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“Newsletter”: A New Tool Available on LDS.org for Publishing Newsletters Print E-mail
Written by Tom Johnson   
Friday, 27 July 2012

Through Newsletter, a new tool on the LDS.org Tools menu, local unit leaders can publish news and messages to members in their wards and stakes. Newsletter gives you an online alternative to the paper or e-mail newsletters that organizations typically create.

LDS.org Newsletter home page

Screenshot showing a sample newsletter home page (fictitious ward and data)

One advantage to using the newsletter is that it is always accessible on LDS.org, available to any member of your ward or stake who can sign in with an LDS Account, regardless of whether the member is on your e-mail list, in attendance on Sunday, or even active. The newsletter gives members an opportunity to get inspirational updates, news, messages, and other information from their local unit leaders at any time.

Accessing the Newsletter

To access the newsletter, go to LDS.org and click Sign In/Tools, and then click Newsletter. You will be prompted to sign in with your LDS Account.

LDS.org newsletter sign in

Newsletter is now on the Sign In/Tools menu of LDS.org.

Note that you must sign in with your LDS Account. If you haven't yet registered for an LDS Account, you can sign up for one at https://ldsaccount.lds.org. When you register, you must include your membership record number so that your LDS Account is associated with your local unit.

Viewing the Newsletter

Once your ward or stake has published content, articles for the newsletter appear in one column of news on the newsletter homepage, arranged in reverse chronological order. You can view the news you want to see by selecting the category on the right. The selected category filters the news.

Rights and Roles

For those who will maintain or contribute to the newsletter, two roles are available: administrator and publisher.

Administrators can write and edit articles, manage categories, and add publishers and administrators. Default administrators for the newsletter include bishoprics, stake presidencies, clerks, and website administrators.

Publishers can write and edit articles only. Default publishers for the newsletter include the high priest group leader, elders quorum president, Primary president, Relief Society president, Sunday School president, Young Men president, and Young Women president.

Creating an article in the LDS.org newsletter

The interface administrators and publishers use to create articles for the newsletter

As needed, administrators can also add additional administrators or publishers by calling or name.

Training Materials

Training for the newsletter is available from the Help button in the newsletter application. You can also go directly here: https://ue.ldschurch.org/ldsapphelp/newsletter.

The help material includes the following training materials:

Getting Help

For help with the newsletter, see the Newsletter section of the LDSTech Forum.

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Comments  

 
# Jacob Allred 2012-07-28 04:42
This looks great!

I'm a little confused on the notification options though. How are the members of my ward supposed to know that something has been published? It looks like there isn't a way to subscribe via email to get notified when the newsletter is updated. Is this true?
 
 
# Bryan Sebesta 2012-07-28 09:15
Looking at the Online Help, I found this under "Creating Articles > Send Broadcast Emails":

"After you create a newsletter article, you may want to let your ward or stake know the article is available. The newsletter does not have a broadcast e-mail function, but a future release may include this feature. You can, however, send an e-mail by using the e-mail links in the LDS.org directory."
 
 
# Jacob Allred 2012-07-29 12:10
Quoting Bryan Sebesta:
Looking at the Online Help, I found this under "Creating Articles > Send Broadcast Emails":

"After you create a newsletter article, you may want to let your ward or stake know the article is available. The newsletter does not have a broadcast e-mail function, but a future release may include this feature. You can, however, send an e-mail by using the e-mail links in the LDS.org directory."


Thanks! Not sure how I missed that.

That is disappointing though. There doesn't seem to be much incentive to use the newsletter feature if I still have to manually send an email to my auxiliary.
 
 
# Dan Richards 2012-07-28 08:04
@Jared: That was my first thought as well.
 
 
# Ray Froess 2012-07-29 08:42
I created some articles while it was in beta in February and noticed that the toolbar icon to add a image wasn't available. It still isn't although the Wiki shows it. Does anyone else have it or is it only our stake?
 
