Tech Forum

We have in our ward about 900 members, after 2 wards some years ago where put in one.
We are busy already months to locate all, but it is impossible. Here in the Philippines it is real hard to locate where people are living and moving too.What shall I do with all those members we can not locate?

pgm44 wrote:What shall I do with all those members we can not locate?

Your bishop should have received a letter from the First Presidency dated October 29, 2012 on the subject, Finding Lost Members. The letter contains a list of nine steps that should be used to try to locate a member.

If you have the membership record of a member you cannot locate, you have followed the nine steps listed in that letter (and any other methods you have been prompted to take), and you are still not able to locate the member, you should move the membership record out of your ward without an address. The Church will then use additional resources to attempt to locate the member.

The nine steps to follow are also listed in MLS when you attempt to move the record without a new address, and you will need to check the boxes showing you have completed each step in trying to locate the member.

A wise bishop will use the home teachers and visiting teachers, and other ward leaders, to help in finding these lost members.

lajackson wrote: A wise bishop will use the home teachers and visiting teachers, and other ward leaders, to help in finding these lost members.

I think we have a wise bishop.
The last 6 months we had almost every Saturday morning an activity to find the lost members. But we only found a few. The last we go do now is to have an activity with all the adult members and go project all the names on a big screen. Then we will look of we, with all the adults, can find some more. I think if we are all together we can help eachother with even a little information. All the little information together can, I think, result in finding some.

Paul

If the bishop feels that your unit has done all they can do to locate the members but have not been successful. The next step is to move the record out of the unit without an address there is nothing else you can do.

It sounds like you and your ward are doing a great work. Leaders are bringing members together to serve those in need. And with each contact there is a chance to share the gospel, even in a small way. Consider involving the full-time missionaries in this great effort.

Many, Many, years ago before serving a full-time mission I was assigned to verify the presence of a relatively small set of inactive members in the ward. I don't remember much of the results of the assignment, but I learned how to present myself and my purpose to those who answered phone calls and opened their doors to me. In a way I was informing members of other faiths about our Church and its interest in serving its members.

Now I rely on active leaders and members to make initial contact with members who's records have been transferred to our unit. If someone personally knows the inactive member or their family that someone generally makes the first effort to verify the member's presence. Otherwise our leaders go out in groups of two or three to find and fellowship.