Church Releases Updates to Handbook

[JAHS]

Church releases updates to handbook for Latter-day Saint leaders worldwide

Full new chapters governing three of the church’s major organizations, the Sunday School, Relief Society and Elders’ Quorum, and one called “Teaching the Gospel.” One notable change is that stake presidents are to call new Relief Society presidents and no longer delegate that responsibility to a counselor.

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

Several updates in that section were related to reproduction. While the handbook noted that reproductive technology can help a married woman and man have children and decisions ultimately are left to their prayerful judgment, the church:

Continues to discourages surgical sterilization, such as vasectomies and tubal ligations, as an elective form of birth control, with the handbook deleting a section about the issue and moving the policy into the birth control section.
Continues to discourages artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization using sperm from anyone but the husband or an egg from anyone but the wife. The handbook update merged the sections about the two procedures.
Includes a section on sex education, encouraging parents to have honest, clear and ongoing conversations with their children about righteous sexuality and to be aware of and appropriately influence sex education taught in schools. The August 2020 edition of the “Ensign,” the church’s official monthly magazine, includes multiple articles on sex education.
Requires First Presidency approval for a child born to a surrogate mother to be sealed to parents in a temple, a long-standing policy not previously included in the handbook.
The updated entry on the occult says occult practices include Satan worship, fortune-telling, curses and healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

The entry on suicide encourages greater sensitivity as leaders minister to those considering suicide. It notes that many are seeking relief from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain and need love, help and support from family, church leaders and qualified professionals.

The entry also notes that while the church’s position is that it is not right for a person to take his or her own life, “only God is able to judge the person’s thoughts, actions and level of accountability.”

The “Medical and Health Policies” section included a new entry about medical marijuana. The policy provides guidelines for when marijuana may be used for medical purposes and restates the church’s opposition to nonmedical use of marijuana.

[InCognitus]

2 hours ago, JAHS said:

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

There's a special place in heaven for ward librarians, along with LDS Boy Scouts, Young Men Presidencies, Behives, Laurals, and Mia Maids. 

[OGHoosier]

Sounds good to me. 

[bsjkki]

I'm so glad they are allowing a SS class for new members, investigators, or returning members. My ward thought investigators really missed out on having a small class where people felt more comfortable asking questions.

Edited August 1, 2020 by bsjkki

[Scott Lloyd]

10 hours ago, JAHS said:

Church releases updates to handbook for Latter-day Saint leaders worldwide

Full new chapters governing three of the church’s major organizations, the Sunday School, Relief Society and Elders’ Quorum, and one called “Teaching the Gospel.” One notable change is that stake presidents are to call new Relief Society presidents and no longer delegate that responsibility to a counselor.

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

Several updates in that section were related to reproduction. While the handbook noted that reproductive technology can help a married woman and man have children and decisions ultimately are left to their prayerful judgment, the church:

Continues to discourages surgical sterilization, such as vasectomies and tubal ligations, as an elective form of birth control, with the handbook deleting a section about the issue and moving the policy into the birth control section.
Continues to discourages artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization using sperm from anyone but the husband or an egg from anyone but the wife. The handbook update merged the sections about the two procedures.
Includes a section on sex education, encouraging parents to have honest, clear and ongoing conversations with their children about righteous sexuality and to be aware of and appropriately influence sex education taught in schools. The August 2020 edition of the “Ensign,” the church’s official monthly magazine, includes multiple articles on sex education.
Requires First Presidency approval for a child born to a surrogate mother to be sealed to parents in a temple, a long-standing policy not previously included in the handbook.
The updated entry on the occult says occult practices include Satan worship, fortune-telling, curses and healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

The entry on suicide encourages greater sensitivity as leaders minister to those considering suicide. It notes that many are seeking relief from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain and need love, help and support from family, church leaders and qualified professionals.

The entry also notes that while the church’s position is that it is not right for a person to take his or her own life, “only God is able to judge the person’s thoughts, actions and level of accountability.”

The “Medical and Health Policies” section included a new entry about medical marijuana. The policy provides guidelines for when marijuana may be used for medical purposes and restates the church’s opposition to nonmedical use of marijuana.

Until this day, I thought bishops called Relief Society presidents. 

[revelstoked]

I think it refers to Stake Relief Society Presidents.  The Bishop was the one who called my wife.

[Scott Lloyd]

10 hours ago, JAHS said:

Church releases updates to handbook for Latter-day Saint leaders worldwide

Full new chapters governing three of the church’s major organizations, the Sunday School, Relief Society and Elders’ Quorum, and one called “Teaching the Gospel.” One notable change is that stake presidents are to call new Relief Society presidents and no longer delegate that responsibility to a counselor.