 
# Mindie Sorenson 2012-08-02 09:08
Can you provide information on the browser you are using?
 
 
# Larry Rayner 2012-08-04 11:54
I have tried distributing both ways---posting on a website and sending directly into the home via email. I was extremely disappointed with only 44 hits in one month at the website posting so a year later I was told it was technically feasible to create and use a bcc ( blind carbon copy so no one else's email address is shown) That works out to be far superior in readership)

If you would like to see a copy one our ward newsletters, send me your email address and I will send it to you by forwarding

Sincerely yours,

Larry Rayner, Author
The Messenger newsletter
Palm Bay (Florida) Ward 1
 
 
# Sally Jarvis 2012-08-10 20:19
I would love to see a copy of your newsletter.
s.jarvis@cox.net
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-11 05:41
I would appreciate a copy of one of your newsletters candn61@gmail.com
 
 
# Jon Kroff 2012-09-09 13:44
I would like to see a copy of your ward newsletter.

Jmkroff@gmail.com
 
 
# Kelly Ellis 2012-11-11 07:28
Hi Larry,

I am a new administrator for our ward and I am assigned to start up and maintain our ward newsletter.

I haven't done anything like this before, so I am gathering all the information I can.

I would love to see a copy of your newsletter and get any advice you may have for our first newsletter that will hopefully be ready for December.

My email is kelly.ellis1@yahoo.com

Thank You!
 
 
# Nicholas Anthony Barry Ward 2012-12-11 18:08
Quoting Larry Rayner:
I have tried distributing both ways---posting on a website and sending directly into the home via email. I was extremely disappointed with only 44 hits in one month at the website posting so a year later I was told it was technically feasible to create and use a bcc ( blind carbon copy so no one else's email address is shown) That works out to be far superior in readership)

If you would like to see a copy one our ward newsletters, send me your email address and I will send it to you by forwarding

Sincerely yours,

Larry Rayner, Author
The Messenger newsletter
Palm Bay (Florida) Ward 1

wardcomaustrali a@bigpond.com
i would also like to see a copy of your newsletter. thanks
 
 
# James Knudsen 2013-01-08 02:42
I would love to receive a copy of your newsletter.

jfknudsen5@gmai l.com
 
 
# Janet Marie Funk 2013-03-15 16:36
I would love to see a copy of your newsletter jan.funk@gmail.comQuoting Larry Rayner:
I have tried distributing both ways---posting on a website and sending directly into the home via email. I was extremely disappointed with only 44 hits in one month at the website posting so a year later I was told it was technically feasible to create and use a bcc ( blind carbon copy so no one else's email address is shown) That works out to be far superior in readership)

If you would like to see a copy one our ward newsletters, send me your email address and I will send it to you by forwarding

Sincerely yours,

Larry Rayner, Author
The Messenger newsletter
Palm Bay (Florida) Ward 1


I would love to see a copy of your newsletter jan.funk@gmail.com
 
 
# David Leavenworth 2012-07-30 08:09
Is there a way to enter email ad[censored] for members who have not entered them at LDS.org? I have been writing newsletters for our branch for over eight years, and have noticed nearly half of those who are on my email address list have not had theirs added to LDS.org. Is this the responsibility of the clerk?
 
 
# Chester Heglund 2012-08-02 12:44
Entering the Household and Individual e-mail information in MLS by the Unit Clerk or Membership Clerk puts it into MLS which is the source for LDS.Org. However, listed individuals have the option of "hiding" personal information about themselves such as phone#, address and e-mail.
Getting all the information depends upon your calling. Even then it is a problem. I am Membership Clerk for my Ward and also Stake Indexing Director. I can look at family members info in my own Ward under LDS.Org Admin rights but am not allowed to see the detailed info, including childrens names/info, in the other 9 units of the Stake. Has made it difficult when parts of 3 Wards were split off to form a new Ward in the Stake. I can identify adult indexers and move them into the new Ward in the Indexing rosters but cannot identify any of the YM/YW Indexers who might have changed to the new Ward.
New features often bring on new problems. LDS.org continues to achieve excellent advances.
 
 
# Jon Blaser 2012-07-30 14:04
What would be really nice is you could hyperlink an activity on the ward calendar to a newsletter posting. For example if you had a ward campout on the calendar, you could click the calendar item and it would take you to the newsletter that had all the additional information.
 
 
# Kelly Ellis 2012-11-11 07:29
That would be great!
 
 
# German A. Alvarado 2012-08-01 08:13
It´s a great job !
 
 
# Lyle Wert 2012-08-01 15:22
I have verified through the forum that Elders Quorum Presidents are not currently enabled as "publishers". I'm not sure if this is the same for the other auxiliary leaders (high priest group leader, Primary president, Relief Society president, Sunday School president, Young Men president, and Young Women president).
 
