Digital Temple Recommends

[dotson98]

Question on the new option to switch to the digital temple recommend.

The instructions that just came out say that a member of the bishopric can convert a person’s temple recommend from Printed to Digital. I discovered that as a Stake Exec Secretary, I have the option to switch the recommend to digital (I also have the option to activate a recommend). Why do I have the ability to switch the recommend to digital? Why do I have the ability to activate a recommend?

[lajackson]

I discovered that as a Stake Exec Secretary, I have the option to switch the recommend to digital (I also have the option to activate a recommend).

I do not know why, but you are correct that it is not in the instructions but nevertheless possible to do, at least for a ward executive secretary. I wonder if a clerk can also do it, but have not had a chance to check.

It is probably a programming error. The instructions say that the stake does not have the capability to switch the recommend. If it is a concern, I would send feedback.

[swigginton]

Why do I have the ability to switch the recommend to digital? Why do I have the ability to activate a recommend?

Executive secretaries are often in attendance and coordinating the stake presidency temple recommend interviews. I'm guessing this lets them complete the activation process to free up the stake presidency member as they conduct the interviews.

[bcfridley]

Does anyone know why as a Bishop when I go to "Switch active recommend format from printed to mobile" in LCR the select button is greyed out for some members?

[bcfridley]

I figured out that the Temple Recommends for the ones that are greyed out were issued by my counselor that I replaced a couple weeks ago. Since he is no longer in the Bishopric, we will have to issue new recommends for those members that want to switch to mobile recommends that he interviewed originally.

Switching formats can only be done by the issuing unit, and only if the issuing leader can still issue recommends

[lajackson]

Does anyone know why as a Bishop when I go to "Switch active recommend format from printed to mobile" in LCR the select button is greyed out for some members?

If either of the approvers on the current paper recommend is no longer serving in their calling, you will not be able to convert the recommend. You will need to start the regular process of issuing a new recommend, which may be issued as a mobile recommend.

[skiddlyarcus]

Does anyone know why as a Bishop when I go to "Switch active recommend format from printed to mobile" in LCR the select button is greyed out for some members?

If either of the approvers on the current paper recommend is no longer serving in their calling, you will not be able to convert the recommend. You will need to start the regular process of issuing a new recommend, which may be issued as a mobile recommend.

that is what the documentation says, but my recommend was converted to a mobile recommend and the stake interviewer who interviewed me was no longer serving in the stake presidency.

[garystroble]

Another reason could be the member does not have an individual photo of themselves on their profile. That is required for the mobile recommend.

[russellhltn]

my recommend was converted to a mobile recommend and the stake interviewer who interviewed me was no longer serving in the stake presidency.

Any idea what that calling that interviewer is holding now? I wonder if the software is just checking to see if they're holding a certain class of calling and not necessarily the same one, or in the same unit.

[BrianEdwards]

Two interesting items from my recent experience:

1) A completely new Bishopric is now in place from when I received my printed recommend last September, although our Stake Presidency is still intact (the opposite scenario of what @skiddlyarcus posted). The current Bishop was able to issue my mobile recommend two weeks ago, and it still retained the Sept 2026 expiration date. So it seems like if the ward approver is not in the calling anymore (my case), or the if the stake approver is not in his calling anymore (the previous post), it still goes through at least in some situations. Not sure if this is a "bug" in the system, or if it's actually what's desired and in that case the help docs are not correct. As an aside, my original ward interviewer is now a SS Teacher, so that wouldn't seem to affect things.

2) My Bishop came up to me this Sunday and requested I upload a "Temple-worthy profile picture". Interestingly, I don't believe I've seen this documented anywhere, and I didn't ask where he had gotten that directive (stake president? church email?). I didn't press him mostly because to me it makes a lot of sense, since it's what is going to pop up when I show my recommend at the temple desk. My previous pic wasn't inappropriate by any means, but definitely was a more "fun" pic. And it showed a younger version of myself, which is always nice