Tech Forum

Zoom is a platform designed for interactive virtual meetings where all participants are typically allowed to speak and share content. Interactivity features offered on this platform can be distracting in meetings like sacrament if participant(s) unmutes their mic, leave cameras enabled, or watch the broadcast in gallery or thumbnail view modes. If Zoom is used for streaming of sacrament, devotionals, firesides, or other non-interactive meetings steps should be taken to minimize or eliminate possible disruptions. Please find the attached PDF which describes how to minimize interactivity of Zoom meetings for use with Sacrament Meetings.

I would not suggest using the Zoom Meetings settings for the Worship Service portion of Sacrament Meeting. That is designed for interactivity with a moderator. Not what you want for Sacrament Meeting. They have an inexpensive ($40.00 per month) add-on to the paid Pro Zoom account (Pro costs only $14.98 for a single host) that is called Webinar. With Webinar you are essentially broadcasting one-way (once you have disabled any interactivity options).

I am curious how the letter just sent out by the Church leaders suggests use of YouTube Live or Facebook Live to stream Sacrament Meeting (the Worship portion not the actual Ordinance of the Sacrament). I thought that those were both blocked sites on the Church Wi-Fi system.

garyoranzabriskie wrote:I am curious how the letter just sent out by the Church leaders suggests use of YouTube Live or Facebook Live to stream Sacrament Meeting (the Worship portion not the actual Ordinance of the Sacrament). I thought that those were both blocked sites on the Church Wi-Fi system.

I can't speak to Facebook. YouTube used to be blocked except for the week around General Conference. But at some point they allowed YouTube again - at least at the minimum level of filtering.

ZOOM version 5.2.2, released September 1, has additional features that are useful.
Several videos exist on youtube that demonstrate the new features.

1) You can turn on original sound so the music portion of a meeting will sound much better for all participants.

2) The host can rearrange & lock the gallery view for all participants.

3) The host can spotlight & lock who appears as the speaker for all participants.

4) The host can "set' up to 9 spotlighted speakers to be viewed at the same time.

https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201361953

Why use zoom for Sunday Worship services in the chapel when https://webcast.churchofjesuschrist.org is easier to use for people at home (click on a link, click view, type in your name, and you are done), has better quality for video and audio, is free, the meetings can last as long as you want, can support thousands of viewers, and is church sponsored.

With all of these reasons as to using https://webcast.churchofjesuschrist.org - I have no idea why anyone would feel the need to use Zoom for meetings intended to be non-interactive.

hicksticks2001 wrote:Why use zoom for Sunday Worship services in the chapel...

One situation is if you have a remotely located speaker, they can be asked to speak with minimal lag using Zoom. The meeting can still be sent to the membership over Meetinghouse Webcast using an RTMP feed within Zoom.

Another situation is if you have members without the needed bandwidth or technology to view a webcast. The church has nothing to compare with Zoom's dial-up capability that allows listening in on a meeting.

Another one is happening this Sunday. Our ward is getting a new bishopric, so for the benefit of those not in attendance, it will be a Zoom meeting so members can cast a sustaining or dissenting vote. (Dissenting voters will be instructed to use the chat feature so as not to be overlooked.)

I'm not a big fan of using Zoom for sacrament meetings either, but sometimes it's the best tool for a particular situation.

hicksticks2001 wrote:Why use zoom for Sunday Worship services

Some may be more comfortable with zoom. At some point the second hour will be added and I think there's advantages to staying on the same system for both.

Also, I think there is something to be said for allowing members to see each other. It feels more like a group experience than just you and the speaker.
Weather or not it's worth the effort is for the local leaders to decide.

hicksticks2001 wrote:With all of these reasons as to using https://webcast.churchofjesuschrist.org - I have no idea why anyone would feel the need to use Zoom for meetings intended to be non-interactive.

To use Webcast then we need the equipment (Teradek, Mevo or OBS). To use Zoom or another streaming application, a phone or tablet can be used.
If there were a free app that could be used with Webcast via a Tablet, I would use that solution. I have 4 buildings with only one equipped to do a webcast; cost for 3 more systems is an issue. Operation of webcast is also more difficult and less familiar to Ward persons. Is there a simple Webcast solution using phones or tablets?

AJRasmussen wrote:Is there a simple Webcast solution using phones or tablets?

Larix Broadcaster (Webcast from a cell phone)

You might also want to read Basics of Streaming Sacrament Meetings with Reference Table which outlines a number of options.