 
# Mindie Sorenson 2012-08-02 09:12
I have confirmed that Elders Quorum Presidents will be default publishers. However, the default publishers feature was released on July 17. If your unit started using the Newsletter prior to that date, the default publishers would not have been applied to your unit. They will only apply to units that started using the Newsletter after that date. Can you please provide information about when you started using the Newsletter?
 
 
# Kelly Bunker 2012-08-02 17:19
I am the Elders Quorum President in our ward and I can not publish on the newsletter. No one from our ward has published any thing under newsletter yet. I can edit the Calendar and Lesson Schedules but not under Newsletters.
 
 
# Cliff 2012-08-09 09:59
Can you help me get started with the new Newsletter tool. I can't see how to start a newsletter and I can't see how to give rights (administrator or publisher). I have gone to the Newsletter with three different browsers and I can't see how to go anywhere or do anything. Thank you
 
 
# Sharon Brady 2012-08-01 16:38
Seems like it would be a good idea for Stake Family History Center Directors, and Ward Family History Consultants to be publishers as well. It is particularly difficult for them (us)to "get the word out."
 
 
# S Duce 2012-08-04 08:40
Our FamilySearch Center would really love to be publishers so we can share info concerning training, classes, etc.
Thanks to all who provide terrific technologies.
 
 
# Grace MacDowell 2012-08-02 09:46
The Tools menu has been eliminated...where do we now access the newsletter?
 
 
# Tom Johnson 2012-08-02 09:56
Grace, you now access Newsletter from the Sign In/Tools menu rather than Tools (which is gone). I updated the instructions and screenshot in this article to reflect the new navigation.
 
 
# Michelle J. Gregg 2012-08-02 09:58
After you sign in, there is a new drop down menu when you click on your name. Newsletter is #4 on my list.
 
 
# Blanche 2012-08-03 01:49
When will the Newsletter option be available in other languages, e.g. German?
 
 
# Tom Johnson 2012-08-09 10:02
Blanche, I'm not sure when other languages will become available for newsletter. It's on the roadmap, though.
 
 
# Boan 2012-08-03 15:00
Is there an easy way to create an email list from the ward list? I guess this is somewhat off topic here but I would like to create an email list and then email them the ward newsletter link.
 
 
# Tom Johnson 2012-08-09 10:01
Boan, there's no way to create an email list. See this topic in the newsletter help for details about sending broadcast emails: https://ue.ldschurch.org/ldsapphelp/newsletter/#creating_articles/send_broadcast_e-mails_to_your_ward_or_stake.htm

Sending notification emails is on the list of upcoming features for newsletter.
 
 
# Cliff 2012-08-09 09:52
Can someone help me get started with the new Newsletter tool. I can't see how to start a newsletter and I can't see how to give rights (administrator or publisher). I have gone to the Newsletter with three different browsers and I can't see how to go anywhere or do anything. The Calendar has a gear with a drop down list but I do not see anything similar for Newsletter
 
 
# Tom Johnson 2012-08-09 10:00
Cliff, if you don't see links to create articles or do anything else, you probably don't have administrative rights. What is your calling in MLS?
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-09 10:20
Quoting Tom Johnson:
Cliff, if you don't see links to create articles or do anything else, you probably don't have administrative rights. What is your calling in MLS?

That is probably the problem. I don't have an applicable calling but the stake Tech. Specialist was trying to give me Adm right because my wife is the Ward Newsletter Specialist and he can't see any links either. I have Calendar Adm rights but the Calendar and Newsletter must function independently
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-09 10:23
Quoting Cliff Yardley:
Quoting Tom Johnson:
Cliff, if you don't see links to create articles or do anything else, you probably don't have administrative rights. What is your calling in MLS?

