Official Communications: are all messages stored, and equally accessible?

[BrianEdwards]

I have a general question about what I should expect when I access the Official Communications available via LCR. OK, actually, I'll break this up into a few questions...
1) Are communications filtered by calling? That is, will a Bishop see a different list of communications than the Clerk, and vice-versa?
2) Are communications filtered by area? So would leaders in Brazil see a different list than leaders in Australia?
3) Follow-on to (2): Are certain regional/area communications ever stored anywhere for future access, or are they only available via the original email?
4) Have members found that certain official communications don't make it into the "Official Communications" library, even though their audience is global? Is there a pattern?

I know a while back it seemed like a lot (most?) of the official communications were wiped from memory, and it wasn't clear if this was by accident (a bug) or on purpose (a feature). And I haven't been able to put my finger on what the new norm is for storage and access of communications. So if anyone has been paying better attention than me, please share your insight!

[lajackson]

Based on my very unofficial observations and total lack of insider knowledge:

1) Are communications filtered by calling?

Yes.

2) Are communications filtered by area?

They can be and I believe they are sometimes.

3) Follow-on to (2): Are certain regional/area communications ever stored anywhere for future access, or are they only available via the original email?

In theory, all communications are stored at the Official Communication Library until they are included in the General Handbook or are otherwise no longer needed. And if that actually happened, there would not be a question 4.

4) Have members found that certain official communications don't make it into the "Official Communications" library, even though their audience is global? Is there a pattern?

Yes. There does not appear to be a pattern.

I know a while back it seemed like a lot (most?) of the official communications were wiped from memory, and it wasn't clear if this was by accident (a bug) or on purpose (a feature).

They will never tell. [grin]

And I haven't been able to put my finger on what the new norm is for storage and access of communications. So if anyone has been paying better attention than me, please share your insight!

I have personally found it very difficult to pay precise attention to such a moving target. When I see something of particular interest to me from whatever the source, I download and save it based on the theory that I may never see it again.

From my experience this year, I will often see information at the Church Newsroom before I see it at the Official Communication Library.

[russellhltn]

I have a general question about what I should expect when I access the Official Communications available via LCR. OK, actually, I'll break this up into a few questions...
1) Are communications filtered by calling? That is, will a Bishop see a different list of communications than the Clerk, and vice-versa?

Maybe. I see a number of items that have nothing to do with my calling, so the filter seems pretty "lose".

2) Are communications filtered by area? So would leaders in Brazil see a different list than leaders in Australia?

I'd expect so, since I haven't seen things that weren't addressed to the 'North American" area.

3) Follow-on to (2): Are certain regional/area communications ever stored anywhere for future access, or are they only available via the original email?

Probably depends on who sent it and how. I've never seen anything from anything lower than Church Headquarters. For example, nothing from regional leaders.

I know a while back it seemed like a lot (most?) of the official communications were wiped from memory, and it wasn't clear if this was by accident (a bug) or on purpose (a feature). And I haven't been able to put my finger on what the new norm is for storage and access of communications. So if anyone has been paying better attention than me, please share your insight!

A number of us lost the ability to view anything from the Presiding Bishopric. Even if the message pertained to one's calling (like Zoom accounts for an STS).

[jonesrk]

A number of us lost the ability to view anything from the Presiding Bishopric. Even if the message pertained to one's calling (like Zoom accounts for an STS).

I can't double check, since I now longer have a calling with access, but It seems to me that they weren't lost just that the filter option and the data on the communication didn't line up anymore and so I had to switch the filter to 'All' to see them.

[eblood66]

A number of us lost the ability to view anything from the Presiding Bishopric. Even if the message pertained to one's calling (like Zoom accounts for an STS).

I can't double check, since I now longer have a calling with access, but It seems to me that they weren't lost just that the filter option and the data on the communication didn't line up anymore and so I had to switch the filter to 'All' to see them.

I'm a stake finance clerk. I have nothing listed under Presiding Bishopric and when I look through the list under All I don't see anything that is marked as Presiding Bishopric. However, I found a couple finance related letters under Notices that say they are from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric. So perhaps all the Presiding Bishopric letters are being categorized under Notices.

[russellhltn]

I can't double check, since I now longer have a calling with access, but It seems to me that they weren't lost just that the filter option and the data on the communication didn't line up anymore and so I had to switch the filter to 'All' to see them.

The one I notice missing are the ones related to rolling out Zoom and it's use. Those are nowhere to be found. But I can see the initial COVID "shut everything down" letter.

[jonesrk]

A number of us lost the ability to view anything from the Presiding Bishopric. Even if the message pertained to one's calling (like Zoom accounts for an STS).

I can't double check, since I now longer have a calling with access, but It seems to me that they weren't lost just that the filter option and the data on the communication didn't line up anymore and so I had to switch the filter to 'All' to see them.

I'm a stake finance clerk. I have nothing listed under Presiding Bishopric and when I look through the list under All I don't see anything that is marked as Presiding Bishopric. However, I found a couple finance related letters under Notices that say they are from the Office of the Presiding Bishopric. So perhaps all the Presiding Bishopric letters are being categorized under Notices.

That's what was happening. Office of the Presiding Bishopric <> Presiding Bishopric in their filters.

[caillines]

I see one in the "Presiding Bishopric" grouping

"Presiding Bishopric letter, 10 October 2019: Updated Security Guidelines for Church Meetings and Events (outside United States and Canada)"

If I search in "all" for "presiding bishopric", I see 5 more. 3 relating to donations, 2 relating to to sections in LCR.

[russellhltn]

"Presiding Bishopric letter, 10 October 2019: Updated Security Guidelines for Church Meetings and Events (outside United States and Canada)"

I left the filter on "All" and scrolled down to that. I can't see it. At least not in the expected chronological order.