Children in two households

7 postsstarted by jeffery3030 2,514 viewsoriginal topic

New Member
#1
Is there any way to have a child's record show in two different households following a divorce of the parents? They will be spending time in both homes and attended both wards. Thank you!
Senior Member
#2
The records must reside in just one of the wards but the other ward can create out-of-unit records in LCR so that the children can show up on rolls and such.
Church Employee
#3
To do this, the bishop or ward clerk needs to go to Membership > Manage Out-of-Unit Members in LCR.
New Member
#4
What types of things are the "out-of-unit" wards allowed to do? We are worried our son's father will try to perform ordinances without us knowing.
Community Administrator
#5
I'd think by policy, it should only be done by the ward holding the actual record, but I don't know what safeguards there might be to prevent the other unit from doing ordinances.

Frankly, I'd have the bishop contact the other bishop for a conversation about the situation.
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Community Moderators
#6
melvindh wrote: Tue Dec 23, 2025 8:47 pm What types of things are the "out-of-unit" wards allowed to do? We are worried our son's father will try to perform ordinances without us knowing.
General priesthood blessings can be given at any time, but ordinances such as naming and blessing children, baptism, confirmation, ordination to a priesthood office, etc. require approval from the bishop – the bishop needs to approve the person performing the ordinance as well as the time and location. Your best bet would be to make sure both bishops are in the loop of your situation, as suggested by russellhltn.
Samuel Bradshaw • If you desire to serve God, you are called to the work.
Senior Member
#7
And even more generally, I'd encourage any parent in this situation, to be very proactive about making sure both Bishops are actively tracking their "shared stewardships" for a child or youth. From my experience, some Bishops don't maintain the best ongoing communication and coordination with each other in these situations (of course without ever intending this to occur).

If I was the "out-of-unit" Bishop, I'd be happy to hear through the "home-ward" Bishop, what the other parent's thoughts and desires were, so I could account for that in my ministry. Not just for ordinances or callings, but also for the ongoing support as the youth goes through different challenges over time.