member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

I have a member that has a log on to lds.org and then a separate log in for family search, by accident. He can get names and what not to take to the temple, i assume from family search, but then he cannot make appointments for himself to go to the temple because it only allows him to do baptisms, but he is an endowed member. i have a feeling we need to delete his family search account and make it the same log in as his lds.org account? I am not the best tech guy, ward clerk, can anyone help me out here?

His FamilySearch log on credentials can be different from his Church Account credentials for ChurchofJesusChrist.org (formerly lds.org). The link between the two accounts is his membership record number (MRN). From what you describe it sounds like he has entered his MRN in his FamilySearch profile but not in his Church Account profile. Have him log onto his Church Account and check in Account / Profile to see if his MRN is recorded in the Membership Record Number (MRN) section.

A quick way to check if his MRN is recorded in his Church Account profile is for him to log onto ChurchofJesusChrist.org and see if he has access to the Calendar or the Ward Directory and Map apps. If he does not have access to either of those apps, then his MRN is not recorded in his Church Account profile.

thank you very much!

@jdlessley
So this is so frustrating, I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore, it wanted to use for a recovery email, I changed that email under his info on our ward leaders and clerk resources page, I was also able with him present to recover his account using the new email and his record number, etc. , but when we log on to his account and I go to settings it will not let us add his membership number, it wants to still recover using the old msn email even though we changed the recovery email and phone for his account. It is like his record number is tied to some other account and I cannot see where there is another account. Bless his heart, all his donations have just been going to headquarters and not to our ward. It is a very frustrating thing and everything I did tonight that seemed like it should fix it, did not work in the end.

djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm @jdlessley
So this is so frustrating, I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore, it wanted to use for a recovery email, ...

Sounds like it's time for the member to call GSD.

djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm I changed that email under his info on our ward leaders and clerk resources page,

As you found out, that doesn't change the recovery account. Only the member or GSD can change it.

djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore

Can it be re-activated using the same email address?

the msn email account is gone and it is unable to be used or activated anymore. It feels GSD needs to physically change and remove that recovery email, and there needs to be another way one can recover an account if the recovery email is no longer in service or becomes invalid....GSD needs to figure that out.. I will call them.

djacks wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:32 am the msn email account is gone and it is unable to be used or activated anymore. It feels GSD needs to physically change and remove that recovery email, and there needs to be another way one can recover an account if the recovery email is no longer in service or becomes invalid....GSD needs to figure that out.. I will call them.

If I'm informed correctly, for recovering accounts, GSD will talk ONLY with the member, not with a clerk.

The email address in a member's record is not linked to the recovery email address for the Church Account. Changing one does not change the other. They, however, can use the same email address in both locations.

The recovery email address is changed in the member's Church Account profile. After logging onto his Church Account he should go to Account > Recovery and Notifications, and in the Email section, edit the email address there to the email address he wants to use for recovering his Church Account.

jdlessley wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:58 pm The email address in a member's record is not linked to the recovery email address for the Church Account. Changing one does not change the other.

I believe if the member changes their email, it changes both. (At least if done from the "Accounts" page.) But that's not true if a clerk updates it.

russellhltn wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 2:39 pm

jdlessley wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:58 pm The email address in a member's record is not linked to the recovery email address for the Church Account. Changing one does not change the other.

I believe if the member changes their email, it changes both. (At least if done from the "Accounts" page.) But that's not true if a clerk updates it.

I just tested changing the email address in the Church Account, in the online Ward Directory and Map, in Member Tools, and as a clerk in my member record. The results were:
1. Change made in the Church Account propagated to my membership record, to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools.
2. Change made in my membership record propagated to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
3. Change made in the online Ward Directory and Map propagated to my membership record, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
4 Change made in Member Tools propagated to my membership record, and to Ward Directory and Map. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.

So it appears the Church Account email address can only be changed by the member in the account profile. This is the email address used for recovery of the Church Account. I am guessing it is not changed when the email address is changed in the other locations to preserve this email address that is in the sole control of the member.

Note: A clerk currently cannot change an email address for anyone other than his own household in the online Ward Directory and Tools.

jdlessley wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:12 pm I just tested changing the email address in the Church Account, in the online Ward Directory and Map, in Member Tools, and as a clerk in my member record. The results were:
1. Change made in the Church Account propagated to my membership record, to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools.
2. Change made in my membership record propagated to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
3. Change made in the online Ward Directory and Map propagated to my membership record, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
4 Change made in Member Tools propagated to my membership record, and to Ward Directory and Map. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.

So it appears the Church Account email address can only be changed by the member in the account profile. This is the email address used for recovery of the Church Account. I am guessing it is not changed when the email address is changed in the other locations to preserve this email address that is in the sole control of the member.

You are correct.

There are really only 2 email addresses in play here. The one in Church Account and the one on your membership record (ignoring out out unit stuff). Ward Directory and Map, and Member Tools just read it from membership (although Tools does have it's local copy that need syncing).

The membership system does listen to notifications for a new verified email from Church Account and uses that to update the membership record email.

Update, had to call GSD with the member, he had two accounts, they deleted the duplicate, reset password, he is good to go now. The problem is there is nothing to stop a member from creating more lds accounts, anyway, got it fixed!

djacks wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:36 pm The problem is there is nothing to stop a member from creating more lds accounts

They can create multiple accounts, but only one can have the membership number. I think I've read that they can't even have the same email address.

Often when a member can't get into their account, they just create another - and that's when the fun begins. The new account isn't a "member" account (connected with an MRN) and they can't make it one.

It's not practical to limit accounts to unique full names. There's too many living people with the same name.

Glad it's fixed for you.

jdlessley wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 5:12 pm I just tested changing the email address in the Church Account, in the online Ward Directory and Map, in Member Tools, and as a clerk in my member record. The results were:
1. Change made in the Church Account propagated to my membership record, to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools.
2. Change made in my membership record propagated to the online Ward Directory and Map, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
3. Change made in the online Ward Directory and Map propagated to my membership record, and to Member Tools. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.
4 Change made in Member Tools propagated to my membership record, and to Ward Directory and Map. It did not change the email address in the Church Account.

Thanks for verifying what I suspected.