Address Locator Form - Lost Members

Our Ward would please like to enquire where we can go to obtain/download a copy of an "Address Locator" form, which is what apparently needs to be completed for members who have moved without changing their address details or did not leave a forwarding address, and whose addresses are unknown and can't be found?

Some years ago such a form was used to transfer membership records to "lost files" when all efforts had failed to locate lost members.

Or what is the correct and correct process or procedure to follow please?

Go to Leader and Clerk Resources and choose the option to move records out. One of the questions you will be asked there is whether the member's new address is known.

Thank you very much for this information, but I think my question may not have been understood, or perhaps I did not explain it clearly? The question is, is there a form that can be printed out to give to leaders and/or Ministering visitors to complete when members have moved without leaving a forwarding address? If so, where can it be found please?
We understand the process to follow once they bring the form back to the Ward Clerk for uploading the information onto the LCR to move records out.

I think the information you’re looking for is found in the Help Centre under Moving Records out.

Below is a copy and paste of that info.

Contact the occupants at the member’s last known address and ask them if they have a forwarding address.
Use postal services to find a forwarding address.
Call any last known telephone numbers.
Send an email to any last known email addresses.
Contact known family members and relatives.
Contact known friends, Church members, and full-time missionaries.
Contact ward priesthood and auxiliary leaders.
Check available online social networks.

I've never seen an official church form for doing this. There is a checklist of items, but no form. Although, some units may have taken the checklist and made it into a form to work though the process.

Your best bet is to use the checklist Biggles listed above and run with that.

Thank you very much.

russellhltn wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 2:38 am I've never seen an official church form for doing this.

I may be showing my age, but I definitely remember using a multi-part (white/yellow/pink) standard Church form. I don't know when it was discontinued, but when we maintained paper membership records, we were required to attach one copy of that form to records that we wanted to move to the Address Unknown file. That form became moot when the Move Records Out process on LCR was changed to ask the clerk if everything had been completed on the checklist, including the bishop's approval.

Obviously, that standard form said nothing about checking social media networks. And that is the problem with standard forms and printed checklists. Once you print something, it immediately becomes obsolete.

drepouille wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 6:05 am I may be showing my age, but I definitely remember using a multi-part (white/yellow/pink) standard Church form.

Now that you mention it, I do remember that. That's way back in the pre-MLS days.

Thanks for your input Brethren, I also distinctly remember the multi-part standard Church form, and I am only 70, but 30-40 years ago was not that long ago.

I just thought that with all the wonderful technology advances these days there perhaps was an online version of this form that could be accessed via Member Tools or LCR and completed online by assigned ministering visitors or Organisation leaders when they come across members who have gone missing.

But I guess we just have to print out the checklist/basic steps for them and once they have gathered the information, to capture this onto the system manually?

The list is what you see when you are moving out a member or members to Address Unknown. As such there isn’t anything to upload or enter, other than to confirm that the steps listed have been followed before moving the record!

iftvr wrote: Tue Nov 23, 2021 11:12 am Thanks for your input Brethren, I also distinctly remember the multi-part standard Church form, and I am only 70, but 30-40 years ago was not that long ago.

I just thought that with all the wonderful technology advances these days there perhaps was an online version of this form that could be accessed via Member Tools or LCR and completed online by assigned ministering visitors or Organisation leaders when they come across members who have gone missing.

But I guess we just have to print out the checklist/basic steps for them and once they have gathered the information, to capture this onto the system manually?

When I served as clerk, I made one in Excel that could be printed with space for handwritten notes. That way, it could be handed out in ward council for members to follow the steps and record their findings. Then they could return it to the clerk to process the move-out. I still have it so if you want a copy, send me your email address in a PM and I'll forward it to you. I have it as an Excel sheet that can be edited electronically and as a .pdf (that is not a form-fill document).

Thank you so much, kind of you.
My email is: isaacvanreneburg@mweb.co.za

Regards
Isaac

iftvr wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 4:32 am Thank you so much, kind of you.
My email is: isaacvanreneburg@mweb.co.za

Regards
Isaac

I send you the files. Best of luck in your efforts.

davesudweeks wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 6:10 pm

iftvr wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2021 4:32 am Thank you so much, kind of you.
My email is: isaacvanreneburg@mweb.co.za

Regards
Isaac

I send you the files. Best of luck in your efforts.

