Sacrament Program Integration

The church could save millions of pieces of paper (and therefore money) by no longer printing programs (or fewer programs) for Sunday meetings. To offset this cost a web app could be built as a program designer which saves a program in an xml or json format in the Clerk and Leader Resources section of LDS.org. This program could then be downloaded in a lightweight format which would then be rendered on the client device. Simultaneously, the designer would create the print friendly version for the clerk to print.

This could solve multiple issues since you could require that a user sync all their data in LDS tools every week, even though it would be preferable if the Sunday program were a separate sync function.

Digital programs have been discussed on the forums here before, and there are several ideas floating around of how to accomplish this. I like your idea of Leader and Clerk Resources being a central place for pulling together information for the next week's program.

We will continue to print programs as long as people are not using mobile devices....

But that said, the church has not been very good at providing a rich-context editing tool for our use (Newsletter). Maybe that can change, but it doesn't seem very high on the list of priorities. I'd like to see at least a document repository for both Stake and Ward added to LCR that auto-populated a category on LDS Tools based on selected criteria in the document repository. Push-notifications through LDSTools is where I'd like to see something like this that could be expanded to include the 'Ward Mission Plan', the 'Ward Emergency Plan', 'Girls Camp Packing List', Flyers for upcoming events, etc...

Agreed. I like how the original poster mentioned "Simultaneously, the designer would create the print friendly version for the clerk to print" – that will still be necessary for a few more years; and I think it's important to be able to design the layout of the program uniquely based on the ward. But Leader and Clerk Resources would be a good place to pull together the raw data – who's giving the prayers, who's speaking, what songs will be sung, etc.

Personally, I don't see why we need the paper at all (even for people without electronics). I can tell you right now what the program for your next sacrament meeting will be (not the names, but the program, and the names really don't add much to a person sitting in the pews).

(If we're gonna go electronic, I think sufficient tools already exist, but no one's using them to their full potential.)

However, if we're gonna propose the above ideas, do women have access to this LCR thing? Cuz the person called to make the program is frequently a woman, and from other posts / conversations, it seems to me like this might be a priesthood or bishopric & clerks-only thing.

Liz

All standard ward council members, plus their counselors and secretaries, have access to Leader and Clerk Resources. This includes Relief Society, Young Women, and Primary presidencies.

There are also others who have access who aren't part of the ward council. From what I understand, this currently includes Visiting Teaching Coordinators, Visiting Teaching District Supervisors, and Home Teaching District Supervisors.

Different people get access to different reports and tools on Leader and Clerk Resources, depending on their calling.

I like having a program so I can glance at it and remember/learn people's names when they get up to give a talk, lead the music, pray, etc. For those that don't use technology, the weekly program is also the best way to get the word out about other things in the ward – for example, announcements, events, how to set up an appointment with the bishop, and even how to use / where to find the up-to-date information on LDS.org or in LDS Tools. It helps minimize the number of announcements from the pulpit, as the person conducting can just ask people to refer to the program. For me, I would be fine if the program were digital or printed, and I know how to get ward information online – but those who don't use technology are the ones we usually have the hardest time to let them know about ward events, etc., and without a printed program we would have nothing.

lmcguire wrote:Personally, I don't see why we need the paper at all (even for people without electronics). I can tell you right now what the program for your next sacrament meeting will be (not the names, but the program, and the names really don't add much to a person sitting in the pews).

No, you can't -- because our sacrament meeting program is used for much more than just the boilerplate for the meeting. It includes announcements and calendar items, which greatly reduces the number of announcements that need to be made over the pulpit. That is a good thing, because it lets us focus more of the time on the real purposes of sacrament meeting.

I would hope that if there ever were an electronic sacrament program generator (which I personally doubt will happen anytime soon), it would allow for such informational items. Also, our ward has many people who don't use technology much at all, so I see a paper version being useful for many years to come.

aebrown wrote:

lmcguire wrote:Personally, I don't see why we need the paper at all (even for people without electronics). I can tell you right now what the program for your next sacrament meeting will be (not the names, but the program, and the names really don't add much to a person sitting in the pews).

No, you can't -- because our sacrament meeting program is used for much more than just the boilerplate for the meeting. It includes announcements and calendar items, which greatly reduces the number of announcements that need to be made over the pulpit. That is a good thing, because it lets us focus more of the time on the real purposes of sacrament meeting

Sorry, I should have been more clear on two points - the "don't see a need at all" was strictly for the program portion; as for the rest of what's on there, I should have said *I* don't feel a need for it. I can get everything I need from LDS Tools - either the directory or the calendar - or from other places, like my ears and sign-up sheets.

