What is a temple recorder?

[Bernard Gui]

Several times I have been in the temple and various issues have arisen that required the presence and decisions of a temple recorder.

He is always super nice and is treated with deference and respect by the temple workers. What is a temple recorder?

[rpn]

The person responsible for getting all the ordinances recorded and witnessed properly.

[cinepro]

I think there's a guy posting videos to YouTube that could qualify for the calling.

[smac97]

From here:

Quote

Each temple also has one or more men known as “Recorders.” This is a paid full-time position in larger temples (there may also be more than one employee/recorder or there may be a volunteer assistant recorder(s)). The Temple Recorder has a number of specific responsibilities. The recorder functions by assisting the president of the temple in carefully overseeing the recording of all ordinances performed in the temple and assuring that those records are communicated to Church headquarters where they are archived. Most of this work is now digitized. The recorder also performs certain functions with the president related to the general preparation for the administration of the endowment. Additionally, the recorder may have specific assignments in directing other paid personnel that may or may not exist in a given temple: laundry service employees, grounds keepers or contractors, cafeteria employees, general food service matters, building maintenance, some secretarial staff, security. The presidency, matrons and ordinance workers are not paid staff and perform their duties gratis. However, in smaller temples, the recorder and building engineer are also counselors in the temple presidency and the temple itself is maintained on a volunteer basis (no paid employees – these smaller temples have no food service and do not provide rental ceremonial clothing).

Thanks,

-Smac

[Bernard Gui]

25 minutes ago, cinepro said:

I think there's a guy posting videos to YouTube that could qualify for the calling.

But I don't post any videos on YouTube.

[Bernard Gui]

24 minutes ago, smac97 said:

From here:

Thanks,

-Smac

So, he's the temple CEO/CFO?

[The Nehor]

A coven of secretive Danite assassins/sorcerers that dispose of our enemies. Do you like the cover story?

[rpn]

No, the poster is being facetitious because someone has posted recordings of various temple sessions in which he participated without a valid TR for himself.   That doesn't a "recorder" in temple parlance make him.

[mfbukowski]

6 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

Several times I have been in the temple and various issues have arisen that required the presence and decisions of a temple recorder.

He is always super nice and is treated with deference and respect by the temple workers. What is a temple recorder?

Besides being responsible for the recording of ordinances, he is essentially the office manager or really CEO of the temple in all temporal matters- the temple President trains workers and oversees the spiritual side of the temple

So recorders are the ultimate "boss" of the maintenance people, security, cafeteria employees, laundry staff, etc.  He is responsible or through employees to pay the light bill, water bill, oversee the grounds people, order supplies, make sure the computers are working etc etc.

If it has to do with the "physical plant" the recorder is in charge.

And he also allows people into the temple who have forgotten recommends etc, by checking the computer to assure they are members etc.

[mfbukowski]

2 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

So, he's the temple CEO/CFO?

Yup.

[Calm]

4 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

But I don't post any videos on YouTube.

May I infer from this you may be getting this calling?

[mfbukowski]

8 minutes ago, Calm said:

May I infer from this you may be getting this calling?

It is usually a full time paid position, and it is not likely to be a surprise that one was hired.

That does not mean that the position goes only to previous applicants- I know of people who have been offered the position because of their known qualifications without them knowing there was an opening or without them seeking the job

So in some ways it can be seen as almost a "calling" since the position is highly selective, but it is full time paid employment typically

It would be unreasonable to "call" someone to a position which requires their presence in an office for 8 hours a day - at least- without compensation, and with the expectation that they would show up every day at the same time etc.

 

[Calm]

Given BG's past history in music it seemed like an odd match.  Even more so now.

My dad was in charge of United Airlines' biggest facility for fixing planes.  When he retired, they asked him if he would serve as the same for the local temple or so he explained it to us in a volunteer capacity.  He refused, didn't to be accountable/tied down.  I think it was a mistake.  He was desperate to find stuff to keep himself busy and drove Mom bonkers a lot by interfering with her plans.

Doesn't sound quite the same.

[mfbukowski]

20 minutes ago, Calm said:

Given BG's past history in music it seemed like an odd match.  Even more so now.

My dad was in charge of United Airlines' biggest facility for fixing planes.  When he retired, they asked him if he would serve as the same for the local temple or so he explained it to us in a volunteer capacity.  He refused, didn't to be accountable/tied down.  I think it was a mistake.  He was desperate to find stuff to keep himself busy and drove Mom bonkers a lot by interfering with her plans.

Doesn't sound quite the same.

