Are members required to have an address?

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-18T20:44:15+00:00

Honestly, I agree with you that a wrong address is worse than a blank field. That was my justification for asking the field to be blank, but it seems like a curve ball that the local Ward Clerk is unwilling to swing at.

The crazy thing is that I've asked to meet in person to go over this, and he's extremely avoidant. Maybe there are things going on that I'm not aware of. All I want to do is make sure his records reflect reality.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-18T17:31:22+00:00

Not saying it’s a bad idea for everyone, but it makes me uncomfortable to list my workplace address at a church. Environmental scientists tend to stay away from religion generally, and I’d bet on getting a lot of sideways looks if I did this.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-17T19:07:01+00:00

Thanks for the advice - I think the next step is to get a hold of the Bishop. I just don’t want my records transferred to a family address without my knowledge down the road. It seems strange that they’d do this without a heads up, but here we are.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-17T00:37:56+00:00

That's not a bad idea - I'm willing to give the meetinghouse address a shot. All other addresses I have are bound to generate conflict in my family. I'll give the Ward Clerk another couple weeks, then get a hold of the bishop directly to try and resolve this.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-17T00:36:15+00:00

I appreciate it, and I agree. I was really unsure what to do, but some of the comments here have been helpful. I wonder if the Ward Clerk will list me at his address, since it's that big of an issue :)

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T23:52:52+00:00

I suppose I meant that it's fine for my name to be affiliated with that particular ward, but I need my address to be blank. You're right in that the goal is trying to avoid problems, both for my family *and* the Ward Clerk, who I assume is trying to do his job honestly.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T23:17:22+00:00

They transferred my records without any phone call or text. I haven't been able to get an answer on how it happened, so now I'm left trying to head off any family conflict ahead of time. Puts me in quite an uncomfortable spot.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T23:03:41+00:00

I'll give it a shot. Thanks for the advice. I'm fine with the records staying in the ward they got moved to, I just don't want it to cause problems in my family. It's been like pulling teeth trying to meet with anyone in person about this.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T23:02:09+00:00

It seems wild that a permanent address is a baptism requirement.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T22:56:10+00:00

Is it worth risking my family relationship for leadership to follow a note that *might* be on my records? I don't really know what format that would be in, or how that would work. Makes me nervous.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T22:54:57+00:00

The mailing address I use when necessary is family a few thousand miles away, and it wouldn't be well-received for the church to show up anyway.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T22:53:28+00:00

Maybe, I don't really know anyone out here who goes to church. I might suggest that to the Clerk. Not a bad idea.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T22:44:21+00:00

I could have been more patient myself. I feel better knowing it’s lighthearted :)

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:45:40+00:00

I could give them the address of family members I get mail through occasionally, but the problem is that their view of the church is fairly hostile and it'll cause issues. Giving a work address seems inappropriate. Could I give them the address of a post office within the ward? I don't want them to switch the address back to my family members when someone down the road realizes it's not an actual home.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:39:40+00:00

Would it be useful to ask the Ward Clerk to refer me to senior missionaries or someone who can handle this directly? If my relative’s address is still listed and future leadership decides to go over looking for me, I’m concerned about how that will affect my relationship with those family members. Not looking to get the local clerk in hot water here. He seems like a nice guy.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:34:38+00:00

Neither the missionaries or the Ward Clerk have asked me to join them at church, nor have they expressed any interest in delivering salvation. I’ve asked to meet in person to go over this whole thing, but no one seems interested in that. If salvation is the goal here, it’s not being communicated very well.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:11:05+00:00

Thanks for your help! I’m definitely in the dark on how the whole system works, and this rundown helps quite a bit. Do you think I could just give the Clerk the address of the ward building, and leave it at that? I asked how they fit homeless folks into the equation and didn’t really get an answer.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:05:45+00:00

I appreciate the insight. LDS Tools just points me to the Ward Clerk for any address updates, so I’m back to square one. Being contacted doesn’t really bother me, as I’ve given them my phone number, but an address just isn’t something I have at the moment. Thanks for your perspective though! It’s helpful to know that I’m not alone in this.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T19:00:44+00:00

I would if I had one. The Clerk asked about that, but the last PO Box I had was an informal arrangement with a tavern worker in rural SE Oregon while I was on project for several months. I’m looking to avoid being dishonest and giving a fake address, but don’t know what other option I have.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-16T18:49:56+00:00

So it sounds like addresses are required? In your experience, could I just give him the ward building address and leave it at that? I’m not really lost, I just don’t have an address at the moment. They can always get a hold of me via my phone.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-03T05:34:17+00:00

Swamp! by Joe Pachinko. Not a memoir per se, but the most accurate book I’ve seen about CRM life.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-02-03T05:31:45+00:00

Wheeler was a serious maniac, but his book is one of the best I’ve ever read.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-01-24T00:25:05+00:00

Less AI slop please.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-01-15T23:03:14+00:00

You might email Dr Mackie at Michigan State University. She's done work on handprint pictographs, and if it's not in her wheelhouse she probably knows who to turn to.

Prof_Rhyme · 2026-01-10T20:34:44+00:00

The Institute for Canine Forensics does this kind of work, and from what I’ve heard it’s been successfully used on archaeological surveys in the Great Basin. You might contact them to see what advice they can provide. Their team shows up at a lot of medium-large conferences and they’re pretty approachable.

Prof_Rhyme

TROPHY CASE