member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Church Account is the primary user account (user name and password) for accessing online Church resources. Church Account was formerly known as LDS Account. This forum is a space to discuss all things related to Church Accounts (registration, account recovery, user experience, vulnerabilities, etc.).
djacks
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member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by djacks »

I have a member that has a log on to lds.org and then a separate log in for family search, by accident. He can get names and what not to take to the temple, i assume from family search, but then he cannot make appointments for himself to go to the temple because it only allows him to do baptisms, but he is an endowed member. i have a feeling we need to delete his family search account and make it the same log in as his lds.org account? I am not the best tech guy, ward clerk, can anyone help me out here?
jdlessley
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by jdlessley »

His FamilySearch log on credentials can be different from his Church Account credentials for ChurchofJesusChrist.org (formerly lds.org). The link between the two accounts is his membership record number (MRN). From what you describe it sounds like he has entered his MRN in his FamilySearch profile but not in his Church Account profile. Have him log onto his Church Account and check in Account / Profile to see if his MRN is recorded in the Membership Record Number (MRN) section.

A quick way to check if his MRN is recorded in his Church Account profile is for him to log onto ChurchofJesusChrist.org and see if he has access to the Calendar or the Ward Directory and Map apps. If he does not have access to either of those apps, then his MRN is not recorded in his Church Account profile.
JD Lessley
Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
djacks
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by djacks »

thank you very much!
djacks
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Posts: 5
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:08 pm

Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by djacks »

@jdlessley
So this is so frustrating, I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore, it wanted to use for a recovery email, I changed that email under his info on our ward leaders and clerk resources page, I was also able with him present to recover his account using the new email and his record number, etc. , but when we log on to his account and I go to settings it will not let us add his membership number, it wants to still recover using the old msn email even though we changed the recovery email and phone for his account. It is like his record number is tied to some other account and I cannot see where there is another account. Bless his heart, all his donations have just been going to headquarters and not to our ward. It is a very frustrating thing and everything I did tonight that seemed like it should fix it, did not work in the end.
rmrichesjr
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by rmrichesjr »

djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm @jdlessley
So this is so frustrating, I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore, it wanted to use for a recovery email, ...
Sounds like it's time for the member to call GSD.
russellhltn
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by russellhltn »

djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm I changed that email under his info on our ward leaders and clerk resources page,
As you found out, that doesn't change the recovery account. Only the member or GSD can change it.
djacks wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 7:52 pm I figured out the member has an email from msn, not in service anymore
Can it be re-activated using the same email address?
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.
djacks
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Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2026 8:08 pm

Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by djacks »

the msn email account is gone and it is unable to be used or activated anymore. It feels GSD needs to physically change and remove that recovery email, and there needs to be another way one can recover an account if the recovery email is no longer in service or becomes invalid....GSD needs to figure that out.. I will call them.
rmrichesjr
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Location: Dundee, Oregon, USA

Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by rmrichesjr »

djacks wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:32 am the msn email account is gone and it is unable to be used or activated anymore. It feels GSD needs to physically change and remove that recovery email, and there needs to be another way one can recover an account if the recovery email is no longer in service or becomes invalid....GSD needs to figure that out.. I will call them.
If I'm informed correctly, for recovering accounts, GSD will talk ONLY with the member, not with a clerk.
jdlessley
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by jdlessley »

The email address in a member's record is not linked to the recovery email address for the Church Account. Changing one does not change the other. They, however, can use the same email address in both locations.

The recovery email address is changed in the member's Church Account profile. After logging onto his Church Account he should go to Account > Recovery and Notifications, and in the Email section, edit the email address there to the email address he wants to use for recovering his Church Account.
JD Lessley
Have you tried finding your answer on the ChurchofJesusChrist.org Help Center or Tech Wiki?
russellhltn
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Re: member with a log in to lds.org and different log in to family search

Post by russellhltn »

jdlessley wrote: Mon Mar 23, 2026 1:58 pm The email address in a member's record is not linked to the recovery email address for the Church Account. Changing one does not change the other.
I believe if the member changes their email, it changes both. (At least if done from the "Accounts" page.) But that's not true if a clerk updates it.
Have you searched the Help Center? Try doing a Google search and adding "site:churchofjesuschrist.org/help" to the search criteria.

So we can better help you, please edit your Profile to include your general location.

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