I spoke too soon, I received a bounce-back message that your address is not accepting emails.

Sincere apologies, I made a typo. My correct email address is: isaacvanrensburg@mweb.co.za

I sent again and did not receive a bounce-back so hopefully this worked.

There is no harm in printing out the steps to use as a reference wnile you go through the process. As others have noted, when you actually move the record, you will need to check off the steps you have completed before you will be able to move out the record.

Many years ago there was an actual form with the steps listed on it, but the form was not sent anywhere.

We keep the checklist locked up in the clerks office for a while. The membership records seem to find their way back from time to time. We already have a record of what we did and usually can send the record back with little effort unless there has been a change.

We use a shared Google Sheet among our ward leadership to track Lost Members and confirm the dates we completed each step with the outcome as well as notes we learn along the way.
After we move a record out, we copy the information to a different type for archive/historical purposes, which has been helpful when records "ping pong" around local wards trying to locate individuals.
It'd be great to see a more formal version of this in LCR, as mentioned in the handbook, section 33: https://abn.churchofjesuschrist.org/stu ... e_number23

"If a clerk cannot find out where members have moved, the record is moved to the Finding Lost Members list in LCR. Elders quorum and Relief Society leaders review this report regularly and use available resources to locate these members. Other ward council members or missionaries may assist.

If the member’s location is found, the clerk moves the record accordingly. If the member’s location is not found after using all finding resources, the clerk receives the bishop’s approval to return the record to Church headquarters.

Records in the Finding Lost Members list are still assigned to the ward, but they do not appear in member lists and reports, and they are not included in ward statistics."

Sorry for my belated response.

Happy New Year to all, and thank you joeycon4. Yes, I agree it would be great to see a more formal version in LCR. The unfortunate reality is that missing or lost members and "Lost Files" is becoming an ever-growing problem, and we need to not only become more effective in "administration", but also more effective in "ministering", as these lost members are still our brothers and sisters, and need to be found and brought back to His fold, one way or another, else we are held accountable.

I think I needed help on these brethren, where can we see the full list that was moved without a forwarding address?

justinebondamepanizares wrote: Mon Jun 06, 2022 7:16 am . . . where can we see the full list . . . ?

The Finding Lost Members list is in LCR under Reports for those units that have been added to the program. I have heard that it is not completely rolled out to every unit. Until then, some may not yet be able to see the list.

Dear justinebondamepanizares,
Once signed onto LCR, you can click on "Reports", then click on "Finding Lost Members".

This shows you a list of members moved to this file.

The members shown in this list are not counted as members of the ward and will not be included in any member list, report, or any statistical report. Before moving these records back to Church Headquarters, each of the steps indicated must first be followed to obtain the member's new address.

Hope this helps?

My son who was not in our ward and has been in active for the last few years. Has moved to South Carolina I would like the local ward to know he has moved in. I have his address; how do I do that?

donivan wrote: Sun Jun 12, 2022 7:00 pm My son who was not in our ward and has been in active for the last few years. Has moved to South Carolina I would like the local ward to know he has moved in. I have his address; how do I do that?

I'd suggest using the Meetinghouse Locator, enter you son's address, and locate his bishop. You can then contact the bishop and let him know of the situation.

My name is mandy I've been searching for my mother jo-ann [removed] for over 30 years she is an active member with the church and has been for many years i was hopeful some one could help me locate her and let me know which branch she is currently attending my email is [removed] if someone could help it would be a blessing

mandymorales38@gmail.com wrote: Tue Apr 01, 2025 9:45 am My name is mandy I've been searching for my mother jo-ann [removed] for over 30 years she is an active member with the church and has been for many years i was hopeful some one could help me locate her and let me know which branch she is currently attending my email is [removed] if someone could help it would be a blessing

Unfortunately the forum membership cannot help you. The forum is for using technology in the church as well as support for certain callings. Due to privacy laws, the availability of membership information is quite restricted. Talk to your ward/branch clerk to see if he can help you. But note, even he is limited in the resources to find lost family members.