That is probably the problem. I don't have an applicable calling but the stake Tech. Specialist was trying to give me Adm right because my wife is the Ward Newsletter Specialist and he can't see any links either. I have Calendar Adm rights but the Calendar and Newsletter must function independently


I am a ward family history consultant in MLS and maybe my World wide Support FH Missionary would show up there also in MLS
 
 
# Tom Johnson 2012-08-09 10:27
Ask the stake technology specialist to add you as an administrator in Newsletter. He can do this pretty easily by following the instructions here: https://ue.ldschurch.org/ldsapphelp/newsletter/#newsletter_overview/rights_and_roles.htm

Alternatively, you could ask that a stake clerk change your calling in MLS to stake website administrator. Then you would have the rights by default.
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-09 11:02
Tom,
Does he do that when signed into the Newsletter feature?? We tried to do that last night and when he signed into Newsletter he did not see anything more than me (no links) However, if he signed into Calendar everything was there.??
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-13 07:33
I believe we have resolved the above issue/questions and discovered that the Stake portion of the Newsletter functions as described in the Help information for Stake callings only and the Ward portion functions as described for Ward callings only. Thank you for your help.
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-13 07:39
Item No. 4 of the Create Articles portion of the Newsletter Overview Introduction that comes up when clicking the Help tab says "To add images, click the Insert Image button...." We have not been able to locate the Insert Image button. Can someone tell me where the button is located or how to find it??
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-08-13 11:12
Hmmm, Well this morning the Insert Image button is showing up with both Chrome and Firefox so never mind.
 
 
# Gudiel Valdemar Miranda 2012-08-31 17:44
es una herramienta util para que de esta manera los hermanos puedan estar al tanto de las actividades y reuniones especiales del barrio, sin embargo necesitamos mas apoyo para que los lideres puedan utilizar esta herramienta.
 
 
# John Pierce 2012-09-10 10:23
I would like to be able to get my ward to start using the newsletter tool. I hear this is to replace the "News and Information" section at the classic.lds.org. When I login I get the wrong wards newsletter. I not asking to be an administrator of a neighboring ward. I just want to see my own wards newsletter page so I can see if I have admin rights. Then I'll push to get the leaders going on the newsletter articles when I can help them if they have problems.
 
 
# Mindie Sorenson 2012-09-10 10:54
Quoting John Pierce:
I would like to be able to get my ward to start using the newsletter tool. I hear this is to replace the "News and Information" section at the classic.lds.org. When I login I get the wrong wards newsletter. I not asking to be an administrator of a neighboring ward. I just want to see my own wards newsletter page so I can see if I have admin rights. Then I'll push to get the leaders going on the newsletter articles when I can help them if they have problems.


Please email me directly. I'd like to look into this.

thanks
Mindie
 
 
# Tierney Smith 2012-09-13 14:30
I use lds.org all the time and have not had any problems... but the newsletter when clicked on does not work. It is constantly "loading". I've left it for hours and it still doesn't do anything. I have a high speed internet connection, my computer is up to date, I've never had any problem loading anything else. I am the RS President so I should have regular access and admin rights. I am using a mac computer. Is this a problem on my end & how do I fix it? Thanks so much!
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-09-28 14:11
Quoting Tierney Smith:
I use lds.org all the time and have not had any problems... but the newsletter when clicked on does not work. It is constantly "loading". I've left it for hours and it still doesn't do anything. I have a high speed internet connection, my computer is up to date, I've never had any problem loading anything else. I am the RS President so I should have regular access and admin rights. I am using a mac computer. Is this a problem on my end & how do I fix it? Thanks so much!


Hi Tierney,
I have been having the same problem lately and I am using Windows with three different browsers. As a work around that works for me, sign into Directory and then go back to SignIn/Tools and then click Newsletter. I don't think that it is intended for a RS President to have Admin right but certainly Publishing rights
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-09-28 14:15
The Help instructions say that a .jpg can be added, I think in the Body, but I can't figure out how. The closest I can come is to add a .pdf as an Attachment. Can someone help me??
 
 
# Mindie Sorenson 2012-10-01 07:48
What browser are you using? Images can't be added to the body when using Internet Explorer.

Mindie
 
 
# Cliff Yardley 2012-10-01 08:13
I have tried both Chrome and Firefox. I probably do not know the steps involved. Can you list them for me??
 
 
# Mindie Sorenson 2012-10-02 07:18
You can find the steps in the online help, which is found here:
https://ue.ldschurch.org/ldsapphelp/newsletter/#main_topics/creating_articles.htm
 

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