Missionary Online Recommendation System Priesthood Leadership Meeting Breakout Session - Bishops Sunday, May 7th, 2006

Recommend Submission Process Bishop Bishop Candidate Stake President Bishop Reviews all online submissions; corrects and edits as necessary Bishop reviews all Dr. and Dent. papers 1. May have to send candidate back if problems. Bishop Conducts Final Interview w/ Candidate Bishop Completes Priesthood Ldr. Comments Bishop Submits online recommend to Stake President Bishop delivers Dental and Medical forms to Stk. Pr. Stk. Pr. conducts a searching, thorough interview w/ candidate Stk. Pr. reviews all online submissions; corrects and edits as necessary Stk. Pr. enters All Dental and Medical Information into online forms. Stk. Pr. completes Priesthood Ldr. Comments Stk. Pr. submits to Missionary Dept. Bishop Initiates New Recommend Bishop Interviews Candidate 1. Provides record number and instructs on how to fill out forms 2. Conduct a searching , thorough interview… 3. Instruct candidate on entire process Candidate Completes Recommend Forms Online Visit Doctor and have all work done 1. Take stamped envelope addressed to Bishop. 2. May need to get immunization records for doctor 3 Request that doctor complete all questions and mail to Bishop Visit Dentist and have all work done 1. Request that dentist complete all questions and mail to Bishop Dentist Doctor Bold Online work or documents Italic In Person visit or Paper documents

Bishop’s Preparation Obtain internet access and e-mail address Candidate should also have Data not stored on hard drive – can be submitted on a home teacher’s, leader’s, etc. Create a login for Online Recommend Site Obtain record number and confirmation date from MLS http://lds.org/mss - follow instructions see next slide Review the following Materials Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1: Stake Presidencies and Bishoprics First Presidency letters of 12 December 2000 and 11 December 2002 for information on qualifications, terms of service, requirements for special clearance, and other instructions on calling missionaries

Bishop Bishop Initiates New Recommend Bishop Interviews Candidate Can be done before interview (see next slide) Missionary cannot start until bishop initiates the recommend process Bishop Interviews Candidate Provides record number and instructs on how to fill out forms Conduct a thorough, searching interview with the candidate to determine worthiness, qualifications, and the individual's physical and emotional capability to serve. Confirm that the candidate has an understanding and testimony of the Savior and His Atonement, the Restoration and Joseph Smith' role in it, the Book of Mormon (having read it), and the singular privilege of serving the Savior as a missionary. The missionary recommendation packet for young missionaries should be submitted to the Missionary Department not more than 90 days before the candidate's availability date. Couples' packets may be submitted up to five months in advance. The date given in the “Date available to serve” field should not be earlier than the birthday when the missionary reaches the minimum age for service. Normally about two to four months are allowed between the issuing of the call and the beginning of the mission. If the candidate has been living away from home, the home bishop or branch president and the away-from-home bishop or branch president must confer regarding worthiness and the procedures for submitting the recommendation forms (see the Church Handbook of Instructions, Book 1). Instruct candidate on entire process Stress importance of filling out every field on paper forms Set expectation that candidate will be responsible to return to Dr. or Dentist to reconcile problems.

Candidate Candidate Completes Recommend Forms Online Create a login. Will need record # and confirmation date Follow guidelines for submitting photo. Proper dress, grooming, size, and format. Forms will be different depending on answers. Visit Doctor and have all work done Take stamped envelope addressed to Bishop. May need to get immunization records for doctor Request that doctor complete all questions and mail to Bishop Visit Dentist and have all work done Request that dentist complete all questions and mail to Bishop

Doctor / Dentist Forms Missionary will download medical forms from the website Missionary will visit Doctor and Dentist and have them complete the forms Any necessary medical or dental procedures should be completed before forms completed Any additional forms should be returned with the medical forms to the Bishop Example : results of therapy, extra tests, etc. Bishop can attach to online recommend Doctor and Dentist return forms, via mail to the Bishop. Should not hand the forms back to the candidate. Next slide shows some commonly missed fields by the doctor Immunization – doctor’s often don’t have the info Tuberculosis – both the size of the test and the diagnosis

Doctor / Dentist Forms

Bishop Receives all Dental / Medical paperwork Reviews for completeness, sends missionary back to resolve any issues Compiles, delivers to Stk. President Reviews all other online submissions Review these forms after the candidate completes them. Ensure that any serious concerns are resolved, including completion of recommended tests or treatment, before the forms are submitted. Give special attention to emotional, behavioral, and learning problems. If the candidate is on medication for a chronic condition, encourage him or her to continue the medication throughout the mission Can edit online as necessary Conduct a final interview with the candidate before submitting the forms. Discuss with the candidate important information requested on the forms, such as visa or citizenship documentation and information about special medical problems, diets, or medications. Ensure that after the contribution from the missionary and family, the ward or branch missionary fund can meet the financial obligation for the missionary. All donations to the Church's missionary funds become the property of the Church to be used at the Church's sole discretion in its missionary programs. Contributions are not refundable, including any advance contributions, if the missionary is unable to complete the full term of his or her mission. Determine breakdown of payment so Bishop can enter on forms (for example: Missionary - $100, Family $200, Ward $100) Ensure missionary is willing to serve wherever and however called. Set expectations. Completes Priesthood Leader Comments Don’t put anything in Confidential Comments unless they are needed, otherwise call will be delayed. (e.g. “None”, “N/A”, “He’s a great kid”, overflow from other comments, etc.) Submits to Stake President

Stake President Interviews candidate Enters online data Required to enter all Dental and Medical forms online Reviews all submitted forms Completes his own comments Again, don’t put anything unnecessary in conf. comments Submits to Missionary Dept. at Church Headquarters

Conclusion When we have increased the missionaries from the organized areas of the Church to a number close to their potential, that is, every able and worthy boy in the Church on a mission; … when we have used the satellite and related discoveries to their greatest potential and all of the media—the papers, magazines, television, radio—all in their greatest power; when we have organized numerous other stakes which will be springboards; when we have recovered from inactivity the numerous young men who are now unordained and unmissioned and unmarried; then, and not until then, shall we approach the insistence of our Lord and Master to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. --President Spencer W. Kimball, April 4, 1974