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

Several updates in that section were related to reproduction. While the handbook noted that reproductive technology can help a married woman and man have children and decisions ultimately are left to their prayerful judgment, the church:

Continues to discourages surgical sterilization, such as vasectomies and tubal ligations, as an elective form of birth control, with the handbook deleting a section about the issue and moving the policy into the birth control section.
Continues to discourages artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization using sperm from anyone but the husband or an egg from anyone but the wife. The handbook update merged the sections about the two procedures.
Includes a section on sex education, encouraging parents to have honest, clear and ongoing conversations with their children about righteous sexuality and to be aware of and appropriately influence sex education taught in schools. The August 2020 edition of the “Ensign,” the church’s official monthly magazine, includes multiple articles on sex education.
Requires First Presidency approval for a child born to a surrogate mother to be sealed to parents in a temple, a long-standing policy not previously included in the handbook.
The updated entry on the occult says occult practices include Satan worship, fortune-telling, curses and healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

The entry on suicide encourages greater sensitivity as leaders minister to those considering suicide. It notes that many are seeking relief from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain and need love, help and support from family, church leaders and qualified professionals.

The entry also notes that while the church’s position is that it is not right for a person to take his or her own life, “only God is able to judge the person’s thoughts, actions and level of accountability.”

The “Medical and Health Policies” section included a new entry about medical marijuana. The policy provides guidelines for when marijuana may be used for medical purposes and restates the church’s opposition to nonmedical use of marijuana.

The piece is riddled with typos. Apparently, they rushed it into print (or online) without carefully proofing it. 

[revelstoked]

7 hours ago, InCognitus said:

There's a special place in heaven for ward librarians, along with LDS Boy Scouts, Young Men Presidencies, Behives, Laurals, and Mia Maids. 

Never been a Laurel, Mai Maid, or Beehive, but I've been a Librarian, Scoutmaster, and Young Men's Councilor.  Is Executive Secretary, Clerk, or Nursery Worker on the hit list next?

[Scott Lloyd]

2 minutes ago, revelstoked said:

I think it refers to Stake Relief Society Presidents.  The Bishop was the one who called my wife.

That could be. But if that’s the case, it was an error not to specify stake Relief Society presidents. 

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

15 hours ago, JAHS said:

Church releases updates to handbook for Latter-day Saint leaders worldwide

Full new chapters governing three of the church’s major organizations, the Sunday School, Relief Society and Elders’ Quorum, and one called “Teaching the Gospel.” One notable change is that stake presidents are to call new Relief Society presidents and no longer delegate that responsibility to a counselor.

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

Several updates in that section were related to reproduction. While the handbook noted that reproductive technology can help a married woman and man have children and decisions ultimately are left to their prayerful judgment, the church:

Continues to discourages surgical sterilization, such as vasectomies and tubal ligations, as an elective form of birth control, with the handbook deleting a section about the issue and moving the policy into the birth control section.
Continues to discourages artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization using sperm from anyone but the husband or an egg from anyone but the wife. The handbook update merged the sections about the two procedures.
Includes a section on sex education, encouraging parents to have honest, clear and ongoing conversations with their children about righteous sexuality and to be aware of and appropriately influence sex education taught in schools. The August 2020 edition of the “Ensign,” the church’s official monthly magazine, includes multiple articles on sex education.
Requires First Presidency approval for a child born to a surrogate mother to be sealed to parents in a temple, a long-standing policy not previously included in the handbook.
The updated entry on the occult says occult practices include Satan worship, fortune-telling, curses and healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

The entry on suicide encourages greater sensitivity as leaders minister to those considering suicide. It notes that many are seeking relief from physical, mental, emotional or spiritual pain and need love, help and support from family, church leaders and qualified professionals.

The entry also notes that while the church’s position is that it is not right for a person to take his or her own life, “only God is able to judge the person’s thoughts, actions and level of accountability.”

The “Medical and Health Policies” section included a new entry about medical marijuana. The policy provides guidelines for when marijuana may be used for medical purposes and restates the church’s opposition to nonmedical use of marijuana.

There are all valid  points, as we are a conservative Church. The “marijuana” comments fall well within the “Word of Wisdom”, addressing smoking.. But doing so for medical reasons, makes sense, as recognizes (from what I have been told) it helps greatly with nausea, from chemotherapy. But any going through this, via cancer, need to take care around their children, i. e., being locked it up. Because In the past, Mormons did not hide their liquor, under lock n key. Because they would need, or have as liquor in out homes, anyway. 

