Tools or apps to help with record keeping

[semochad]

I'm new to the forum, but hoping someone might have some useful help for me. I'm looking for a tool or app that can help us keep track of when ward members spoke and when the bishopric/EQ/HP/RS groups went and visited ward members in their homes.

Anything already out there? Any bright ideas?

thanks for the help!

[aebrown]

I'm new to the forum, but hoping someone might have some useful help for me. I'm looking for a tool or app that can help us keep track of when ward members spoke and when the bishopric/EQ/HP/RS groups went and visited ward members in their homes.

This is discussed at some length in the topic Sacrament Meeting and Hymn Tracking forms. The most common solution is to use a Google Drive spreadsheet.

[jasonfitt]

We use Google Drive in our ward, and there's an app that is available on android and iOS. You can grant various people of your choosing access to folders and documents. For example we have a callings tracking spreadsheet we use that the whole bishopric can view and edit. So if Brother Smith gets called to be the EQ President, I will record that on the spreadsheet in Google Drive. Then when a member of the bishopric sets him apart they, or I, can go in to the document and mark down that the person has been set apart, etc. I then update MLS as needed.

[RossEvans]

The use of Google Drive (aka Google Docs) now must be analyzed in light of the recent policy (less than two weeks old) regulating use of cloud-based services:

4.8.4 The use of cloud-based services for storing and/or backing up MLS or any membership related data is prohibited.

Whether or not any of the cases described above qualify as "any membership related data" is a matter of interpretation. IMHO, that might vary case-to-case, and some cases are not obvious questions to decide. The enforcement of this policy is the responsibility of stake presidents.

[jermshp]

Has the Church considered using AI-powered meeting tools like Otter.ai?

I’ve seen a range of potential applications—everything from transcribing patriarchal blessings to improving the accuracy of ward and stake council minutes. In more sensitive settings like disciplinary councils, AI transcription could also reduce the need for additional attendees while preserving detailed records.

If a tool like Otter were officially approved, could the Church consider developing or endorsing its own secure software model? This could be especially valuable in areas where resourcing is limited, helping leaders capture more reliable data and follow-up.

When I served as bishop, I often found that previous meeting notes were sparse or inconsistent—largely dependent on the skill of the minute taker. Better recall and documentation would be a huge support, particularly for bishops and stake presidents preparing for councils or interviews.

Curious if others have explored this or if there’s any movement toward official guidance.

[ebachhi]

Interesting idea, but I’d be surprised if the Church approved AI transcription for anything sensitive, given how most tools process data through third-party servers. Even something like Otter.ai wouldn’t meet privacy and confidentiality standards right now. A Church-built, closed-system version could make sense though.