Sunday hymn entry: edit log?

[claricestone]

Hello!

The Library app allows us to enter the hymns that will be used on Sundays. This is how our music chairperson sets the hymns.

My ward has been having a problem. Sometimes on Sundays, some of them have been changed at the last minute. It's usually just one, not all of them. The rest are fine (so I don't think the app is dropping them or having some sort of glitch where it changes them all).

I am our ward's only organist, and it is very unpleasant to hear the announcement of a surprise hymn that I have not practiced. It's an ambush!

This has been going on for some time. The music chair says it's not her, as do the members of the Bishopric. I don't think they're lying!

Obviously, the easy fix would be to touch base with the Bishopric member over the music about the upcoming hymns to avoid this, but I've had spotty success with them being willing/able to do this for me.

My guess is that someone in the ward has edit permissions we don't know about (and is changing it accidentally) or someone in the Bishopric is navigating the app incorrectly (changing it accidentally). It's very, very easy to swap the hymns.

The Bishopric has suggested I try to find out who it is, and you guys seemed like my best bet.

My question is this: is there any sort of log/edit history for the changing of the Sunday hymns?

Thank you so much for your help!

[russellhltn]

I'm not aware of any log, but then I don't have access to that part of the app.

My suggestion is to ask the clerk to call GSD and see what they can find out.

Maybe someone here will have a suggestion about how you can stand up for yourself and not get ambushed.

[sbradshaw]

There isn't an edit log available. However, if it's helpful, the Gospel Library FAQ has a list of all the callings that have access to edit (see "Who has access to select sacrament meeting hymns?"):
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/learn/mobile-applications/gospel-library-faq?lang=eng

It includes, for example, clerks and executive secretaries.

If you're able to check throughout the week to pinpoint when it changes, that might help narrow it down (for example, does it always happen during bishopric meeting?). Does it happen every week? Does it seem to happen for both common hymns and less-"familiar" hymns (if it only happens for less-familiar hymns, it would increase my suspicion of someone like a clerk intentionally changing ones they don't like or know)?

[sbradshaw]

I would also recommend checking on Sunday morning just before the meeting. If they are incorrect, you can correct them before everyone in the ward sees the incorrect data.

[russellhltn]

I would also recommend checking on Sunday morning just before the meeting. If they are incorrect, you can correct them before everyone in the ward sees the incorrect data.

The question is how long does it take the change to sync to everyone's phone? Minutes? Hours? A day?

[sbradshaw]

The question is how long does it take the change to sync to everyone's phone? Minutes? Hours? A day?

For sacrament meeting hymns, elders quorum lessons, and Relief Society lessons, the sync is actually pretty quick. The changes should sync "up" (to the Church's servers) after 30 seconds (the 30 seconds is reset if you make another change – so technically it's after 30 seconds of inactivity). You can also force a sync by doing a pull-to-refresh on the Home screen.

After the changes are on the Church's servers, they will sync down to others' devices within 2 or 3 seconds – if they are connected to the internet.

[russellhltn]

Good to know. But when checking for accuracy, I'd suggest doing a refresh (pull down). I've seen cases where it doesn't even appear on my device unless I do that.