is involved with where fund raising is even an option is the Cub Scout day camp. And that's only if the budget allowance is not sufficient and parents are unable to pay. All other expenses come from the budget allowance.

Thank you for the feedback.

I do not care one way or the other. I am good with the new form. Being in leadership I have to help people. I blame most of the issues on the times we live in. It is getting more and more difficult to support scouts and fund activities for both boys and girls. The funding allocation is not even close to providing for Cubs Day Camp now $67 or so each. 11 year old scouts are also under Primary.