lajackson wrote:Sometimes. Not always.
As our children have served missions, other family members have wanted to help. We sent them a few donation envelopes so they could mail their contributions directly to the bishop, as they should.
Some of them did not want us to know how much they contributed, and we honored that. The clerks handled everything confidentially, and once a quarter they would let me know how much had been contributed to the missionary fund in total, and I would then know how much still needed to be contributed to meet the $400 monthly amount the ward would be charged. It worked well because there was family (me) to make sure there was not shortfall.
In a few cases, a missionary served with no family in the area who were members, but with other relatives who did the same thing. They mailed their contributions to the bishop, and he and his clerks kept track of it. They just didn't have anyone in the home ward as "family", so if the amount needed fell short, the bishop made a quiet announcement in elders quorum or high priests group that it would be nice if a few brethren would like to contribute a small amount to the ward missionary fund for a month or two.
As I recall, those announcements came infrequently, perhaps only two or three times a year.
I understand the point of your exception, but it emphasizes my point, which is that the contributions should be made to the ward that the missionary left from, and not the home ward of the inactive or active donating member.