Well I am talking about the second largest temple in the church- and the largest "above ground" yet today (SLC has the annex and all the underground stuff)

I suppose other temples might be different, especially smaller ones.  Perhaps there are multiple people with assistants, with fewer employees and staff, just fewer demands all around.

Managing a hundred employees is quite different obviously than managing 10 or 20.   So there could be that much variation I think between our largest and smallest temples.

[Gray]

I know a former stake president (a lovely human being) who is now a temple recorder. Definitely a paid position, seems to be decently compensated.

[Kenngo1969]

This isn't related to the subject of the thread, but I "recorded" baptisms for the dead when my ward went to do them in the St. George Temple once.  I put a mark next to the name of each person on whose behalf the ordinance was performed, after which I returned the list to the brother in charge of the baptistry at the time.

It was really hard.

I'm sworn to secrecy about how many zeroes were on the check I received for this evening of arduous work.  

[ERMD]

Not paid in the smaller temples.  For example, the San Antonio Temple does not have a paid recorder.  See the post by Smac above.

[mfbukowski]

22 minutes ago, ERMD said:

Not paid in the smaller temples.  For example, the San Antonio Temple does not have a paid recorder.  See the post by Smac above.

Yes I saw that but wasn't sure it applied here

Thanks

[Bernard Gui]

6 hours ago, Calm said:

May I infer from this you may be getting this calling?

In no way. I'm just an old violinist. But I can count really well.

Edited August 17, 2016 by Bernard Gui

[mfbukowski]

8 hours ago, Bernard Gui said:

 I'm just an old violinist.

I am sorry you are so prejudiced against new violins that you will not play them.

[HappyJackWagon]

19 hours ago, mfbukowski said:

It is usually a full time paid position, and it is not likely to be a surprise that one was hired.

That does not mean that the position goes only to previous applicants- I know of people who have been offered the position because of their known qualifications without them knowing there was an opening or without them seeking the job

So in some ways it can be seen as almost a "calling" since the position is highly selective, but it is full time paid employment typically

It would be unreasonable to "call" someone to a position which requires their presence in an office for 8 hours a day - at least- without compensation, and with the expectation that they would show up every day at the same time etc.

 

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It strikes me as odd that a temple recorder is a paid position when virtually every other position in the temple is volunteer, including his assistant recorders. If it's largely a facilities management type position why not utilize the regular facility management group. Also, if I'm not mistaken this is a male-only position. Women cannot be recorders. This would indicate there is a unique priesthood leadership function that he is getting paid for.

[Bernard Gui]

On August 17, 2016 at 1:47 PM, HappyJackWagon said:

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It strikes me as odd that a temple recorder is a paid position when virtually every other position in the temple is volunteer, including his assistant recorders. If it's largely a facilities management type position why not utilize the regular facility management group. Also, if I'm not mistaken this is a male-only position. Women cannot be recorders. This would indicate there is a unique priesthood leadership function that he is getting paid for.

Odd? So what? Sounds perfectly logical to me. It is a combination of ecclesiastical and temporal responsibilities that requires a lot of savvy and experience in addition to priesthood authority. Other full-time priesthood leadership positions include remuneration. It's hardly grounds for calling priestcraft.

[Kenngo1969]

On 8/17/2016 at 1:08 AM, Bernard Gui said:

In no way. I'm just an old violinist. But I can count really well.

 

On 8/17/2016 at 9:46 AM, mfbukowski said:

I am sorry you are so prejudiced against new violins that you will not play them.

Ah ... having now learned that Hno. Bernardo is a fiddler, my respect for him, never lacking to begin with, just went even higher.  (I would, however, recommend that he stay off of roofs while fiddling ... )

As for old violins, there is this: http://www.zdiaz.com/2008/11/the-parable-of-the-old-violin/.  

[Calm]

On August 17, 2016 at 2:47 PM, HappyJackWagon said:

This sounds a lot like it could be a senior mission. Aren't senior missionaries called to serve full time without pay?

It may that changing the position every 6 months to 2 years (which is the length of church service missions) would be too detrimental to the quality of the job.

[Bernard Gui]

4 hours ago, Kenngo1969 said:

 

Ah ... having now learned that Hno. Bernardo is a fiddler, my respect for him, never lacking to begin with, just went even higher.  (I would, however, recommend that he stay off of roofs while fiddling ... )

As for old violins, there is this: http://www.zdiaz.com/2008/11/the-parable-of-the-old-violin/.  

Funny...I just performed in a production of Fiddler.... not as the Fiddler, but concertmaster of the orchestra. They had some young buck up on the roof.