Standard callings in custom organization

[derekmw]

I have been unable to locate an answer to this.. I am in a YSA ward and we are trying to find the best way to organize the callings in MLS. Currently, we have just about every calling as a custom calling in a custom organization, which is not preferable. The difficulty lies in wanting to still have organizations be separate while using standard callings.

For example, we have 20+ members of our Activities Committee (approval was received to keep this after the 2010 Handbook was released), and 30+ members of the Ward Mission organization. We want to be able to list each organization separately while using the standard calling (i.e. Missionary - Ward or Activities Committee Specialist), but the only way we seem to be able to use the standard callings is by transferring those positions to the "Miscellaneous" organization.

Is there a way to enter these callings with their standard HQ issued names while still keeping them in different organizations? It is rather unpleasant to preview and select specific pages to print so the Mission Leader doesn't have a huge list of callings he does not need. I know we can create a custom report to only list those within the organization, but that is frustrating when looking through multiple organizations.

[jonesrk]

There isn't a way to put standard callings in custom organizations, but with the upcoming MLS 3.5 and CDOL 3.1 releases some of these other callings will have their own groups. Hopefully the CDOL release will be this week. If so you will see the new groups in clerk resources and lds.org/directory. MLS 3.5 will support the same groups as it releases.

[derekmw]

Thank you! I look forward to certain miscellaneous callings having their own groups.

[lehrschallbrian]

I have the same problem.

[aebrown]

It wasn't made particularly clear in the MLS 3.5 announcement (although it is in the release notes), but one of the changes is that the feature of Custom Organizations is completely gone from MLS 3.5. There are some new standard organizations, which is very helpful, but any callings that don't fit in the set of standard organizations will now have to be under "Other Callings".

For YSA wards, which often have many non-standard committees or other groups of callings, this change seems like it will present some challenges.

[derekmw]

Some challenges, indeed. I just updated our ward's system to MLS 3.5 and now have several dozen callings in the "other callings" list. While it is great to have more standard organizations, the custom organizations are a must-have to most every young single adult unit. I am curious to know why that functionality was removed.

[sambryner]

I have the same frustrations. With the old version I was able to create custom organizations for FHE, Activities, Break the fast, Munch and Mingle, etc.. and have now lost all of that and have a huge list of callings in the "other callings" list. It was nice having the custom organizations set up because than I could easily print of a list of FHE group leaders, or the Break the Fast committee. These were easy to read and well organized. Now I can't do that and am frustrated. I am happy with the addition of more callings but MLS is not set up very well with YSA wards in mind. A version of MLS needs to be designed for YSA wards or the ability to create custom organizations needs to be reintroduced.