[LoudmouthMormon]

This part in the section on transgender individuals has been there for a while, but I'm still blown away that it's there.  It's easy to find people who don't know it's there at all:

Quote

If a member decides to change his or her preferred name or pronouns of address, the name preference may be noted in the preferred name field on the membership record. The person may be addressed by the preferred name in the ward.

You probably won't be Elders Quorum president any time soon, but if you were born a Jane, and want to be called Fred, we'll update our church records to accommodate you, and call you Fred over the podium and everywhere else.

[Scott Lloyd]

19 minutes ago, LoudmouthMormon said:

This part in the section on transgender individuals has been there for a while, but I'm still blown away that it's there.  It's easy to find people who don't know it's there at all:

You probably won't be Elders Quorum president any time soon, but if you were born a Jane, and want to be called Fred, we'll update our church records to accommodate you, and call you Fred over the podium and everywhere else.

“May be addressed” being the operative verb here, as opposed to “must be addressed.”

[Wilderland]

23 hours ago, JAHS said:

healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

Quote

 

I don’t really know how it’s done, but would this be referring to ‘energy healing ’?

[Peacefully]

13 hours ago, Scott Lloyd said:

That could be. But if that’s the case, it was an error not to specify stake Relief Society presidents. 

The hand book reads: 

• The stake president calls the stake Relief Society president and does not delegate this responsibility to a counselor.

[JAHS]

55 minutes ago, Wilderland said:

On 7/31/2020 at 12:58 PM, JAHS said:

healing practices that are imitations of priesthood power.

Quote

 

I don’t really know how it’s done, but would this be referring to ‘energy healing ’?

Maybe referring to the kind of "healing" Benny Hinn does on stage? They call it "faith" healing but I see it more as an imitation of priesthood power.

[Scott Lloyd]

6 hours ago, Peacefully said:

The hand book reads: 

• The stake president calls the stake Relief Society president and does not delegate this responsibility to a counselor.

Amazing what a difference in clarity a single word can make. 

[Rain]

 

On 7/31/2020 at 12:58 PM, JAHS said:

The chapter on Sunday School does away with the role of class president and changes two familiar church terms. The meetinghouse library and ward librarian will now be known as the resource center and ward resource specialist.

Several updates in that section were related to reproduction. While the handbook noted that reproductive technology can help a married woman and man have children and decisions ultimately are left to their prayerful judgment, the church:

Please tell me I wasn't the only one who was caught with this because I was thinking of the copy machine.😃

 

[nuclearfuels]

On 7/31/2020 at 6:48 PM, InCognitus said:

along with LDS Boy Scouts,

and Scout Masters, I hope.

Otherwise I'm doomed

[Calm]

25 minutes ago, Rain said:

 

Please tell me I wasn't the only one who was caught with this because I was thinking of the copy machine.😃

 

Right under library...of course, making copies was our number one job. 

[JAHS]

35 minutes ago, Rain said:

 

Please tell me I wasn't the only one who was caught with this because I was thinking of the copy machine.😃

 

Librarians can reproduce. Keep that door open. 😉

[InCognitus]

22 hours ago, JAHS said:

Librarians can reproduce. Keep that door open. 😉

But they won't be able to reproduce new librarians, but only new ward resource specialists (I'm not quite sure how that works exactly, I may talk to my mom and dad about this or maybe read up on Darwin)

Edited August 3, 2020 by InCognitus

[InCognitus]

23 hours ago, nuclearfuels said:

and Scout Masters, I hope.

Otherwise I'm doomed

As a former Scout Master until last September, I'm right there with you (wherever that may be!)

Edited August 3, 2020 by InCognitus

[nuclearfuels]

56 minutes ago, InCognitus said:

But they won't be able to reproduce new librarians, but only new ward resource specialists (I'm not quite sure how that works exactly, I may talk to my mom and dad about this or maybe read up on Darwin)

Storks

[Scott Lloyd]

On 8/1/2020 at 9:15 PM, Rain said:

 

Please tell me I wasn't the only one who was caught with this because I was thinking of the copy machine.😃

 

Here’s another instance where a single clarifying word would have made substantial difference — such as using the word human as a modifier for reproduction. Again, the story, at least in its initial form, reads like there was a rush to get it out without it having been adequately proofread. 

[The Nehor]

On 8/1/2020 at 1:37 AM, Scott Lloyd said:

The piece is riddled with typos. Apparently, they rushed it into print (or online) without carefully proofing it. 

Yep, the editor in me was cringing.