Tech Forum Archive

Are newly blessed children considered members

6 postsstarted by toothnet 2,591 viewsoriginal topic

toothnet
New Member
#1
Hi everyone. First week as Ward Clerk. So when adding a child to a family it asks if the person (child) is a member of the church. In the handbook I found that those under the age of nine who have been blessed but not baptized are considered a "member of record". Within my ward, when I ask this question of the Bishopric (they are new also) I'm getting both yes and no. Some are saying no, not until after baptism. Can someone confirm this for sure? Or is "member of the church" different than "member of record"? I'm probably making this harder than it needs to be. Thank you!!
russellhltn
Community Administrator
#2
toothnet wrote:when adding a child to a family it asks if the person (child) is a member of the church.
I'm not sure exactly what operation you're doing, but odds are, what it's asking is if there's a membership record for this person. In which case, I don't think there's a distinction between "Member of Record" or a full-fledged member.

Something you should be aware of is there is a difference between having a child recorded on the parent's record, and having a record of the child. We've had a few clerks come in confused why a child is showing up on the parent's record, but not showing up in the directory or the class rolls. So, depending on how you're adding the name, the system might be asking the question to make sure you complete the task and not leave it half done.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
eblood66
Senior Member
#3
In this case it's asking if they are a member of record and have a membership record. If so, then it will have you look up the record so it can link the child's record to the parent. If not, it will ask for vital details (name, birthdate, etc) and the child will be listed as a non-member child.

But note that if this is for a child who was just blessed then they probably don't have a record yet and you need to use Membership > Create Record to create their record rather than just adding them to their parents. The Create Record process will automatically add them to their parents as part of the process.
toothnet
New Member
#4
Ok. That makes sense. Thank you so much.
chriswoodut
Member
#5
Your question made me curious so I browsed the handbook. A child under 8 can be a 'member of record' but the question is whether or not they are 'a member'. The handbook always uses the phrase 'member of record' for children under 8. A baptized member of any age is also a 'member of record'. But, is vice versa true? For example, would an unbaptized teenager of a baptized member that is a 'member of record' also be 'a member'?

18.2.2.8 - Introducing New Members
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... ng#title13
When membership records are received in a ward and when converts are baptized and confirmed, a member of the bishopric introduces and welcomes the members in the next sacrament meeting. He reads each person’s name, invites the person to stand, and asks members of the congregation to show by the uplifted hand that they accept the members in full fellowship in the ward. Records of family members are read together. If a member knows any reason why a person may not be entitled to full fellowship, he or she should talk to the bishop privately.

After children who are members of record are baptized and confirmed, a member of the bishopric announces each child’s baptism and confirmation in sacrament meeting. These children are not presented for acceptance into the ward because they are already members.
This may mean they are already members of the ward or it could be read that they are already members of the church. But if it meant the latter, then why would you read in moved in members in the ward since they are already members of the church too?

I'm overthinking it too.
lajackson
Community Moderators
#6
chriswoodut wrote:
These children are not presented for acceptance into the ward because they are already members.
This may mean they are already members of the ward or it could be read that they are already members of the church. But if it meant the latter, then why would you read in moved in members in the ward since they are already members of the church too?
The children are already members of the ward, whereas those who have moved in are now new members of the ward and are accepted into the ward with a vote of fellowship.