Tech Forum

Is there a section that gives detailed timelines on when to destroy old records?
What are other Stake Clerks doing with old records?
We have records back 30 years in some cases in our stake and would like direction on cleaning things out.

Are these membership, financial, historical, all of the above?

Record retention in the Wiki gives a good overview. Some of the details depends on your area. Many tend to assume you're in the U.S.

One item missing: For a time somewhere in the 80's or 90's, the church wasn't recording the "ordained by" for Melchizedek priesthood ordinations. That's created a problem for reconstructing lines of authority. I'd call Local Unit Support for details - they might want you to forward some of those records to them so they can record it.

There are mostly historical information but haven't been through all of it yet.

We are located in western Canada.

Thank you for helping with this information.
In areas that I have read it does suggest to phone administrative office for specific info related to our area. Would this be Salt Lake or would this be a different number that I call?

I am new and lacking in knowledge with calling.

Thanks again in advance.

If you know what area your unit belongs too, I would start with that office number. You can look this up in CDOL. I had to do that once for a ward I served in that had old records from the 1970's. They guided me to the correct church department and I ended up working with them to get my records in order.

brofisher wrote:In areas that I have read it does suggest to phone administrative office for specific info related to our area. Would this be Salt Lake or would this be a different number that I call?

For U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico; it would be Salt Lake. But other countries have different offices.

You could check the Help Center and check for "Support for" your country.