Tech Forum

Our ward has a number of young single adult members on the roster who are less active members. Our stake also has a YSA ward. Is there any specific policy or guidelines on whether a less active YSA's membership records should be in the family ward or the YSA ward? It seems like the YSA ward would be better equipped to encourage these young members back to activity.

Any comments would be appreciated.

I serve in a student single stake. This is slightly different from a YSA ward. I know currently the policy for us is that we are opt in. Attending a student single ward is considered a privilege and the area authorities have distributed a list of requirements to us that members must meet in order to attend our wards. Those who are not meeting the requirements are sent to the family wards.

However, we're not that harsh. Many of our wards have large numbers of less active members they are working with. I agree that their peers are especially well equipped to help fellowship and reactivate them. However, if no one in the singles ward knows them and people in the home ward do, I could see a benefit of having the home ward take charge.

Ultimately, if it's all within a single stake (our wards overlap many stakes), it seems the best solution would be to have the bishops and stake presidency discuss what would work best. The final goal is to have everybody actively involved. If having their records in the YSA ward accomplishes that, then I'd do it. I'd hope any policy developed would have this flexibility in it.

Final comment - I have heard some rumblings that the policies regarding single's wards are currently being reviewed and revised. The most recent development was from a meeting between stake presidents in the area and Elder Ringwood. From what I hear, this will mostly affect student singles wards and not YSA wards. Although the point of the meeting was to clarify rampant rumors, I'm not sure I should be the one giving specifics. Any moderators want to clarify?

crislapi wrote:Ultimately, . . . it seems the best solution would be to have the bishops and stake presidency discuss what would work best. The final goal is to have everybody actively involved. If having their records in the YSA ward accomplishes that, then I'd do it.

According to the Handbook (p 169), a single member who is eligible to be in a single or student unit has the option to choose to be in that unit or remain in a conventional family unit. As long as the member is eligible, the member retains the option.

Wise bishops and a stake presidency may feel that a single member will be best served by the single unit bishop, and they would probably want to also counsel with the member and his or her parents in making that determination.

It is also interesting to note that the current Handbook points out that membership in a young single adult ward should be viewed as a temporary preparation for serving in a conventional ward.

crislapi wrote:I have heard some rumblings that the policies regarding single's wards are currently being reviewed and revised. . . .

Any moderators want to clarify?

There really is nothing to clarify. I would use the current handbook and follow the counsel of the currently serving stake presidents and area authorities in your particular area, who have been instructed by the Twelve regarding these matters.

As for those "rumblings", each time a new Handbook comes out, the policies certainly will have been reviewed, and if they have been revised, any new policies will be effective with the release of the new Handbook.