I recognize there are people who can't / don't use electronic tools, and for them, the paper is a good resource - let them have it (I don't think the church needs to worry about the cost of printing). Even if some people just *want* the paper, let them have it.

For those who want it electronic, I also think we should let them have it. I think we already have the tools, if we're willing to use them - the whole thing could be done as a newsletter entry, and I'm betting the program could be a calendar event (assuming I'm correct that those can include a lot more text than people generally use)... I think it's not electronic yet because we haven't reached a tipping point and/or the people with the power haven't chosen to use their agency to make it electronic via available means... (That's no reason for someone not to use their agency to build a really cool tool, either, I just think if someone really wanted to, and had the access rights, they could already do it.)

Just my geeky perspective,

Liz

lmcguire wrote:...the whole thing could be done as a newsletter entry, and I'm betting the program could be a calendar event...

Yep, just confirmed with my brother (who has the rights) - both would work, with varying degrees of "pretty". Now I just have to con my Ward Clerk into giving our newsletter / program person rights, then con her into a bit of copy and paste....

Liz

While I can understand other people's views as to why this is lower on the list. I think it could serve many purposes that make it worth considering more urgently.

For example, programs often contain ward events. Getting members to populate ward events into their calendar has had slow adoption. If we were to create such a tool it could create incentive for the inclusion of ward events into the lds calendar app by integrating events into the designer. The person designing the program could pick and choose existing calendar items for inclusion into the calendar. You then kill two birds with one stone - easier data entry for creating the program with consistent text and calendar items in the church calendar system.

Furthermore, I feel that we can enable outside resources via hyperlinks to include additional resources would make it very useful. For example, we could include links to the first presidency message or to the latest social media campaign.

I feel like this idea is a win-win since we don't lose the ability to provide a paper program, but we gain the ability for people to use their smartphones to conserve paper, get additional content, ensure they get a program every Sunday (even those that arrive late) and we encourage our members to more fully use the tools we've provided for them.

ericpastuer wrote:While I can understand other people's views as to why this is lower on the list. I think it could serve many purposes that make it worth considering more urgently.

The LDSTech Forum is primarily user-to-user support. We can discuss the issue in the forum. And that is a good place to work out the details before submitting such an idea through proper channels. But little else will become of it through the forum since those who make the decisions you are advocating do not visit the forums. There are two official sources for feedback. One is through the feedback link found on many LDS.org pages. The feedback provided through this link will be routed to the proper organization or individuals for consideration or action.

The other is to pass your feedback up the priesthood chain. You talk to your bishop, who then talks to your stake president, who then talks to the area seventy and so on up the line.

I've been thinking some about why we have programs (the actual program part) in the first place and it occurred to me that outside the Church, a program that's distributed gives the impression that this is a formal, professional, anticipated, prepared for, important event. For example, programs are often printed for graduation ceremonies; or distributed electronically for conferences. I know some wards don't create programs at all – it's not stipulated in the Handbook. Given the recent emphasis on the Sabbath day, it's a good reminder that Sacrament meeting really is our most important meeting, so, if we do the program right, it can convey that same feeling of "this meeting is special and important." I think it could be done right digitally or printed; it could also be done right just posting one copy of the program next to the door that people can look at on their way in. Just some thoughts tangentially related to the topic at hand.

lmcguire wrote:

lmcguire wrote:...the whole thing could be done as a newsletter entry, and I'm betting the program could be a calendar event...

Yep, just confirmed with my brother (who has the rights) - both would work, with varying degrees of "pretty". Now I just have to con my Ward Clerk into giving our newsletter / program person rights, then con her into a bit of copy and paste....

We tried this in my stake and the feedback was too many clicks to get there, the requirement to login with username/password to get to the newsletter was a factor for many. Most wards switched to dropbox/google to distribute. Just FYI...

Integrating the Newsletter into LDS Tools would go a long way.

sbradshaw wrote:Given the recent emphasis on the Sabbath day, it's a good reminder that Sacrament meeting really is our most important meeting, so, if we do the program right, it can convey that same feeling of "this meeting is special and important." I think it could be done right digitally or printed; it could also be done right just posting one copy of the program next to the door that people can look at on their way in. Just some thoughts tangentially related to the topic at hand..

I think this is worth taking some time and pondering again. Our Worship Services do seem a little informal much of the time. I like the idea of the Program being used as a means of communicating the importance of the meeting. It can, like our Sacrament Services, feel rushed and not put together well. I agree that putting some emphasis on the program, I love the idea of a larger version posted at the door! (right next to the QR code so you can scan and get the program to your mobile device).

sbradshaw wrote:..., it's a good reminder that Sacrament meeting really is our most important meeting,...

