Non-member Record Number?

I'm a ward clerk attempting to move a membership record into my ward and getting the following message:
"This request cannot be completed because the record is for a nonmember who is either a child, spouse, or parent of a member."

I thought non-members didn't have membership numbers assigned? If that is the case then why (when I have the actual MRN) get this message?

okiecb wrote:I thought non-members didn't have membership numbers assigned?

An administrative number may be assigned to non-members. There was a time when we were allowed to add non-members to the system.

However, in this case, I suspect you may be dealing with something like a canceled record. Give local unit support a call on Monday to clarify the situation. How did you get this MRN? If it was from the record of another member, then perhaps the member isn't properly linked to the membership of their family member. You'll have to use another means to find that person.

okiecb wrote:I'm a ward clerk attempting to move a membership record into my ward and getting the following message:
"This request cannot be completed because the record is for a nonmember who is either a child, spouse, or parent of a member."

I thought non-members didn't have membership numbers assigned? If that is the case then why (when I have the actual MRN) get this message?

There are situations where a record for a non-member will be created and have a membership record number assigned. One common scenario is when a record is created for someone related to a member. The non-member's record has an MRN and that MRN can be seen on the member's membership record.

Since it is the case that a non-member can have an MRN, that is why you are getting this message.

How do I create a record for a non-member? We have a family with some children who are baptized members but they come with their parents. We (and they) would like the whole family as members of the WARD, while not also being members of the church. How is that done.

larry19810 wrote:How do I create a record for a non-member? We have a family with some children who are baptized members but they come with their parents. We (and they) would like the whole family as members of the WARD, while not also being members of the church. How is that done.

If the child is under 8 years old you can (with the parents permission) create a record for the child. However, if the child is 8 or older there is no way to create any kind of record other than by getting baptized.

larry19810 wrote:How do I create a record for a non-member? We have a family with some children who are baptized members but they come with their parents. We (and they) would like the whole family as members of the WARD, while not also being members of the church. How is that done.

As eblood66 says, there is no way for you to create a record for someone eight or older without that person getting baptized. In some circumstances, the membership system may create a separate "person" record for someone (the parents, in this case) and assign a membership record number so that person can be correctly associated with the children. That person record exists to facilitate managing the family relationships for those children. That record is not associated with a member of the Church and cannot be assigned to your ward.

OK, how do I create a person record that shows on the ward list. There is value for the situation we have, where the people are friendly and supportive of their children but for extraneous reasons cannot be baptized but can be in other ways in fellowship with the ward members. We want them not to show with one of the kids as 'head of household' which could be somewhat disrespectful of the parents role in their family.

larry19810 wrote:OK, how do I create a person record that shows on the ward list. There is value for the situation we have, where the people are friendly and supportive of their children but for extraneous reasons cannot be baptized but can be in other ways in fellowship with the ward members. We want them not to show with one of the kids as 'head of household' which could be somewhat disrespectful of the parents role in their family.

You don't. The only situation I know of where a non-member shows up on a ward list is a non-member spouse. There isn't currently a way to accomplish what you're describing.

OK, thanks for the definitive answer. Is there a suggestion box where my situation can go?

Your two options are to use the feedback form on LDS.org or to ask your stake clerk to work with the stake president to pass the need for this to their priesthood leaders.

I have a family in my ward where the mother is not a member. How do I get her to show up in the directory? I can't find a place where I can enter her in the system

brdone wrote:I have a family in my ward where the mother is not a member. How do I get her to show up in the directory? I can't find a place where I can enter her in the system

Unfortunately, there is no longer a way in the system to display information for those who are not members, with the exception that the name of a husband who is not a member will sometimes display with his member spouse.

lajackson wrote:with the exception that the name of a husband who is not a member will sometimes display with his member spouse.

I'd expect that ability to work for either spouse as long as at least one is a member. That switch is controlled at CHQ. There's nothing the local unit can do other than contact Local Unit Support to have it changed. I think the terminology is "unsuppress the non-member spouse".

About all you can find about this in the Help Center is in the Directory Help FAQs under the question "How can I remove my ex-spouse from my household listing?". While it doesn't sound like the same thing, it addresses the issue of a non-member spouse appearing in the directory based on the marriage information on the member spouse's record.

If both parents are non-members, or if you're dealing with a single non-member, I think you're out of luck. I'd go ahead and call just to be sure. But I've never heard of anything like that happening.