Tech Forum Archive

Can you create a temporary record before a child is adopted?

4 postsstarted by cummingsj17 1,032 viewsoriginal topic

cummingsj17
New Member
#1
Our Primary Presidency has made a special request: to have two primary aged children added to our primary rolls. They are non members, and are currently in the care of their hopefully soon to be adopted parents. They are currently somewhere in the process of adoption, but the adoption is not yet finalized.

I had a thought that there might be a way to add them as constant "visitors" to the Primary class roster, without creating a record officially, but don't know how to do that. Has anyone faced this before? Is creating a record before adoption is final something that would be possible with the local Stake's approval?

Church handbook states that 33.6.12. "Records of adopted children may be created or updated only after an adoption is final. The name on the record should conform to the decree of adoption. Records of adoptive parents may be updated only after an adoption is final."  Our Primary president has asked for a special exception to be made so that these two children can feel included. They have additional needs and wants teachers and subs to always help them feel that they are known.

Thanks for any response
garystroble
Senior Member
#2
cummingsj17 wrote: Sat Feb 04, 2023 2:51 pm Our Primary Presidency has made a special request: to have two primary aged children added to our primary rolls. They are non members, and are currently in the care of their hopefully soon to be adopted parents. They are currently somewhere in the process of adoption, but the adoption is not yet finalized.

I had a thought that there might be a way to add them as constant "visitors" to the Primary class roster, without creating a record officially, but don't know how to do that. Has anyone faced this before? Is creating a record before adoption is final something that would be possible with the local Stake's approval?

Church handbook states that 33.6.12. "Records of adopted children may be created or updated only after an adoption is final. The name on the record should conform to the decree of adoption. Records of adoptive parents may be updated only after an adoption is final."  Our Primary president has asked for a special exception to be made so that these two children can feel included. They have additional needs and wants teachers and subs to always help them feel that they are known.

Thanks for any response
The handbook is very clear to me. Nobody in the Primary, Bishopric or Stake Presidency has the authority to override the rules regarding adopted children. This all has to do with legal issues which take precedence over any temporary church needs. In addition, if the children are over age 8, they will have to be baptized once they are adopted before a membership record can be created.
lajackson
Community Moderators
#3
cummingsj17 wrote: Sat Feb 04, 2023 2:51 pm Our Primary Presidency has made a special request: to have two primary aged children added to our primary rolls.
I know it would be helpful for the leaders and others, but it does not seem possible at this point. On the other hand, the two children will never know if their names are on the class roster or not. I would make every effort to see that it stays that way.
BrianEdwards
Senior Member
#4
Many of us have previously seen circumstances which are similar in underlying nature. For example, a non-member who has a burning testimony of the restoration, but cannot be baptized because (for any number of reasons) they cannot get married to their current partner. Or other situations where leaders desire for a non-member to feel fully included, even when baptism is still a work-in-progress.

In your case, even if a temporary record were created, the same underlying needs would exist, and you would still need to ensure that each teacher and sub knew and understood their unique circumstance. So I agree that as long as the Primary Presidency ensures there is awareness of these two children, the record creation should not really impact your ability to minister to them. It's clear that the Primary Presidency loves these children, and is trying to do what they can for them and the family!