That, my friend, is the best argument I've ever seen for a Sacrament program.

Liz

The following article on LDS.org "Use of Online Resources in Church Callings" indicates that we should never replace the printed program or bulletin board with an electronic copy.
https://www.lds.org/pages/online-resour ... s?lang=eng

Additional Best Practices
• A website, blog, or social media page should never be used as a replacement for the printed sacrament meeting program or bulletin board

.

Though I have had the idea of entering in LCR the callings that were sustained in meetings, immediately as they occurred, I have abstained. I think to use electronics during sac. can be distracting to the users and to others sitting around you. Texting during this meeting is a distraction.

I interpret that quote to mean that we should still provide the traditional, non-digital means of communication for those who prefer to use those – so, not that we shouldn't use digital programs, but rather, than we shouldn't get rid of printed ones completely. Interestingly, I've read that page before but this is the first time I've noticed any policy that presupposes that wards do and should have a sacrament meeting program. I've heard some say that their wards don't have sacrament meeting programs. The handbook only briefly mentions that if there are a lot of announcements to be given at church, they should be printed.

Hmm, thank you, I just assumed or interpreted it to say print the program and do not put it on social media.

1968leocomeeatabite wrote:The following article on LDS.org "Use of Online Resources in Church Callings" indicates that we should never replace the printed program or bulletin board with an electronic copy.
https://www.lds.org/pages/online-resour ... s?lang=eng

While we're at it: "Websites, blogs, and social media profiles should not duplicate tools and features that are already available on LDS.org."

In our ward, at the start of Covid when everyone thought paper programs were a health risk, our program person started putting it online with QR code access.

The result: the QR code is there, and no one really accesses it. We are all "in the zone" for church to start. The physical program is useful for people of all ages and keeps people off their phones and in the moment.

What is the weekly cost for program printing? Is it 1.5c/sheet, so $1.50/week? Let's double that, so $3/week, $150/year? What's the cost for ongoing support of a new tool that needs updates, fixes, etc. in IT support as well as server hosting, energy usage for that and everything else, plus that much more load on the overtaxed internet inside Church buildings? You're really saying we should be hiring people in Church IT for permanent positions, teams that do grow over time, to replace the paper we're using. And if we must always print them for the elderly, then what cost are we really incurring to double that for everyone else to use?

Our bishopric meeting just independently thought of this, and I was not surprised that others have also had this thought.
I'm just replying as a +1.

Since this post has been "resurrected" I'll just add that a current viewing of the help center article listed earlier in the thread:
Use of Online Resources in Church Callings
does not currently mention the "Additional Best Practices" note about not replacing printed sacrament meeting programs with a digital equivalent. Or for that matter, with nothing at all. Of course that's the wonderful thing about online docs, they can change at any time, in either small or large ways, and what we thought we knew can suddenly become outdated...

I just wanted to share this for anyone finding this Tech Forum thread and also finding that definitive statement about printed sacrament meeting programs, it seems what was true in 2015 has changed for 2022. And I'm also aware that what was true on Nov 30 2021 (the last time the Help Center doc was updated), is perhaps itself now outdated! There may be more-current policy regarding printed sacrament meeting programs, but I couldn't find anything official with my (minimal) searching. Thus, local leaders can follow their inspiration to determine what is best for their congregations.

BrianEdwards wrote: Mon Dec 12, 2022 9:53 am Since this post has been "resurrected" I'll just add that a current viewing of the help center article listed earlier in the thread:
Use of Online Resources in Church Callings
does not currently mention the "Additional Best Practices" note about not replacing printed sacrament meeting programs with a digital equivalent. Or for that matter, with nothing at all. Of course that's the wonderful thing about online docs, they can change at any time, in either small or large ways, and what we thought we knew can suddenly become outdated...

I just wanted to share this for anyone finding this Tech Forum thread and also finding that definitive statement about printed sacrament meeting programs, it seems what was true in 2015 has changed for 2022. And I'm also aware that what was true on Nov 30 2021 (the last time the Help Center doc was updated), is perhaps itself now outdated! There may be more-current policy regarding printed sacrament meeting programs, but I couldn't find anything official with my (minimal) searching. Thus, local leaders can follow their inspiration to determine what is best for their congregations.

Thank for your time in researching this. This is helpful.

i made the program interactive. you can find an example here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qZ_ ... ue&sd=true