Tech Forum

Where in the MLS do go to record the death of a member?

vsilcox wrote:Where in the MLS do go to record the death of a member?

Using the main user interface panels, go to Membership Records > View and Update > Death of Member.
Or, using the menu, go to Membership > Records > Death of Member.

How long should it take to reflect the death of a member after being entered into MLS? We recently recorded the death but the member still shows on the ward roster.

celeronsean wrote:How long should it take to reflect the death of a member after being entered into MLS? We recently recorded the death but the member still shows on the ward roster.

That depends on what you mean by "ward roster". If you mean that the individual record is still in MLS, then that seems unusual -- the record should go away quickly. I would think it would take no more than a day.

If you are referring to the new online Directory on lds.org, then I could see a somewhat longer delay; it might take up to three days.

But in any case, make sure that you recorded the death properly and didn't make the mistake described in this post. Because if you made the mistake of recording the death only on the spouse's record, the records will never be updated as you hope until the death is recorded properly.

We had a member die in our ward recently, the death was recorded one evening, and within two days it was gone from the lds.org directory as well.

One thing that has nagged family history people is the fact that the death PLACE if known when the bishop or clerk is informed of the death gets the information and records it in MLS is not taken. This information is thus not put into nFS (new FamilySearch) so that has to often be put in later, if anyone remembers to, by the member's family if other relatives are members and use that site. Any chance of fixing this so that the death location can be added in at the time the record is sent back to Salt Lake? Would have to be optional (but available) as sometimes the information on the death place is not always given.

I am the membership clerk for Lorain Ward in Ohio. I have a question. [-- Removed a whole bunch of personal information --]

See the reply to your other message. Please also note that the forum code of conduct asks that you please stay on topic (don't start a new topic in an existing thread) and not post the same message in multiple threads.

JamesAnderson wrote:We had a member die in our ward recently, the death was recorded one evening, and within two days it was gone from the lds.org directory as well.

One thing that has nagged family history people is the fact that the death PLACE if known when the bishop or clerk is informed of the death gets the information and records it in MLS is not taken. This information is thus not put into nFS (new FamilySearch) so that has to often be put in later, if anyone remembers to, by the member's family if other relatives are members and use that site. Any chance of fixing this so that the death location can be added in at the time the record is sent back to Salt Lake? Would have to be optional (but available) as sometimes the information on the death place is not always given.

I think this is a great suggestion, but it will probably not get to those who make the programming decisions when posted here. Four members of our ward passed away in 2018 and I knew the city they died in in every case but there was nowhere for me as the ward clerk to record that. I suggest you post it via feedback from lds.org. That feedback is read and forwarded to those who consider/set the programmer's priorities.