removing entry completely from ward directory

[russellhltn]

from a doctrinal/policy standpoint, Alice is better off being on the rolls and totally inactive than to give up her membership.

I don't agree with that. But given the CoC against "Religious discussions or debate" we'll have to leave it at that unless someone can find something in the Handbook.

[lajackson]

from a doctrinal/policy standpoint, Alice is better off being on the rolls and totally inactive than to give up her membership.

I don't agree with that. But given the CoC against "Religious discussions or debate" we'll have to leave it at that unless someone can find something in the Handbook.

As baptism is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:5), it is my feeling that a person who has been baptized is better off than a person who asks to have their name removed from the records of the Church, and therefore is no longer baptized.

In the situation under discussion, the children seem to be of age to make that decision for themselves, which would only happen if they were to discuss it with the bishop or branch president in the ward or branch where they live.

Another option for cleaning up the membership record of the mother, if she chooses not to provide a current location for her children, is for the clerk to send their records to the address unknown file, and let those who work there try to locate them. The Church will call the mother and other relatives and ask for the information.

Agency allows the mother to decline to provide the information. Reason says there is no way to help them without knowing where they are located.

The Spirit is able to guide all who are involved in what would be the proper thing to do to bless the lives of each member, active or returning. With the Spirit, and lots of love and faith, these matters can all be resolved using the proper procedures in the handbook.

[russellhltn]

As baptism is a requirement to enter the Kingdom of Heaven (John 3:5), it is my feeling that a person who has been baptized is better off than a person who asks to have their name removed from the records of the Church, and therefore is no longer baptized.

Even if they are no longer living the standards of the church?

But the bottom line is, as long as they are members of the church, the church will attempt to contact them from time to time. There is no way around that. Even if the records are sent to "unknown" the service missionaries will try to discover where the person lives and forward the records to that ward.

In fact, it's entirely possible that the ward has tried to send them to "unknown" only to have them return because various websites indicate they are sill living in the area.