Recording a Temple Divorce? Who does it, and how?

[joshbingham]

I am the membership clerk.

I have a member (female) who is divorced, but her record still shows her temple sealing and her records shows no divorce info. Is that divorce recorded by the temple, or am I suppose to record it?

In other words, what procedure should I follow to get her record corrected to show she is now a single member of the church? I have tried reading the handbook and wiki, but I am still a bit confused.

If it is the temple's responsibility, do I simply call the particular temple and ask them to make the update?

[russellhltn]

CHQ will update it when the sealing is canceled. But if she's been divorced, then you'll have to record the civil divorce. That can be done in MLS.

Note that it's entirely possible that she is civilly divorced, but still sealed to her ex.

If I'm not mistaken, her being sealed will not prevent her from showing up as a single member.

[aebrown]

Your responsibility as membership clerk is to make sure that the divorce is properly recorded on the membership record (temples never record divorces). You do this in MLS by going to the person's individual record, and on the "Current Spouse" tab, click the "Terminate Marriage" link. Once you have done this, the member will appear on the membership record and thus in all reports as a single member.

Issues regarding the temple sealing are generally handled at a higher level; the bishop and stake president counsel together, and the stake president has to approve and submit the application. But it is usually the case that temple sealings are not canceled until a new sealing is about to take place (i.e., the divorced woman is preparing to marry another man in the temple). Any changes regarding sealings happen through the office of the First Presidency and/or temples; clerks never make those changes on membership records themselves (indeed, they have no way to do so). Specific policies are found in HB 1, 3.6.1, and on the confidential Application to the First Presidency form.

[joshbingham]

Thank you for such great information.

One quick follow-up. Do I just take the member's word for it, or do I need to see some type of document that shows the civil divorce? If I do need to see proof, do I ask the member directly or do I ask the Bishop to ask?

[eblood66]

Thank you for such great information.

One quick follow-up. Do I just take the member's word for it, or do I need to see some type of document that shows the civil divorce? If I do need to see proof, do I ask the member directly or do I ask the Bishop to ask?

Read Handbook 1 section 13.6.22. It says the bishop may wish to review official documents. I interpret that to mean it is up to the bishop's discretion.